The Selfish Giver

Is life worth fighting for? Absolutely.

It is days like these, when my son gives my daughter a beautiful Tulip to make up for the dandelion of hers that he stepped on, that make me proud to be a father. Although I wanted to get mad at him for picking one of our flowers without asking, his head was in the right place, which was taking responsibility for his actions (stepping on her flower) and trying to make amends (giving her a new, prettier flower). It is so exciting to see him utilize proper values and virtues for living a full, happy life.

Perhaps the greatest confusion people have with the Objectivist's ethics is their failure to understand how selfishness can lead to positive personal relationships. For me, this picture captures the concept of selfishness perfectly. My son wants to play with my daughter and does not want her sad because she will stop playing with him when he does make her sad. So it was perfectly selfish of him to want her to stay happy, hence the flower. Whenever people think of selfishness, think of this picture.

But why stop there. Its not just my kids that I want to life full, happy lives. I want to live in a world where everyone treats others as my son (selfishly) does here. As a parent, I want my children to live in a world where other people take responsibility for their own screw-ups (instead of asking for others to bail them out). It is in my own self-interest that everyone take responsibility. That everyone acts with the same selfishness that my son does in this picture.

I am willing to fight for a future where these values are taken seriously.