Self-sacrifice or selfishness?

Question

Which do you think will cause a happier lifestyle?

Which do you think is more morally right?

Answer 1

I dont belive happiness is something very effected by our circumstances. The very awareness of being happy or unhappy occurs in strange isolated moments, and is more of a decision we make, than something impsod by our environment. I like what the Greek Stoics had to say on this matter, refer to them.

Whether you sacrifice or are 'selfish' is something which 1. may occur differently on a case by case basis and 2. may depend on your perspective and 3. may be the motivation for actions but in fact, depending on the perspective, may or may not necessarilly correlate to a SPECIFIC action and certainly may or may not correlate to a SPECIFIC outcome.

To divide everything by this line belies a peculiar obsession with self. In reality, most people dont even wonder if what they are doing is an act of self sacrifice or is selfish, and in fact regarding most things, neither question is really appropriate for it. what i mean is, it will be rare, when you could be faced with a decision when one course of action definately involves sacrifice, and the other selfishness. Most of the time, we 'compromise' because the effect of not compromising will in fact be more harmful in the long run to ourselves. For example, when you are driving somewhere, u mgith wish you could get there sooner, but you arent going to drive 200 miles an hour...that is not only dangerous to other people, it is dangerous to ourselves. YOu might which you didnt have to brush your teeth in the morning, but obviously that doesnt mean brushing your teeth is an act of 'sacrifice'. We humans all live very close together, and our fates are almost always intimately linked, and this blurs the line between sacrifice and selfishness.

dont confuse morals and ethics please, the term morals has been corrupted by too much misuse. Morals refers to something already a given and not debatable, by one's religion. What you mean to ask is which is ethical.

Answer 2

Neither is morally right, and if happier is subjective, then it too is not possible to measure. Self-sacrifice is useful in humans when the greater good is brought into the equation. Self-sacrifice can be a bone marrow transfer, or jumping on a grenade. Survival with ones health would seem to allow a certain amount of satisfaction. Selfishness in the name of a few pennies doesn't cause happiness, leaving a casino with 10 million would bring a smile to ones face. Tremendous profit allows for tremendous altruism.

Answer 3

You need selfishness to survive otherwise you would never look both ways before crossing the street or check the expiry date before drinking the milk. I wouldn't say that self-sacrifice is morally right but it is definately what is more accepted. I think you need an equal balance of both to have a happier lifestyle

Answer 4

Obviously selfishness. Self-sacrifice is unproductive and will only result in the decay of whatever values you hold. Selfishness, where you seek to accomplish whatever there is to get what you value, is always the happier and morally sound way. How else would people survive? It's not sacrifice if you think you get something from it. That's called "even exchange."

Answer 5

Selfishness will make you happier, as long as it's enlightened selfishness. In the long run, screwing over everybody for a quick buck will lead to sorrow. But if you think in the long term, being nice and helping people has selfish motivations, because it gives the benefits of freinds and a good reputation.

Morality is context sensitive. Being selfish, but not hurting anyone is not wrong. Self-sacrifice is usually quite moral, but not if you are sacrificing for an immoral cause. Such as the nazis who gave up their lives for HItler's insanity.

Answer 6

self sacrifice is probably will cause you a happier lifestyle esp. if you are realy willing to sacrifice and happy for sacrificing, people will love you ofcourse, because your selfless and have no enemies, you be happier in your heart
and you will go to heaven and if you are selfish you can be happy with your financial life status but everybody hates you even yuor family so you will die alone

Answer 7

Neither. There has to be a balance to it or the person doing the sacrificing will end up dying away. It is far more morally sound to be a giving person, but since there are people who take advantage of it, you cannot be giving all the time without some caution involved. Besides, there has to be SOME time set aside for yourself in order to heal. It helps you be a better person and happier when you give to others.

Answer 8

For me, there needs to be balance between self and others. If you go around only thinking of yourself, ultimately your connections with others will dwindle as people learn that you are only about you. On the other hand, if you sacrifice your own needs and wishes for others, you become a walking doormat and eventually you will feel used, cheated and manipulated. Only rare persons or spiritual beings can be self-sacrificing. Again, balance for the rest of us is key...the middle path.

Answer 9

An equal balance of both. If you always put others before yourself, you can't satisfy personal needs and this causes unhappiness. But it's also important to be giving and to help others. So I don't think one should be chosen over the other.

Answer 10

self-sacrifice
becouse selfishness will make u temporary happy but the self-sacrifice will make u happy in life and when u die and meet god and go to heavem becouse u make the right in life so u are honored in end