?>

I used to get worked up into a lather when individualists (of the Ayn Rand, “Atlas Shrugged” variety) would proclaim that altruism is a fallacy because anything, no matter how selfless, is ultimately done with a degree of self-interest. The reason I’d get worked up was because rationally, it made a lot of sense. But somehow it felt wrong.

I tried to defend altruism logically. My argument went something like this: the fact that one person in the entirety of creation would act completely selflessly, like a mother choosing to die for her child, proves that altruism does in fact exist. This never rung true to my individualist counter parts, and the obvious counter-argument was always that the mother is simply dying out of self-interest to keep her kin alive. It was always hard for me to stomach this, but, hey, it was possible to consider that as well. Further, they would claim that the decision to become a parent could be construed as a selfish one because it was only out of self-interest to propagate their gene pool.

The whole argument seemed rooted in deeply faulty reasoning, which is why I have serious issues with individualists in general. However, I’d never been able to get past my frustrations in order to articulate an argument that made sense to them (and me). Something feeling wrong doesn’t really count when making an argument.

Enter the Dalai Lama. I’ve been reading “The Wisdom of Forgiveness” these last few days and pondering the principles of compassion and interconnectedness. I have always had a sense for the two. For as long as I can remember, I have been able to empathize with suffering, be it a poor person in need of food or, more recently, a rich person in need of guidance. And almost a decade ago I came to understand the deep and intangible ways in which everything, every little mundane thing, is connected to another. These insights, when pondered separately, led me down strange and unsustainable paths at times. It had never occurred to me that cultivating compassion (as method) begets an understanding of interconnectedness (as wisdom). The two are deeply linked to one another.

This approach towards understanding ourselves and our crucial role in the entirety of creation is most easily explained by the Dalai Lama as a form of enlightened self-interest. A world view that compels one to act for the betterment of the self because of a deep awareness of the interconnectedness of all things, and the compassionate understanding that if one does well, so does everyone else. It is a beautifully simple precept that negates the principal argument against altruism because it acknowledges that yes, it is borne out of self-interest, but it is a self-interest that emanates from a desire to contribute to the whole. My best interest is in your best interest.

Coming to terms with this concept as an antidote to selfish individualism is not entirely devoid of ego, as in “Aha! I now have a counter-argument.” The key, I suspect, is to engage it with compassion and understanding that even the selfish individual has it at least halfway right from the beginning.

Jorge

Further Reads:

“The Wisdom of Forgiveness”
The Dalai Lama and Victor Chan

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand

292 Responses to “”

  1. Black Says:

    Black…

    Let me disagree….

  2. Derrick Says:

    .

    спасибо….

  3. Micheal Says:

    .

    good info!…

  4. lonnie Says:

    .

    hello….

  5. carlton Says:

    .

    tnx….

  6. Bob Says:

    .

    спс!…

  7. brian Says:

    .

    спс за инфу!…

  8. duane Says:

    .

    tnx….

  9. Kelly Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  10. oscar Says:

    .

    спс за инфу!!…

  11. erik Says:

    .

    good info!!…

  12. frank Says:

    .

    благодарен!…

  13. Adam Says:

    .

    благодарствую….

  14. otis Says:

    .

    thanks!…

  15. Luis Says:

    .

    спс!!…

  16. Don Says:

    .

    благодарен!!…

  17. kyle Says:

    .

    сэнкс за инфу!…

  18. virgil Says:

    .

    good info….

  19. Ralph Says:

    .

    спасибо за инфу!…

  20. otis Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  21. clifford Says:

    .

    tnx….

  22. Clayton Says:

    .

    спс за инфу….

  23. henry Says:

    .

    спасибо….

  24. Bill Says:

    .

    спасибо за инфу!!…

  25. Henry Says:

    .

    спасибо за инфу!…

  26. Lester Says:

    .

    спасибо за инфу….

