On Our Selfish Ego -- Entry no. 1

A collection of thoughts and questions on human nature

"Recognizing that your innate interest to do good things does not mean you are innately good. Such a proclivity should serve to prove the existence of your eternal selfish ego; the 'number two', your tenant, who dictates quietly, from their corner of your brain, what things will give you pleasure and self-gratitude."

~Victor Ambiguo (NFA)

Author's Note

I'm going to begin posting small quotes pertaining to my thoughts and philosophy on the selfish ego of humans. They will be a collection of thoughts and questions that should hope to spur intelligent conversation.

Reviews

[M. J. Smith]

Philosophy is not my strong point. I work everyday just to survive. Tight budgets, limited funds, and too many bills. That's ego perhaps. But I am still the human animal with all of his needs. Goods deeds are done out of considered self interest. What goes around comes around. Just a few reflections from a half educated hillbilly.

[NFA]

Survival is self-preservation, and that's ego. Your selfish nature. But this selfishness should not be seen as negative thing–only just to acknowledge that it is there and is wired within all of us. We are not immaculate, we are not altruists, we are neither good nor bad. We are simply human.

[M. J. Smith]

That said, there are things that must of a necessity be viewed as evil. The list is too long to post. Within the human existence there is good and evil. Or so I was taught growing up. Listen to me! A would be philosopher! I should stick to walking in the hills and watching birds ...

[Samuel Dickens]

This reminds me of a book I read back in the seventies, "Looking out for Number One". According to that author, every decision we make is a selfish one. (I sure don't like thinking of myself as selfish)

[NFA]

Well, that's the point I'm trying to make––despite us not believing ourselves to be selfish, it's an inevitable trait we all carry within us that dictates our actions. However, the problem is that the word selfish has been demonized in society. It's important to recognize that it's an ever-present part of our nature, but that it is also not as negative as most people believe it to be. I recommend Ayn Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness".