For My World or The World?
Do we do what we do for selfish gain or the greater
good?
When we do things or fight for things in our world
are we fighting for the greater good or just for ourselves. Doing things for
the world around you (THE world) would be considered utilitarianism.
Utilitarianism is the doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for
the benefit of the majority. The doctrine that an action is right insofar as it
promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number
should be the guiding principle of conduct. This sounds like something everyone
should be using in everyday life.
People that practice utilitarianism are doing things
for the greater part of the people rather than for just themselves. I would
like you to think about something for a moment: have you ever done something
for no gain whatsoever, just to help another or everyone else as opposed to
yourself? Most people would say “yes!” While it is very reputable that you or
someone around you has been a so- called utilitarianist, you will always get
SOMETHING back when you give. You never are truly left empty, we know this
because whenever we put others before ourselves we gain the satisfaction that
we helped someone, or we gain joy from the happiness of the other, maybe we
gain a friend. One may think that it is impossible to always gain especially
when you always give and feel like in fact you are losing. You can gain anger,
disappointment, and pain when you give. The way someone can react can make you
feel like your works were for nothing or that they were not good enough.
Everyone has felt this way before at some point in time.
So, I would like you to think about something maybe
new to you. Subconsciously, you are always trying or will gain from a selfless
act. In most cases this will make you gain something good, even as small as the
satisfaction that you did something good for others. Satisfaction itself is a reward, just like
getting a gift would be but, do you ever lowkey do something nice to gain in
return? Although, this act may benefit another and may seem selfless is it
benefitting you?
Some believe the phrase “What goes around, comes
around.” When you are helping someone pay their rent, driving them to their
car, carrying their bags, you may doing it for the future ‘come around’ pursae.
Yet, you count this as ‘selfless’ and for ‘the greater good’. I am not going to
lie, I am a very selfless person and want others to have the best first but I
have in the far past done things that were very nice with alternative motives
because I knew the outcome I would get from doing the act. This was about
middle school when I realized I was doing good things for the ‘come around’ for
a short period of time so I stopped. These act would no longer be a selfless
act but a selfish act because of my return.
Let’s bring up soup kitchens. On Thanksgiving many
people from primarily churches serve in soup kitchens to help the less
fortunate eat a good meal with others. This looks very good to others (makes
you look better), looks good on a resume (makes you possibly get a job because
of your heart), and makes you feel good about yourself (giving you joy and
satisfaction). Give/ gain, give/ gain. In closing, I think that utilitarianism
is a great thought but unobtainable considering alterior motives and inevitable
reward.
posting for Sarah Beth Glover
Well, the good you do from ulterior motives is still good. Isn't it?
ReplyDeleteBut of course, selfless altruism is more impressive than egoistic action designed to pad one's reputation. I'm sure all of us are sometimes guilty of the latter, but I've also known plenty of good people who frequently placed their own interests behind those of others. Almost every parent I've known (including myself), I have no doubt, would act self-sacrificially for their children without hesitation.