How to know if you're being selfish (and whether or not that's bad) - Mark Hopwood
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
Different philosophers hold varying perspectives on human nature and selfishness, with debates focusing on concepts such as the greatest happiness for the greatest number, virtues like generosity, and self-interest as a primary motivator. Ideas from philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Jean-Jacques Rousseau challenge the notion of humans acting solely out of self-interest, proposing a hidden self-love impulse and advocating for a balance between self-love and concern for others to combat selfishness.
Insights
- Kant challenges the idea of psychological egoism by suggesting a hidden self-love impulse behind seemingly altruistic actions, providing a nuanced perspective on human behavior that goes beyond pure self-interest.
- Iris Murdoch proposes transcending self-centered perspectives through love as a solution to human selfishness, emphasizing the importance of attention to the world beyond oneself in achieving a balance between self-love and concern for others.
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Recent questions
What is the concept of psychological egoism?
Psychological egoism posits that humans act solely out of self-interest, contradicting views of altruism.
How do philosophers like Immanuel Kant challenge psychological egoism?
Immanuel Kant proposes a hidden self-love impulse behind seemingly altruistic actions, contradicting psychological egoism.
What is the proposed solution to human selfishness by Iris Murdoch?
Iris Murdoch suggests that love transcending self-centered perspectives through attention to the world beyond oneself can combat human selfishness.
How do philosophers like John Stuart Mill and Aristotle view human nature?
John Stuart Mill advocates for the greatest happiness for the greatest number, while Aristotle emphasizes virtues like generosity in human nature.
What is Thomas Hobbes' perspective on human selfishness?
Thomas Hobbes highlights self-interest as a primary motivator in human behavior, presenting a differing view on selfishness.
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Summary
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Philosophers debate human nature and selfishness.
- Philosophers like John Stuart Mill, Aristotle, and Thomas Hobbes present differing views on human nature and selfishness at a friend's party, with Mill advocating for the greatest happiness for the greatest number, Aristotle emphasizing virtues like generosity, and Hobbes highlighting self-interest as a primary motivator.
- While psychological egoism suggests humans act solely out of self-interest, evidence from philosophers like Immanuel Kant and psychologists contradicts this, with Kant proposing a hidden self-love impulse behind seemingly altruistic actions.
- Philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Aristotle argue for a balance between self-love and concern for others, with the solution to human selfishness proposed by Iris Murdoch being love that transcends self-centered perspectives through attention to the world beyond oneself.
