The Dan Norton Show

Is it selfish to go to school? Selfishness and altruism in choosing one’s major.

Part 1: An example of a selfish action and the meaning of “selfish.” Utilitarianism, Kantianism, egoism. Building a shed for grandma. The nature of ethics: Is ethics only other-regarding? Where do our ideas of “the good” and “the bad” come from? Becoming more long-range. Blaring one’s music. What kind of society do we want to live in? Guilt. Swiping money. Relativizing ethics/morality to something...

Is creating art selfish? How to define “selfishness.” What’s the motive behind your action: To benefit yourself? Others? Both? Would you do something that you didn’t expect to benefit you? If so, why, and how much time would you spend on it? What makes something the right/moral/ethical thing to do? Are good and bad relative? How much emotional flatness will you tolerate? Is there even such a thing...

Selflessness/selfishness in relationships. Are we missing a word to describe actions that benefit oneself but that don’t hurt others? Asian selflessness in choosing a subject to major in in college.

One philosopher’s perspective on selfishness. The dictionary definition of “selfishness.” How to determine the right definition. Generic terms and subdivisions thereof (via adjectives). Selflessness. Judging selfishness/selflessness in the full context. Yoga, meditation, and selfishness. Senses of “self.” Using etymology (or word parts: “self” + “-ish”) to understand “selfish.” Stipulative/arbitra...

Does the concept of “self-interest” apply to nations as wholes rather than just individual people? If so, how? The public good. Individualism vs. collectivism (Plato/Hegel).

Is joining the military selfless?

Selfishness, being a lawyer, and doing harm. Objective justice and self-interest. Harmonious selfishness. “Eye for an eye,” self-interest, and punishment. Public funding, individual liberty, and selfishness.

The Chinese word for “selfish.” The Chinese attitude toward selfishness and the one-child policy. Staying in the U.S. vs. going back to China: Is one of those options selfish? Which would make you happiest—and would you choose that option? Are we missing a word? Can selfishness be a good thing? How should it be defined?

Is pursuing a career selfish? How to evaluate selfishness. Doing something to the detriment of others. Religion and selfishness. Nietzsche on Christianity. Mormonism. Individualism in America vs. Asia. The afterlife and selfishness. Immanuel Kant. Ayn Rand. Communism vs. capitalism and different senses of equality. Self-interest and market forces. Government programs and taxation/force. Democracy,...

Is walking a dog for money selfish? If so, is it bad? Mutual selfishness to mutual benefit. Is everyone selfish? My opinion on whether selfishness is good or bad. Is harming others always bad?

Topics covered: Balancing selfishness and selflessness. The perfect person.

Topics covered: Is going to school selfish? “Self-focus” as a hybrid of selfishness and selflessness. Labeling individual actions vs. people as a whole as “selfish,” etc.

Topics covered: Selfishness and self-care. Conflicts of interest (or lack thereof). Christianity and Mormonism. Original sin. Individualism and collectivism in Christianity. Christianity and self-care / mental health. Suicide as selfish/altruistic. Selfish giving. Game theory. Adam Smith.

Topics covered: Jesus Christ as a role model for selflessness. Is heaven a selfish goal? How did Jesus take on others’ sins?

Topics covered: Selfishness and pursuing a career. Doing good for the world and doing good for oneself: If you had to choose between these, which would you choose, and why? Questioning the way one was raised.

Topics covered: Is working out at the gym selfish? If so, is working out bad? If it’s selfish but not bad, then is selfishness sometimes good? Ayn Rand.

Topics covered: Is love selfish? Selfless? Love/sex as an emotional/spiritual/material trade.

Topics covered: Are you a selfish person? The nature of sacrifice. Mother Teresa. Can emotions be priced? Is being a student selfish? Selfishness/self-sacrifice as an issue of intent. Evaluating selflessness/inaction. Is helping someone good? The complexity of these issues.

Topics covered: Is not waiting one’s turn on the freeway selfish? Selfishness and self-preservation. Long-range consequences of behavior that is called “selfish.” Is “selfish” the right word?

Introduction to The Selfishness Project