How to know if you're being selfish (and whether or not that's bad) - Mark Hopwood

Explore a classic philosophical debate and decide: is it human nature to be selfish? And if so, is it possible to overcome it?

--

The question of whether or not humans are inherently selfish is one of philosophy’s oldest debates. The idea that we only act out of self-interest is an extreme stance that few philosophers would endorse. However, the idea that all humans have a deep selfish streak is something many philosophers would agree with. So, are we innately selfish? Mark Hopwood explores this classic conundrum.

Lesson by Mark Hopwood, directed by Avi Ofer.

Support Our Non-Profit Mission
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Connect With Us
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Keep Learning
----------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------

Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX, ND, Samyogita Hardikar, Vanessa Graulich, Vandana Gunwani, Abdulmohsin Almadi, AJ Lyon, Geoffrey Bultitude, Mi Mi, Thomas Rothert, Brian Elieson, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Nevin Spoljaric, Sid Chanpuriya, Anoop Varghese, David Yastremski, Noah Webb, Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon, Aleksandar Donev, Nicole Klau Ibarra, Jesse Lira, Ezekiel Raui, Petr Vacek, Dennis, Olivia Fu, Kari Teffeau, Cindy Lai, Rajath Durgada Manjunath, Dan Nguyen, Chin Beng Tan, Tom Boman, Karen Warner, Iryna Panasiuk, Aaron Torres, Eric Braun, Sonja Worzewski, Michael Clement, Adam Berry, Ghaith Tarawneh, Nathan Milford, Tomas Beckett, Alice Ice, Eric Berman and Kurt Paolo Sevillano.

[ordinarryalien]

People who ask themselves if they are selfish are probably not selfish. And people who are selfish probably will not watch this video.

[hashamkhan]

Love is "the extremely difficult realization that something other than oneself is real [too]."...Iris Murdoch

[soltersortna]

The problem with the cupcake example is that no one actually cares if you take the last cupcake. It’s not selfish at all, but just perceived to be for no practical reason. I see it more like a problem of managing anxiety than moral responsibility. My depression makes me anxious about all sorts of silly unreasonable things like that, which I should really just ignore. Just eat the cupcake!

[eliplayz]

Personally, it's bad to be selfish, but I want to make the distinction that self-care is NOT selfishness

[mohakapt]

Something I practice when I’m feeling selfish is to remind myself that that the only difference between me and the less fortunate people is that I was luckier in life and that I could have been very much in their place if I was any less lucky and if I was in their place I would love them to share a little of what they have.
For me this really helps because comparing myself to the more fortunate people only makes me more selfish.

[themaestrodamus]

Take the last cupcake… if you don’t, someone will. But if while you’re taking the last cupcake someone(s) comes along wanting a cupcake, share with them. Who knows, you may even make a friend in the process.

[CalebCalixFernandez]

During my childhood, I was basically supported by my mother alone. My father did provide some support, but it didn't compare to my mother's. Because of that, I didn't have many things growing up, and, whenever I got something, primarily toys, I would guard them zealously. If I were told to share, I would argue why should I share the very few things that I could call mine. To this day, I still behave like that in regards that I tend to be extremely protective of my personal property.

[eshnamarandi]

I feel like every human being is indeed selfish and that isn't a bad thing. Because i believe even a selfless act is, in fact, a selfish act. Being of help to others, sacrificing things and oppurtunities for others or even just donating to a charity(in an anonymous manner) usually gives us mental and emotional satisfaction and a sense of belonging, that we did something that might have made that person's day better even if no one esle knows about it. The thought of recieving one's appreciation for doing something significantly small in comparison for you, makes us happy and makes ourselves feel like a better person, which is necessary.
Additionally, being selfish and understanding that putting yourself first before others in certain situations is much more healthy for the person, than not speaking your mind.

[itstonycia]

I’ve been told I was selfish since I was young by my family. It always hurt my feelings. I’m just protective over my belongings…but now I feel selfish bc I struggle so much inside and don’t want to deal with outside chaos

[CrisOnTheInternet]

Selfishness to me is doing or not doing something that harm others. Not sharing doesn't make you selfish.

[Valerio_the_wandering_sprite]

As a person born with Asperger's syndrome, I've been labeled selfish and egocentric for many years. It was only after becoming self-aware of my own condition in my mid 20s that I realized that a combination of both theory of mind and group hierarchy marks the boundary between positive selfishness and negative selfishness.

Let's start with a straightforward example.

If you can't give a beggar money because you're already short on it, it's a no brainer that your selfishness won't be critiziced. If you are rich and give nothing to the poor, you're no longer excused, because even donating 20 euro wouldn’t hit your finances.

Things get difficult when you're in a group where everybody is more or less equal. Theory of mind dictates that you should be able to understand other people's needs automatically, but this is unfortunately the moment when neurodivergents fail to realize that even a thing as simple as eating a cupcake is set by unwritten rules of interaction. Have you already eaten one? Then let somebody else take it, because you're not the only one to be hungry. There are three on the table? Wait until somebody picks one, so that you won't be noticed that much. One left? By my experience, it's wise to wait until the end of the party to ask if I can bring it home or share it with somebody else. While some basics rules are understandable by applying common sense, others are so tricky that the only way to learn them is to breach them and be called selfish.

Real selfishness is when you have the means to make the lives of people around you better, but you end up doing nothing for them despite being aware that you can afford that loss.

[iciclefreeze]

In my opinion, one should always prioritize his own needs and wants but without hurting others because each person is responsible for his own happiness but this doesn't mean that you should not be kind or generous far from that. In fact, it's this form of selflessness that makes you the most fulfilled as a person. But to sum it up I'd say what I always said : "the best way to be selfish is to be selfless"

[ZeoViolet]

Listen: Even if we WERE inherently selfish, then the fact that we are capable of consciously overcoming it, and sharing and being HAPPY to do so, that making someone else happy makes us feel good, says al lot about us as humans versus us just acting on animal instinct. People who act based on the assumption that "humans were born to act this way or that way" don't seem to quite get that we'd not have evolved any form of true consciousness and senses of Self, independent of instinct, if this had been the case!

[primenumberbuster]

Ted should do a whole animated movie in different styles. 😍

[VisualVoyages]

Your insights on selfishness resonate deeply. Acknowledging one's privilege and practicing empathy are powerful tools for personal growth. Sharing your personal journey adds a relatable touch to the discussion. Thanks for fostering reflection and understanding!

[ThrillSeeker]

Even Batman agreed we all deserve to be a little selfish once in a while. Also that jaywalking is never acceptable and to always fasten your seatbelt

[adarshs]

Since no one wants to eat the last cupcake from the fear of appearing selfish, it could be argued that it is quite selfless to eat it.

[no-lifenoah]

There's only so much that you can justify as taking what's yours before it isn't yours to take anymore

[Tail_sez]

I clicked onto this video because I am drawing a picture as a gift for Mother's Day and I'm questioning whether I'm really drawing it for my mother's sake or for myself to prove that I'm a good artist and so she will praise me.

[vonslagle]

I’ve spent the last 4 years of my life trying to save someone I love. It’s destroyed my life but I’m still trying and can see the light at the end of the tunnel