i want to know what you think about egoism, because i want to know if it a bad thing or not, i'm suposed to be doing a paper about anthem by ayn rand, where the moral of the story is having an ego makes your life better, but an ego is where you put yourself before others, right? and that is not a good thing. i think........ basically, what do you think god thinks about egoism......??
*please no rude comments... i'm just curious.
2006-12-29 18:09:58 · 13 answers · asked by kiss the cook 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
OK, OK...I'm not a Christian, but I am like a two year-old in that the moment I see the words "Only if" I take it to mean "me". =)
Ayn Rand's theory is the same as capitalism, and we live in a capitalistic society. I believe she uses the term "ego" to mean a sense of oneself. Everyone puts themselves before others in some situations. We are human (and individuals) after all. I read "Anthem" back in high school and loved it, although I do not agree with all of its viewpoints. Rand grew up in communist Russia under totalitarian rule. She despised it. She considers those who would have such rule "the collective". The Collective all think exactly the same. The individual is lost. The "I" is gone. I know you didn't mean it badly, but only addressing Christians is a "collective" thought. It insinuates that only one group of people is "right" about what morality is. Morality is defined in the dictionary as "motivation based on ideas of right or wrong". Thus, morality is 'egoistic' in that it concerns the beliefs and principles of the individual. "Anthem" is about how easily a country can become a dictatorship, stressing the values of "morality" by silencing (or torturing) its own people.
The men who coined the term "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" (there were three) were the among the forefathers of America. Ayn Rand believed in the pursuit of personal happiness, that we should not judge one another. The moral of the story to me was one of the triumph of the human spirit. We all think, worship, and emote differently than one another. Accepting that others do the same is what gives us our freedom.
Rand is a little strong on the 'egoism' aspect, but that can be easily understood knowing where she came from. In reality, she was mainly right - much of what does drive us is, in fact, self-interest. Without self-interest, there would be no preservation of humankind. How could people educate one another if they don't educate themselves first? We all do what feels right to us; that is self-interest. The word 'egoism' has come to mean "selfishness" and with that comes the bad connotation. Honestly, though, being selfish is not always bad. Without some degree of selfishness, we would be unable to maintain morality because we would literally believe in nothing.
This is a good site that may help you with your essay: http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/anthem.pdf
I really hope this helps! Good luck with your paper. I hope you get an "A".
2006-12-29 18:47:16 · answer #1 · answered by Me, Thrice-Baked 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term "ego" has many meaning.
In Freudian terms there is the Id, which is the selfish part of the person that is only concerned with self gratification and pleasure. The ego is the part of the person that develops as the child comes into contact with the world and it is the ego that relates to others. The superego is the part that give some restraint to the Id, and helps a person develop a sense of what is right and wrong behavior. From this perspective one could say that the Ego helps one to know ones self and evolve into a self actualized person.
From a Christian perspective, especially a monastic perspective, the Ego is seen as the :false self" which we must die to so that the "true self" can come out. This false self is a mask that we wear when we come in contact with the world. Our true self is a more Christ like self that we must each seek and find within oneself.
It is late and this is the best I can do for now.
2006-12-29 18:29:04 · answer #2 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
egoism is putting yourself above, not only others but God. So the answer to your question is God thinks it is a bad thing. He said no one can share in His Glory. Read Philippians 2. It talks about putting others before yourself- and how Jesus did that while on earth. Great question!! If you disagree with the premise of Ayn Rand then you should say so in your paper. When we humble ourselves before God, He will lift you up".
2006-12-30 04:32:18 · answer #3 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Egoism is:
1a. The ethical doctrine that morality has its foundations in self-interest.
1b. The ethical belief that self-interest is the just and proper motive for all human conduct.
2, Excessive preoccupation with one's own well-being and interests, usually accompanied by an inflated sense of self-importance.
3. Egotism; conceit. See Synonyms at conceit.
This is what the word Egoism means. It is the second meaning that has negative connotations.
Everyone has an ego, but not everyone follows egoism. It is a balancing game; are you good at games.
2006-12-29 18:19:58 · answer #4 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A One book. A. R. is about an egoism strong enough to know its own opinions and boundaries. We need it desperately in an age when ABC et al joins w MGM to tell us what has/will happen. Our society hypes women's rights and then subjects them to terrible humiliation in porn and advertising. We need egoism to say I AM. I am capable of standing by my decisions. I am able to set the boundaries to abuse/abusive entertainment. I am a person, valuable and capable, in life. I am somewhat surprised to have the question tie into egoism which is the strength of the individual w/o tieing in the superego and the morality. God's speed on a great topic.
2006-12-29 18:30:54 · answer #5 · answered by Joe Cool 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you mean by ego that part of man's spirit that separates out of his material/physical attachments to the world I would say that what god wants is for man's ego to find its way back home.
Our ego is the instrument that we use to reach out into the world. It is the vehicle of free-will and serves us best when observed, guided and humbled.
2006-12-29 18:48:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two usages of Ego. One is where you make yourself 'puffed up' as the bible puts it. The other is part of your 'id' and is basically your inner self which actually thinks of you.
It is not wrong to think of your needs as well as those of others, only to put yourself first ALL the time.
Sometimes our own needs are vital, otherwise we will not be able to help others. But we should never 'worship' ourselves or be 'puffed up' to think of ourselves more highly then we should.
2006-12-29 18:22:38 · answer #7 · answered by ManoGod 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I put myself before others for one reason.. I'm the only thing that's going to be around for the rest of My life, everyone else will come and go into and out of My life at their extent (be it family or friends).
So, I have to trust in Myself only because I can't leave Myself.
2006-12-29 18:21:26 · answer #8 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a bad thing. It's a sad thing. There is no lasting joy in dwelling on serving oneself. When we place God first, His command is to serve others first.
Why is that? Because He can't do it? Nope. It's because He wants us to receive the joy and fulfillment in putting other's needs first.
He truly is Wonderful.
2006-12-29 18:16:14 · answer #9 · answered by nancy jo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't like it when we think we know more than He does. Look what He is doing to the devil. The devil hates God's creation and He is the well known destroyer of good.
http://www.carm.org/questions/whois_satan.htm
2006-12-29 18:20:35 · answer #10 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