It is better to be self-interested or not? This is a question that has puzzled many philosophers for centuries. One would immediately think the answer is obvious. When as a matter of fact it is not that simple. For “self-interest” is the opposite of “selflessness”, and how does one survive in this large often-cruel world without a degree of self-interest? If there is self-interest involved, can one be truly altruistic is the obvious follow up to this. The implications of this are that true altruism does not exist if a person shows any element of self-interest in actions. Instead altruism is best defined as the “action of helping others out of selfless concern regardless cost to oneself.” It should be argued that this act should benefit another