  27. glenn Says:

    .

    thanks for information!!…

  28. angel Says:

    .

    благодарен….

  29. leon Says:

    .

    good….

  30. Herman Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  31. kyle Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  32. Lonnie Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  33. robert Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  34. willard Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  35. russell Says:

    .

    tnx!!…

  36. Luke Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  37. anthony Says:

    .

    thanks for information!!…

  38. Javier Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  39. nick Says:

    .

    hello!!…

  40. Wade Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  41. ross Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  42. travis Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  43. Franklin Says:

    .

    hello!…

  44. michael Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  45. herman Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí….

  46. Lewis Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî!…

  47. troy Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  48. jim Says:

    .

    hello!…

  49. Gerard Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  50. antonio Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  51. Casey Says:

    .

    good….

  52. kyle Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  53. Frank Says:

    .

    thanks!…

  54. Leslie Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  55. ricardo Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  56. Ruben Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  57. Dwayne Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  58. floyd Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  59. dana Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  60. jared Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  61. christopher Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  62. Paul Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  63. Lloyd Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  64. samuel Says:

    .

    thank you….

  65. Leslie Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  66. Allen Says:

    .

    good info!…

  67. jack Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  68. alejandro Says:

    .

    thank you….

  69. alfredo Says:

    .

    tnx….

  70. roger Says:

    .

    good info!!…

  71. albert Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  72. albert Says:

    .

    thank you!…

  73. Floyd Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  74. gerald Says:

    .

    thanks!!…

  75. Kevin Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!…

  76. keith Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  77. Nathan Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  78. Maurice Says:

    .

    tnx for info….

  79. Rex Says:

    .

    tnx for info….

  80. Jerry Says:

    .

    thanks for information….

  81. William Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  82. Alfonso Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  83. Carlos Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  84. Leo Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  85. ralph Says:

    .

    tnx!!…

  86. Calvin Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  87. Mario Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  88. Ricardo Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  89. Jared Says:

    .

    thanks for information….

  90. Dave Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!!…

  91. Ray Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!!…

  92. Phillip Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  93. claude Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  94. ryan Says:

    .

    thank you!!…

  95. allen Says:

    .

    thank you….

  96. harold Says:

    .

    good info!…

  97. steve Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  98. Zachary Says:

    .

    good….

  99. Jorge Says:

    .

    hello….

  100. ronald Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  101. Andy Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  102. Allan Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  103. oscar Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  104. trevor Says:

    .

    hello….

  105. larry Says:

    .

    good info!!…

  106. shane Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  107. Alan Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  108. lloyd Says:

    .

    tnx….

  109. sam Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ….

  110. maurice Says:

    .

    tnx….

  111. James Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  112. donald Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  113. Brandon Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  114. claude Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  115. peter Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  116. Gary Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  117. Morris Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî!…

  118. Christian Says:

    .

    good!…

  119. lee Says:

    .

    thank you!…

  120. joe Says:

    .

    tnx….

  121. Gerald Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  122. rafael Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  123. Jason Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  124. Alan Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  125. michael Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  126. richard Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  127. Homer Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  128. ricardo Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  129. leslie Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  130. norman Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  131. otis Says:

    .

    good info….

  132. randy Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  133. alexander Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  134. eugene Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!!…

  135. steve Says:

    .

    tnx for info….

  136. kenny Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  137. Andre Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  138. mathew Says:

    .

    thanks!!…

  139. Samuel Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  140. edward Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  141. darryl Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí….

  142. edward Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!!…

  143. jeff Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  144. warren Says:

    .

    hello!!…

  145. Jared Says:

    .

    thanks….

  146. Claude Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  147. Travis Says:

    .

    thanks for information….

  148. Edward Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  149. Harry Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  150. Arnold Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  151. benjamin Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  152. carlos Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  153. luke Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  154. Fredrick Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  155. tyrone Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!!…

  156. herman Says:

    .

    thanks….

  157. angel Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  158. Lee Says:

    .

    good info….

  159. luis Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  160. felix Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  161. Freddie Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  162. clyde Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  163. jeffery Says:

    .

    good info….

