In a message dated April 10, 1998, Pet564 writes:

Probably so (after all, Christians do accept the premises which give the notion 'sin' any meaning at all), but one of the main (along with a multitude of other) problems I have with Christianity (and other religions), is the view that man is either a puppet of his god, or a puppet of the devil, but either way, an incompetent, baseless and helpless puppet. Even when the Christian accuses man of being selfish (as if selfishness were some sort of vice), the doctrine eventually asserts that selfishness is "of the devil." Man, they say, is morally depraved merely by existing, and thus he is in peril of eternal torment, unless he's redeemed by religion. It's this doctrine of inherent unearned guilt that I oppose chiefly.

A girl at work the other day accused one of her co-workers of being selfish, and exhorted: "You shouldn't be so self-centered!" I asked this girl, "Who is supposed to be the center of this individual's life, if not herself?" The girl was stupefied, for she had no response to my question - and perhaps even saw the absurdity of her exhortation, perhaps. However, the fact is: she had no argument for her defense, no argument that could conclude that selfishness - or 'self-centeredness' - is in any way a vice, or a moral transgression. This individual - like most in our society, and probably most other societies - was taught that selfishness is evil (just as most are taught that atheism is inherently evil, as Sfinfidel point out in a recent post). However, that teaching has never been more groundless, and can only be 'justified' (however, not excused!) through religious dogmas and other altruistic vehicles.

I wonder, after all I have provided as far as an argument for the virtue of selfishness, does anyone in this forum still think that selfishness is still inherently immoral or wrong? If so, what is your argument? I'm still waiting, and no one has stepped forth with any kind of argument - reasoned or otherwise - why I or any other human being should abandon his right to exist for his own sake, and live according to his rational self-interests.

Can anyone provide a valid argument in defense of altruism?

Still wondering,

Tindrbox

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