Basis of all morality on selfishness? (beliefs, atheist, Satan, verse)

[isaax]

There is a principle that I personally hold that selfishness is the greatest form of morality that exists. This may sound odd because of the common perception of selfishness. My view on selfishness is a little hard to vocalize so I will give a few examples. If I want money I could take it from someone, but this will likely result in legal action against me which would result in me having less money than I started with. So the most selfish way that I could get money would be to find the most socially acceptable easy way to make money that I could. If I want sexual gratification I could rape someone but I would then go to prison. The most selfish way to get it would be to develope a relationship with someone so that they would be willing to give it me all the time. I would like to hear some opinions on the concept, and if it is possible that this could be used from an atheistic perspective to explain common morallity

[Booko]

It sounds not unlike Objectivism

Have you, by chance, read Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness"?

[isaax]

I haven't read it but I obtained that beleive through a distilation of the principles and beliefs of satanism

[Booko]

Originally Posted by isaax

I haven't read it but I obtained that beleive through a distilation of the principles and beliefs of satanism

Ah, well then you will definitely find some people to converse with here.

[eudaimonia]

Originally Posted by Booko

It sounds not unlike Objectivism

I suppose in the limited sense that Ayn Rand believed that the moral is the practical.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Atechi]

The real problem is, if selifishness is the basis for morality, why then do we uphold selfless acts are a purer and more natively good action? I mean, in a burning building survival is most important, yet firemen who rush back into burning buildings are held in almost universal high regard. If I am understanding what you are stating, basically form a perspective of selfish action, being a fireman would be imoral, as charging into a burning building even with proper training, is needless risk to the self.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Atechi

The real problem is, if selifishness is the basis for morality, why then do we uphold selfless acts are a purer and more natively good action?

One possibility is that by holding it up as a great thing, we encourage others to be 'selfless' which will no doubt have some benefit for us.

[Random]

In order to do "good", self-negation is inevitable: whether one wills it or not, and whether one is conscious of it or not.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by isaax

There is a principle that I personally hold that selfishness is the greatest form of morality that exists. This may sound odd because of the common perception of selfishness. My view on selfishness is a little hard to vocalize so I will give a few examples. If I want money I could take it from someone, but this will likely result in legal action against me which would result in me having less money than I started with. So the most selfish way that I could get money would be to find the most socially acceptable easy way to make money that I could. If I want sexual gratification I could rape someone but I would then go to prison. The most selfish way to get it would be to develope a relationship with someone so that they would be willing to give it me all the time. I would like to hear some opinions on the concept, and if it is possible that this could be used from an atheistic perspective to explain common morallity

I like. There's others I like more, but this I like.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Atechi

The real problem is, if selifishness is the basis for morality, why then do we uphold selfless acts are a purer and more natively good action? I mean, in a burning building survival is most important, yet firemen who rush back into burning buildings are held in almost universal high regard. If I am understanding what you are stating, basically form a perspective of selfish action, being a fireman would be imoral, as charging into a burning building even with proper training, is needless risk to the self.

If someone in a burning building takes the time rescue their cat from the flames, then that is a selfish act because they wouldn't want to be without their friend. Firemen who "rush back in" might be considered to do so because upholding what they believe makes them feel good about themselves. The point is that being moral is being selfish.

How we look at the act as "pure" is up to us.