Can the collective actions of self-centered individuals lead to positive outcomes for society?

Question

Do you think America's economic system is consistent with this philosophy?

Answer 1

Yes and yes.

Answer 2

Economically, that's the definition of capitalism.

People own businesses to make a profit. That's self-centered behavior. People engage in business dealings for the same reason. The collective result of all of these people competing to make a profit results in the free market pressures that make capitalism work.

That being said, there is an important distinction between being self-centered and selfish. Someone who is self-centered (centered on self) has their personal interests firmly in mind, but is still aware of the consequences of those actions. Someone who is selfish is generally unaware of (and doesn't care about) the consequences of their actions on others.

Y'know what we call people who are not self-centered? Co-dependent.

Answer 3

Yes actually there is no such thing as pure philantrophy. Everyone is doing everything for their or their families self interest. People may like to believe they are altruistic but it really doesn't work that way, they do it because it makes them feel good and makes other people admire them or makes them feel righteous.
People who believe otherwise are self deluded and not fully honest with themselves at a deep level.
Ayn Rand's system laid out in her philosphy and books is consistent with American and many libertarians believe in this.
Capitalism is the only system that really provides people with a way to better themselves and society through work and invention. Look at how computers have benefitted society.

Answer 4

I think the expression you are looking for is "greed is good"... while working in self interest does seem to do a lot of positive effects (to make profit, you have to produce something people want) and had created a middle class unseen in many other countries... there are things it things it does not do well. Even Warren Buffett stated this in a recent interview, about his donated $30billion to the Gates foundation.

also it is quite possible for a number of individuals (or corporations) to work together to game the system for their benefit at the expense of others... especially if they have regulators in their pockets

Answer 5

Of course not; it's oxymoronic thought. How could society benefit from the actions of the self-centered? The whole idea of "society" has to do with the whole of a group, and what is best for the majority of the group. If some of the group care only about what happens to themselves, and they try to take all of the "riches" (food, money, oil, air...whatever...) for themselves, the rest of that society will be left with very little to divide among themselves.
That is why this country is going to hell ina hand basket!!! The 2% of people who control 98% of the wealth have left the rest of us to fight (a losing battle) for the leftovers.

Answer 6

Yes, collective self-centered actions can have positive outcomes for society...but there can also be very bad consequences.

Consider this: A person wants to make a magazine so he can make a ton of money for himself. He is willing to do whatever and print whatever as long as it sells copies. So he creates a porn magazine - which degrades women, corrupts morality and contributes to the breakdown of values and marriage in our society...

In the process of selling millions of copies world wide, he has employed tens of thousands of people to make his magazine, contributes to financial well-being of advertising companies who in turn employ people, and buys paper, ink, photography supplies, etc...which each come from companies that employ more and more people.

People having jobs is good. These people can now feed and clothe themselves and their families. They can also go out and buy more goods and services which in turn fund other companies to flurish...and they can in the end become a benefit to society.

Now, consider this, all those people that have jobs directly and indirectly associated with the production of the porno mag, are thinking about themselves and their companies when they work. If all of them were to suddenly stop and say, "I can't do this. This is wrong." The economy would take a hit. Repeat this over and over in every sector...(ex: "I can't work for this company. It sells plastic bottles to a company who manufactures chemicals and pollutes the environment doing it.")...well...we would have a collapsing economy.

Keep in mind, that the flip side of this argument is that "collective actions of selfless individuals can lead to positive outcomes to for society" too. In the same senerio as above...replace the porn magazine with a magazine featuring people living a Christian life. Get that magazine to sell as many copies as Playboy and you have the exact same outcome in the end...without the degrading of the social morality.

Answer 7

they can, but generally the consequences are negative. advocating self-centered attitudes breaks down interpersonal relations. people become more concerned about themselves and less concerned about helping others. lack of concern for the well-being of others and a self-centeredness that justifies wallowing in luxury even while children starve to death is the outcome, as we can see in american society today. i think america's economic system is consistent with its philosophy. thats why americans give less per capita to international aid and suffer from one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. you can't constantly proclaim the benefits of greed and self interest and not expect interpersonal relationships, the glue of society, to suffer.

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

NO...the US economic system is in declined...