Argumentative Essay: Becoming Selfless

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Recently, I participated in a heated discussion during a double date on the subject of what it means to be selfish and, on the other end, what qualifies as a selfless act. Soon after our little debate started, the idea that selflessness being completely unattainable rose to the surface. I couldn’t believe my ears! Selflessness, let alone, a selfless act, is thought of as impossible? “What about Mother Teresa,” I responded, desperately searching for an explanation, “or those laying down their lives for others’ freedom, or every time a mother puts her child’s needs before hers?” My date then countered by explaining his deep-rooted belief that anything that makes you happy or brings you joy is blatantly, without-exception selfish. This simply …show more content…
He worked his way up through the Edison Illuminating Company until he became Chief Engineer in 1893. At this time, he was able to devote his time and money to personal experiments on gasoline engines. Eventually, Ford completed a self-propelled vehicle, dubbed the Ford Quadricycle. This invention caught the eye of an investor, William H. Murphy, who gave Ford the means to resign from his position at Edison’s company and found the Detroit Automobile Company on August 5, 1899. Within the company, Ford designed, built, and successfully raced a 26-horsepower automobile. As a result of the race, Ford received the backing of an old acquaintance, Alexander Y. Malcomson, and together they formed a partnership, "Ford & Malcomson, Ltd." to manufacture automobiles, which was later renamed the Ford Motor Company. Finally, on October 1, 1908, the Model T was introduced. Today, Henry Ford’s net worth is in the upwards of 188.1 billion dollars. Now whether his original intent was to make money or to create the first affordable car, we may never know. However, in the scheme of things, Ford’s objective really doesn’t matter in determining whether he was selfish or not because the outcome is the same- he created a new era of humanity and through his driven pursuit of ultimate happiness, benefited

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