Motivating Forces of Self-Interest & Altruism

All individuals seek to maximize their own pleasure and minimize pain. Only a masochist does otherwise. And it can even be argued that a masochist is actually seeking pleasure because to this individual pain is pleasure. Maximizing one's own pleasure should not be considered selfish; it only becomes selfish when the individual asserts his or her own will above others.

Even the most unselfish actions can be traced to selfish motives. An example is the maternal instinct, which is one of the most prevalent in humanity. Mothers are famous for sacrificing their own well-being for the welfare of their children. But is this action truly unselfish? A mother whose child suffers often experiences more grief and anguish than the child itself. The mother feels helpless and this contributes to her psychic pain. By relieving the child from suffering the mother likewise relieves her own pain and suffering because the mother can only be truly happy when the child is happy. Thus the actions of the mother to ensure the child's welfare are at least partially the result of selfish motives.

. . .
h the Joneses." Everyone strives to obtain the biggest and the best in terms of materialism. Besides the artificial fears generated by commercialism, individuals have real reason to fear and to act from self-interest. The world's economies are currently experiencing crisis conditions. No economy is immune, as witnessed by the downfall of once mighty Japan, and the vulnerability of the U.S. stock market. The millennium approaches, and with it the dreaded Year 2000 computer problem. Americans who are paying into the Social Security system are unsure of whether benefits will be there when they retire. The doomsday clock continues to tick as yet another country develops the capability for nuclear weapons. A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the entire universe as the world's problems have grown so complex that traditional solutions are no longer effective. Given these conditions even the most optimistic person has experienced growing anxiety, if not outright fear. If self-interest and fear have been motivations in the past they will surely be so in the future. The 21st century forewarns of radical changes. Few, if any, are prepared. It appears that the prophets of gloom and doom are about to have their day. Topic Two: Th
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Social Security, American Instead, Mother Theresa, , Congress Women, Industrial Revolution, Devout Christians, Mother Theresa's, King Jr, College Politicians, editorial writer, self-interest fear, student protestors, mother theresa, editorial writer's, protest march, civil rights, civil rights march, 200 students, students capitol, act self-interest, act self-interest fear, college student body, mother theresa acted, quarter people participated,
Approximate Word count = 2067
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Motivating Forces of Self-Interest & Altruism