module 3 ---- Preliminary Theories

"We are all here on earth to help others. What I can't figure out is what the others are here for." --W. H. Auden. Discuss.

For me, this statement is about helping someone and obligating him or her to help you in return.  It only expresses the selfishness of humans who will only help if there’ll be something in return.  Though we obviously know that it is good to help others, we are being refrain by our self to do so because of the thinking of what will we get if we help them. We always keep in mind the question, “Will other people help me when there comes a time that I’ll need their help?” If only, we’ll focus in the first statement about being here on earth to help others and eliminate the “what about me?” syndrome, we’ll surely create a better world, a world with no chaos but only true happiness and harmony. 

Ethical egoists think that people will be happiest if they look out for themselves and not concern themselves with others but is this where true human happiness lies? Discuss.

Being selfish is natural to humans. Most of the people think of themselves first than anyone else in this world.  For me, looking out for our own self doesn’t fully make us happy. There a lot of things that makes a person happy and most of those things are cause by other people, our family maybe or other people important to us.  I think most of us consider the people we love and look out for as our inspirations in anything we do.  Whenever we achieve something we always dedicate it to the important people of our lives. This common practice of humans is a strong proof that true happiness happens when we only look out not only for ourselves but for others. 

What are the roots of egoism? Where does it come from? What do egotistical people FEAR?

          I think egoism comes from a person’s thought of having himself as the center of everything through thinking that he/she is better compare to others.  It rooted from a person’s desire of being superior above everyone.  Anything that can add up something to his pride he perceives it as good even though the act already causes pain to others.  Egotistical people fears humiliation or anything that includes putting down pride.