Is 'enlightened self-interest', really just an oxymoron?

Question

I think that coagryph's sociopathic friend describes just about everyone in Western culture. I couldn't give you the best answer though because I think that the important distinction to be made is that looking out for others' interests does not mean that you are subservient or living 'for' someone else. It is merely acknowledging the right of someone else to behave or think differently than you.

Answer 1

Self-hood has nothing to do
and therefore, paradoxically, everything to do
with enlightenment.

Answer 2

It is a bit more as follows:

"Enlightened self-interest is the ethical principle that when persons act to further the interests of others or, at least, the interests of the group or groups of which they belong to, that such persons ultimately serve their own self-interests. It has often been simply expressed by the belief that an individual or even a commercial entity will "do well by doing good".

This is in contrast to greed or "unenlightened self-interest", in which it is argued that when most or all persons act according to their own myopic selfishness, that the group suffers loss as a result of conflict, decreased efficiency because of lack of cooperation, and the increased expense each individual pays for the protection of their own interests. If a typical individual in the group is selected at random, it is not likely that this person will profit from such an ethic. Some individuals might profit, in a material sense, from a philosophy of greed, but it is believed by proponents of enlightened self-interest that these individuals constitute a small minority and that the large majority of persons can expect to experience a net personal loss from a philosophy of simple unenlightened selfishness.

Enlightened self-interest is also different than pure altruism, which calls for a person to act in the interest of others often at the expense of that person's own interests and with no expectation of benefit for themself in the future. Some advocates of enlightened self-interest might argue that pure altruism creates inefficiency as well.

Enlightened self-interest might be considered to be unrealistically idealistic and altruistic by detractors and practically idealistic and utilitarian by proponents."

Answer 3

Not at all. The doctrine of enlightened self interest says that whenever you act in a way to benefit yourself, do so with a full understanding of the consequences of your actions.

The 'enlightened' part reminds us that everything we do touches the world around us, and that the world around us is formed through our intentions and as a consequence of our actions.

I have a friend who is a sociopath. She has no conscience, and no inner moral compass. But she is one of the kindest, nicest people that I know. Why? Because it's in her best interests. As she puts it, if she does things that makes the people around her happy, then her life is easier. So, she acts in a way that makes the world a better place for her to live, motivated by her self-interest.

Think of it this way. If I act to help someone else because my religious or moral code tells me to that means I'm acting a certain way because I was told to, and independent of whether it is good for me or not.

But if I do the same action, because (like my friend) I find it makes the world better or easier for me, then I am acting out of enlightened self-interest. Same action, different reason.

Self-interest is not inherently bad. It just means that you are at the center of your own world, and act in a way that benefits your world. If you are not at the center of your own world, then you are co-dependent (living your life for someone else). What happens when a co-dependent has a near-death experience? Someone else's life flashes before their eyes.

Enlightened self interest means that I am at the center of my world, and I pay attention to the consequences of my actions on the world around me. It doesn't mean shutting out interaction without everyone else, or ignoring the effects of my actions on them.

A stupid sociopath is not enlightened, and acts only out of selfishness. This is different than self-interest, because they don't care what the consequences are to others. And they don't care what the consequences are to themselves, because hurting the world around them always ends up backfiring and making their own lives bad. Which is why selfishness is not the same as self-interest -- self-interest wants your world to be a good place to life, and in just about any society that means making the world around you happy. Selfishness doesn't care.

Important distinction.

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

no because when you achieve a higher plane you then see that everything is for the Divine.

Answer 6

Pretty much

Answer 7

No...