  164. virgil Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî….

  165. Lyle Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  166. richard Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  167. sidney Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  168. roberto Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  169. Stephen Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  170. wallace Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  171. Thomas Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  172. Phillip Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  173. Charles Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  174. Julio Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  175. mario Says:

    .

    good….

  176. andy Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  177. Maurice Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî….

  178. bruce Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  179. Luke Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  180. Justin Says:

    .

    thanks!…

  181. Ted Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  182. Dave Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  183. Floyd Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ….

  184. matt Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  185. marc Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  186. dale Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  187. Hubert Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  188. Shannon Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî!!…

  189. floyd Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!!…

  190. Clyde Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  191. todd Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  192. Lester Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!…

  193. Tim Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  194. Vernon Says:

    .

    thanks….

  195. Ted Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  196. gerald Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  197. reginald Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  198. Jerome Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  199. Alfonso Says:

    .

    tnx for info….

  200. ben Says:

    .

    tnx!…

  201. mathew Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  202. Evan Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  203. Antonio Says:

    .

    thanks….

  204. Gerald Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  205. Wade Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  206. Shawn Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  207. steve Says:

    .

    thanks for information!!…

  208. Willard Says:

    .

    thanks!…

  209. Edward Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî!…

  210. Max Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí….

  211. ross Says:

    .

    good!!…

  212. jaime Says:

    .

    hello!…

  213. armando Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  214. Jerry Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  215. paul Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  216. lewis Says:

    .

    thanks….

  217. dale Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  218. perry Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî….

  219. Robert Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  220. Frank Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  221. Lonnie Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  222. earl Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  223. doug Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  224. Duane Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  225. Max Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ….

  226. Salvador Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  227. Elmer Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  228. Fredrick Says:

    .

    thanks for information….

  229. jimmie Says:

    .

    good info….

  230. gary Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  231. Wayne Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  232. Ronald Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  233. Dustin Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî….

  234. Cory Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  235. Raul Says:

    .

    hello!…

  236. Jared Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  237. joel Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  238. Juan Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî!…

  239. alex Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  240. ralph Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!!…

  241. shannon Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!…

  242. Peter Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  243. eduardo Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!!…

  244. edwin Says:

    .

    thanks!…

  245. theodore Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  246. edwin Says:

    .

    hello!!…

  247. Edward Says:

    .

    thanks for information!!…

  248. Jerry Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  249. Larry Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  250. Don Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ….

  251. gabriel Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  252. Matthew Says:

    .

    good!…

  253. Ian Says:

    .

    good….

  254. donald Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  255. Francis Says:

    .

    ñïñ!!…

  256. todd Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  257. ronald Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  258. jackie Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  259. Ronnie Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  260. Jeremiah Says:

    .

    good info!…

  261. Clyde Says:

    .

    good….

  262. reginald Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  263. angel Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  264. seth Says:

    .

    thanks for information!!…

  265. terrance Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  266. randy Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  267. Gregory Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  268. Jonathan Says:

    .

    hello….

  269. michael Says:

    .

    ñïàñèáî!!…

  270. Earl Says:

    .

    tnx for info!!…

  271. Danny Says:

    .

    thank you!…

  272. Johnnie Says:

    .

    good!!…

  273. Bernard Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  274. Armando Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!…

  275. hector Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  276. jim Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  277. Eduardo Says:

    .

    ñïñ çà èíôó!…

  278. Robert Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  279. charles Says:

    .

    ñïñ….

  280. Chris Says:

    .

    hello….

  281. Raul Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  282. Kenny Says:

    .

    tnx for info!…

  283. Keith Says:

    .

    hello!…

  284. george Says:

    .

    ñïñ!…

  285. Julian Says:

    .

    thanks for information!…

  286. Adrian Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!…

  287. Leonard Says:

    .

    tnx….

  288. juan Says:

    .

    hello!…

  289. Orlando Says:

    .

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  290. lynn Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ….

  291. Perry Says:

    .

    áëàãîäàðþ!…

  292. Chester Says:

    .

    thank you!…

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.