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#11
10-14-2006, 05:23 AM
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Re: Selfishness
As has been pointed out, all acts are definitionally selfish in some sense. The only possible exception is in the case of mental illness, where there is a disconnect between cause and effect.
This is a trick of language tho, because this is not what people mean when they conversationally use the word 'selfish', so the emotional component of the word is misassigned. Altruism in this analysis doesn't exist. But nor is this very useful - it speaks to a problem with language not a new discovery about humans. 
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#12
10-14-2006, 06:20 AM
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Re: Selfishness
[ QUOTE ]
This is a trick of language tho, because this is not what people mean when they conversationally use the word 'selfish', so the emotional component of the word is misassigned. Altruism in this analysis doesn't exist. But nor is this very useful - it speaks to a problem with language not a new discovery about humans. [/ QUOTE ] Aye, it seems a confusion between 'no act is 100% unselfish' which is true and 'all acts are 100% selfish' which is false. chez
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#13
10-14-2006, 09:50 AM
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Re: Selfishness
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, it is possible to define selfishness in such a way that causes every act to be defined as selfish. [/ QUOTE ] The problem is that "selfishness" as it's frequently used in society seems to correspond to such a definition. Of course you can probably construct a definition that is useful. But the common term really isn't. Yet people use it in a derogatory sense. Thus, this is valid criticism of the current norms (which, I believe, are wholly contradictory).
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