- published: 09 Jan 2014
- views: 3727
Self-interest generally refers to a focus on the needs or desires (interests) of the self. A number of philosophical, psychological, and economic theories examine the role of self-interest in motivating human action.
Philosophical concepts concerned with self-interest include:
Psychological concepts concerned with self-interest include psychological egoism, the view that humans are always motivated by self-interest, and narcissism, which is an unhealthy self-absorption due to a disturbance in the sense of self.
Current common sense dictates that our lives are concerned with the pursuit of self-interest and that altruism, at best, is enlightened self-interest. This assumption has had catastrophic consequences for ourselves as individuals, for the groups we interact with, and for the power relations we participate in. Etsko Schuitema explains in this animated video that what we have been conditioned to believe does not lead us to achieve the things that we seek when we go to work everyday: Security, Fulfillment, Harmony & Power, and brings us further away from our progress as human beings. schuitema.co.za info@schuitema.co.za
This video goes over the differences between self interest and social interest. It briefly goes over examples, and discusses an application of the invisible hand theory. This video is embedded at http://www.freeeconhelp.com/2011/06/self-interest-vs-social-interest.html with text that goes along with the concepts.
Professor Friedman explains fundamental principles of self-ownership and self-interest to Phil Donahue. http://www.LibertyPen.com
3rd place - $1000 Winner for the Fraser Institute's 2012 Video Contest! Video entry for the Fraser Institute's 2012 Video Contest, "Why Good Politics is Bad Economics." In this video, I explain how a politician/political party's self interest can negatively impact the economy and society, leading to 'government failure.' Presented by David Luu Grade 12, British Columbia, Canada
This clip from "Milton Friedman Speaks: Is Capitalism Humane?" was filmed at Cornell University in 1978. Milton Friedman discusses the concerns between moral values and the relationships between people. In judging relations between people, I do not believe that the fundamental value is to do good to others whether they want you to or not. The fundamental value is not to do good to others as you see their good. It is not to force them to do good. As I see it, the fundamental value in relations among people is to respect the dignity and the individuality of fellowmen, to treat your fellowman not as an object to be manipulated for your purpose but to treat him as a person with his own values and his own rights, a person to be persuaded not coerced, not forced, not bulldozed, not brainwashed...
Stefan Molyneux, host of Freedomain Radio, explores the idea that rational self-interest can be universalized as a moral absolute. Freedomain Radio is the largest and most popular philosophy show on the web - http://www.freedomainradio.com Please donate at http://www.fdrurl.com/donate
Dr. Stephen Hicks, Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University, presents a series of lectures on the philosophy of education. In Part 12, Dr. Hicks covers the fifth of the seven "isms" — Objectivism. In this section, he explains Objectivist values.
Follow my journey as a Challenge who I have accepted myself to be: http://www.equalitywalk.blogspot.com/ Specifically this vlog is in relation to my Blog: http://www.equalitywalk.blogspot.com/2013/05/178-hidden-truth-of-inferiority.html Who we are as humans, as out 'nature' - is always within the starting point of self interest - in looking for ways in which to fulfill ourselves as our ego of self definition and thus creating separation from this starting point because we do not actually care about another as ourselves, and we thus do no give to another what we would like to receive. Instead, we are self centered and fail to realize the simplicity of Equality and Oneness as What is Best for All Challenge your Self Accepted Human Nature of Self Interest at http://desteni.org/ - where we ...
PAUL COLLIER is one of the world's leading experts on developing markets and financial opportunities within the poorest countries. Director for the Centre of the Study of African Economies at Oxford University, Collier is currently Advisor to the Strategy and Policy Department of the IMF and advisor to the Africa Region of the World Bank, where he previously served as Director of the Development Research Group. He researches the causes and consequences of civil war, the effects of aid and the problems of democracy in low-income and natural-resource-rich societies. From April 1998 to April 2003, he was the director of development research at the World Bank and has been the advisor to the British government's Commission on Africa. Mr. Collier is one of the world's leading experts on Afri...