Why is being selfish seen as such a bad thing?

Answer 1

True selfishness is defined as something that you do for your benefit, and yours alone, without taking anyone else's feelings or needs into consideration. Hmmmm. I find that interesting....

If any of you have ever read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, then you'll know that it is an amazing book...well that is if you believe in individualism.

Anyway it discusses people being selfish. Now most people would say being selfish is bad, but it's not. People are selfish, it's how everything works. Every action you take or do is selfish.

Lets say you are going to school to be a (blank) because you will be able to help people. Do you know that, that is a selfish ambition? How so? Well, the only reason you're doing this is to make yourself feel good about yourself. Don't think so? It is to help people out, but it also makes your feel good.

Everything you do is a selfish act, but it can either be a good or bad selfish act. Like if you save people from a car accident, that is a selfish thing to do, because your saving them for their own lives but because you know it's what your supposed to do. But also because you'll get some good feeling out of doing it. Everything in life is a selfish act.

Answer 2

I don't think it's bad in the sense that we all, to some extent, should attend to our own needs and desires.

But I also believe that we need other people. We rely on each other for the practical needs of a society, but emotionally we need contact, we need relationships, we need someone to confide in, etc.

Of course, if you're good at being selfish, you will recognize this and will be able to take what you need from others and get by just fine.

Even then, I think things generally work out better for everyone if we're are mindful of each other and treat each other as people who have their own ends rather than just as tools for us to use. Kant said we should act so that we treat humanity in ourselves as well as in others as an end in itself and never merely as a means. I think that's a pretty good rule to go by.

I think there's something about us that is objectively better when we love other people. It's more right with our "souls" if you want to put it that way.

Answer 3

Depends on the point of view. Most religions (which influence most people) disapprove being selfish, while most economic theories are based on the fact that most individuals are selfish beings (the concept of private property is base on this). Most religions focus on the fact that many people are not happy with their lives and offer a path to improve this. Being selfish is being unhappy, sad but true (no pun intended), but people may be selfish and still archive happiness by reaching an equilibrium.

Answer 4

Selfishness is a bad thing because it puts your self instrest above others, and helps only you survive. We survive and evole as a species not due to some selfishness, but selflessness, help others out, sharing the hunted meat, sharing the berries, help not you or your clan, but your species survive. Selfishness only lead you to doom, and misery. If your neighbors house burn down, and do you not help your house will catch on fire too, and you will regret your selfish discesion

Answer 5

It is seen as a personality defect of people who would walk over their mother's grave to get what they want.
The definition says no such thing.
The Mandarin Chinese have 2 words for "selfish." One of them means the same as walking over your mother's grave. The other means "rational self-interest." The Mandarins know the difference. Subjectivists in the west don't want to see the separation of definitions because they would then lose their entire argument in their defense of altruism.

Answer 6

Being selfish is not a bad thing at all. Basically, if you are not happy you cant make or keep others happy.
If i am selfish about my desires than someone elses thats totally acceptable. But if i am selfish and in the process hurt others, thats probably not so right.

Answer 7

It is a group-negative value.

If you had to form a study group for a class, would you want to be in a group of people who didn't give a fig if you understood what was going on, or one that wanted to make sure that everyone else was up to speed?

While it is good for yourself to be selfish, it is bad for yourself for other people to be selfish. Thus - to an extent - it is in your selfish interest to encourage everyone to be less selfish.

Answer 8

Selfishness in it self is neither good nor bad. In some cases it is necessary for preservation or advancement. One should not however ignore karmic law, which means that in society you gets as you gives. If you care nothing about the needs of others for your own self aggrandizement, then no one will care about you and you will end up alone and isolated. Jesus said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Siddhartha Gautama said "Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you". Think about it.

Answer 9

it all depends on "who is doing the defining of the "selfishness?" I can't look at a farmer who is putting up for the winter and say he is being selfish, but, others may believe so...understand? "Peace!"

Answer 10

Because you neglect others that may have bigger issues or problems then you have. You need to be more selfless and less selfish.