Characteristics Of Selflessness

It is important for this essay that the definition used for selfishness and for cowardice is clear. Selfishness is the feature of doing that which brings you welfare, luck or even pleasure. This is not the same as taking care of yourself, as selfishness includes others who are a victim of your deeds. Someone who is selfish doesn’t act to others’ feelings or needs.

Self-reliance is the freedom of being independent. One only relies on oneself and doesn’t look for help or for anyone to save them. One is perfectly content with being solely reliant. Three people who believed greatly in self-reliance were Chris McCandless, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. They had many different beliefs and along with acting out in civil disobedience, acting in nonconformity, thinking nature was most important, and being a transcendentalist, they was also self reliant. McCandless, Emerson, and Thoreau were all people who believed strongly in self-reliance.

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay titled “Self-Reliance” he speaks on the topic of the individual, creating the idea that an individual being independent leads to greatness. Emerson’s writing within this memoir is relatable to young individuals who are looking for themselves, an individual must avoid conformity and false consistency while following their own thoughts making themselves an individual. Within the essay, Emerson uses a range of rhetorical devices to prove that every individual can do great by being an individual and not like everyone else, something that young people everywhere should hear while growing up with the heinous act of peer pressure.

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance,” Emerson calls for each person in society to be wholly true to themselves. He claims that it is most rewarding to the individual and the society for people to believe in one’s own thoughts and not in the thoughts of others. Emerson believes that conformity will ultimately lead to an individual’s demise because by living for others, people are not being true to themselves. Therefore in order to have a well-formed society, citizens should focus inward and have confidence in their own ideas before beginning to look towards other individuals; moreover, Emerson calls individuals not only in “Self-Reliance,” but also in numerous essays to act independently from conformity and to live for themselves.

Chris McCandless utilizes the transcendental key self-reliance throughout his journey. As a little boy McCandless did not need toys or games to keep himself occupied. He was often found alone and entertaining himself. Chris McCandless seemed to be happiest when he was alone. This action is an example of the transcendental key self-reliance because most children need some form of entertainment other than themselves to be happy, but Chris McCandless just relied on himself to insure that he was happy. The transcendental key self-reliance is also a common theme in ¨Self-Reliance¨ by Ralph Waldo Emerson. In the essay, Emerson states, ¨Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.¨ McCandless lived in a way that he thought was best. He did not care what others thought about him, and only concentrated on what was best for him and his life.

Selfishness is being concerned for oneself or one’s advantage and welfare regardless of others. Selfness is demonstrated when a person leaves and does not tell anyone where they are going. In Into the Wild Jon Krakauer tells the story of Chris McCandless’s selfish quest for “ultimate Freedom”. Chris is selfish because he takes his privileged life for granted. Then, Chris decides to leave and he totally ignores and blocks out his family. Finally Chris builds relationships with people, then leaves when they are no longer needed. Chris taking his life for granted, his ignorance and the fact that he is an absentee is why Chris McCandless’s quest for “ultimate freedom” is selfish.

In society, there is a thin line between having arrogance and having courage, these are social views of how to classify somebody by their actions and mindset. Jon Krakauer, a well-known writer and mountaineer explained Chris McCandless’s strive and explained the thoughts of critics around the globe in his novel Into the Wild. In my eyes, I believe to say that McCandless was an egocentric male who had an unorganized mindset that made him come upon his cruel death.

There are two basic kinds of egoism, there is ethical egoism and there is psychological egoism. These two different forms of egoism are different because ethical egoism is the normative ethical position that what is moral is to be done in self-interest. This is different from psychological egoism which states specifically that people will only act in their own self-interest. Ethical egoism is broken up into two forms. There is act egoism and Rule egoism. Act egoism says

Today in our society having a big ego is looked down upon, and if someone has a large ego they are often seen as selfish and ignorant of everyone around them. But if someone has no ego at all they can start to lose their sense of self, because they are always focused on everyone around them and they never take time for themselves. To both care for yourself without becoming self-centered and care for others and still have a sense of self, you have to have a balance.

Eric Mack’s essay “In Defense of Individualism” provides a basic outlook of individualistic personalities and interactions that are prevalent throughout society. Mack gives definitions of different theories in individualism, breaking the encompassing thought

A Quote from, Emerson Self-reliance tells how people should consider themselves, “Insist on yourself; never imitate, your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have an extemporaneous half possession” (Emerson 166). Emerson’s is encouraging people to be self-Reliant and use their own instincts. A person should trust their selves before other; because they are the only ones who can see into their own heart.

“Egoism is the normative idea that each person ought to pursue his or her own self-interest exclusively” (Rachels 77). In other words, what makes one’s actions moral is if they are acting in their own self-interest only. It is the radical view that states that one’s only duty is to promote one’s own self-interest. This theory does not suggest that one should act in their own interest as well as others best interest, but, according to Rachels, there is only one principle to follow and that

Many people across the world have their own definition and beliefs of the word individualism. There is nothing selfish to be able to express ones personality and internal emotions. Being an individual alone could value a person’s overall true character. The claim presented would be opposed by many because people like to feel independent and self-reliant. Individualism in today’s society lets people express themselves, and helps create something small into something big. For a long time now individualism has existed since the founding of our country. History was created by those who showed independence and proved that an individual can do it all.

If one was to achieve autonomy then they would have a feeling of confidence, but if those that don’t achieve autonomy doubt their own abilities and have a sense of inadequacy (Cherry, 2011). The effects of autonomy can also come back and haunt a person an adult, even if they achieved it as a child. One of the most common scenarios would be when someone works for a company and their boss does not allow them to take pride in their work or make decision by themselves (Inglish). This lack in autonomy that is forced upon them is one of the most common reasons why a person leaves their job (Inglish).

Selfish is defined as looking after one’s own desires, concerned with your own interests, needs and wishes while ignoring those of others (Encarta Dictionary).