The Altruism of Self-Interest
For the left self-interest means the willful exploitation of others. In reality self-interest means humbly accepting human limitation.
According to the left being self-interested means being subordinate to the exploitative impulses of capitalism.
In reality it’s a different story.
Being self-interested means accepting humanity’s natural limitations and knowing that generosity and kindness alone aren’t enough to transform society.
It means spending time and money to improve what you know you have the power to change -- yourself -- over that which you have no control -- other people.
And from this perspective comes great altruistic benefits.
If everyone, for instance, were self-interested they’d have no reason to meddle in the affairs of people they can’t change or help. Instead they’d focus on getting their own moral house in order before lecturing others about morality.
Likewise in a self-interested world tolerance would abound. No one would have the need or desire to contrive social distinctions based on race class. Why would they? A self interested individual would have no reason to create collectivist distinctions that lazy politicians and desperate corporations use to easily acquire power.
In other words only self-interest can create the conditions for privacy and tolerance.
But in the socialist society we’re gradually inching closer towards privacy and tolerance are erased by the collectivist masses who have nothing better to do than to tear people and society down.
In fact socialists tear society down not because of what they want the world to be but because of what they will never be -- a self interested and self respecting individual.
Zigmund Reichenbach holds a M.A. in Philosophy from West Chester University. You can find him commenting on news stories of national and state interest at his Facebook page Zigmund Reichenbach -- Commentator or you can follow him on Twitter @zreichenbach1. To support the creation of articles like these visit our Patreon here.