I guess where I sort of have issues with isn’t that someone’s doing something selfless. I think that’s great it’s more that I don’t believe in a mindset that means trying to never think of yourself. It goes back to the individual being part of a group part I mentioned earlier. If you never learn what you want and what makes you motivated I think you will fail at being someone that has the foundation and confidence to succeed within a group. I don’t think the self is evil. I think most of us are born good and with good intentions for our community. We are instead taught how to act and feel. In saying we need to forget ourselves we’re implying that we are somehow bad or wrong. That is not true. We are good and if we are believed in by ourselves we can arguably accomplish more altruistic things then someone who thinks it’s necessary to forget oneself. Why can’t we be both caring about others and ourselves? Why do we have to distinguish one as being more worthy of our love and attention?

See that’s a good point, but I feel like that’s more a way to justify being self centered at times. Because to me your actions aren’t altruistic just because the intention is there. You’re delaying an altruistic action until you are able to cash in on it. There’s also the chance you never fulfill that intention. I may also just be misunderstanding things because I only have a basic understanding of philosophy.

My brother is minoring in philosophy at BYU so we’ve had a couple of discussions about different things. He believes that everyone should adopt an altruistic mindset at all times because that is the only path to true happiness. Arguing that it isn’t necessary to think of yourself and by thinking of others you will have a joy and fulfillment that you can’t get elsewhere.

I disagree with that view point because there are negative consequences with that line of thinking and because fulfillment/joy can be achieved without that mindset. I think it isn’t necessary to frame your life through what value you provide others because society doesn’t need you to self sacrifice to survive. Most people want belonging and to be a valued member of a group so they will act for the good of the group by virtue of their place in it. By thinking of yourself as an actor in others lives you rob yourself of a more stable foundation. I think in order to be part of a group you must be an individual first.

I’m curious what others thoughts are on the topic.