Is it true that failure to adopt an attitude of, "look out first for old number one" condemns one...?

Question

To a life of servitude? By the way, what exactly is wrong with a life of servitude; it is not often as extreme as slavery? Every mother is a server to her child and we are all dependent on that!

For Johnny Reb; It is hard to do I admit but some do it by refusing to acknowledge empathy or altruism exist in their reperatoire of emotions. To them adherence to selfishness is "the way" and it seems to work in the modern world. It has probably worked throughout history but it is risky because the "weak" sometimes complain and rise up and fight back as...REBS??

For Chuck S: What do you mean by "advantage"? You must mean it is either a "dominate or be dominated" existence or there is some need for gain. All we really HAVE TO DO in this life is die; EVERYONE HAS TO DO THAT and most of us keep putting it off. How does GAIN accomplish stopping the inevitable?

Update for Chuck: The question was meant to contrast a life of self interest with the fact that about half the people (mothers) give unselfishly of themselves to get all of us started. Why do we give up this lesson of altruism for pursuit of nebulous advantage and gain?

Answer 1

Looking out for #1 is not a good way of putting that......it gives a connotation of being selfish.

What it actually means is that we can't take care of those we love until we take care of our self.

People that this to extremes

If a person only thinks of #1 they are sociopath

A balanced person takes care of self to take care of others.
There are times of giving too much, but all in all life is all about balancing

Answer 2

Helping, teaching, guiding, raising, loving, tolerating, accepting others...is not really servitude if it is done willingly.

Answer 3

How do you equate 'condemnation' with empathy?