CONDITIONAL SELFISHNESS

“CONDITIONAL SELFISHNESS” What, how & why By suren


“Conditional selfishness” the term may be new but I found it the best way to describe the attitude of putting the self as a priority without being ignorant to the rights and the feelings others.

Self-centeredness has always been a menace and a debate among many, well it was for me when I used to feel irritated, hurt and agitated with self-cantered behaviours such as ignoring our existence by some selfish person in order to get something for themselves which are in the first place of equal right for instance in the queue for a movie ticket, banks or clinic counters (the type of selfishness I hate the most as I feel treated inhuman when my presence is ignored) or parking a vehicle as preferred for their personal convenience causing congestion to others…

These are a few of selfish attitudes which are hurting and very disappointing but unfortunately it is lurking amongst us at all times

But at another end of our daily life, the failure to grab an opportunity causes a big blow in one’s life as the living environment is nothing better than a flock of vultures getting the best of the meat where only the selfish and opportunist tends to get the better share of life in trade of virtues and patience

Understanding this made me think perhaps the selfishness among man is nurtured by the unhealthy environment of “The opportunity warfare” which most of us are facing today at work, in families or worse at homes yet the irony of it, it is happening and get going tougher day after day (Man has to agree that the term – survival of the fittest- is being practised in daily lives these days)

Now knowing selfishness hurts and at the same time it is also needed to be the player of the game of opportunities i.e. “Economic life” there has to be a borderline for selfishness as we look at how something bad can be used also for something good just like a syringe which can be used for both medical treatment and also to abuse drugs, limbering up the thought muscles on this gave birth to the term of “conditional selfishness”

Despite sounding cool, the term is best explained as;

“It’s fine to be selfish up to the extent of not undermining the lawful rights of others or not to hurt others physically or emotionally at the same time the act of being selfishness can bring good to a number of people surrounding the self”

We have to agree the evolution have done enough damage to the mankind especially to the softer side life which is the values and virtues by forming life patterns that creates an economic animal, being so man have to adopt certain aspects in order to survive yet it has to be done by accommodating the basic life values of human’s either religious or humanistic ones. With proper modification and best practise both goals of being in the game of opportunity can be achieved and at the same time physically or emotionally hurting others by being selfish can be totally avoided

Being selfish can be hurting very badly to others as it is an offence of taking away of what is rightfully or equally belongs to others is an act of injustice and cruelty but it can be merely done in a jiffy leaving a lifelong hurt to others.

Let’s understand that it’s okay to be selfish wherever applies but it has to have a condition which is, not to undermine or jeopardise the right of others or not to physically nor emotionally hurt others, to add to that, the act of being selfish can be justified by applying the idea coined by Immanuel Kant through his Utilitarianism concept which considers “the amount of wellness / goodness to the larger amount of individuals is the justification of an action thus if your action of selfishness;

1. Does not undermine the rights of others
2. Does not hurt others physically or emotionally
3. Brings goodness or happiness to a large number of individuals

Then the action of being selfish is well justified and acceptable as none of us mortals would be able to be “unselfish” living in the days of materialistic and performance orientated world, inculcate on practising “Conditional Selfishness”