odysseus selfishness essay

Do people really perform actions out of the sincere concern for others or are there always hidden agendas that are egoistically driven? This dissertation will take a closer look at these questions while exploring the views of psychological egotism and what its supporters believe drives us to act in certain ways. Although psychological egoism has not been attributed to many philosophers, it brings forth an interesting debatable point of view of human behavior. While psychological egoism is unquestionably

that from [his] detested toils it was the prospect of that day when [he] might claim Elizabeth,” that kept him going (Shelley 130). Victor does not perceive the aspects of a mutual relationship, for all of his relations are based off of his own selfishness. Victor is also cruel toward his creation quite often. When Victor first lays eyes on what he has created, he is horrified by what he has done, and he abandons his creation, since he is “unable to endure the aspect of the

Selfishness is defined as the act of being someone who lacks concern for others, only caring for personal gain. Often, people are selfish due to a lack of empathy, misinformation, or a lack of information. The ability of literature to have us experience different worlds through different perspectives is fairly useful for combating this. In fact, literature can shock us about the idea of selfishness and give us pause and new insights into it, if not necessarily cause us to realize our own lack of

A person may find someone likeable for many different reasons. Maybe the person is charismatic and loyal, honest and humble, grateful and trustworthy. The likability of the protagonist in Daniel Defoe’s novel, Robinson Crusoe, is often called into question by many of its readers. The story starts with the protagonist, Robinson Crusoe, leaving home against his father’s wishes to voyage across the sea. But misfortune fell upon this voyage in the form of a great storm. During this storm, Crusoe prays

exemplar of this phenomenon. She represents an average person, who feels powerless, and largely acts in self interest. This makes her, and everybody who thinks like her, complicit in Gilead’s rise. Their feeling of powerlessness does not justify their selfishness. Throughout the book Offered thinks she is powerless. When Gilead was forming, she “never went to any of the marches” resisting its rise, ostensibly because she thought it wouldn’t matter. (180). Her reaction is a common one, but

a form of some living thing that has ill qualities. Although the creature was thought as the monster, but truly the creator of the creature is the true monster. Frankenstein is the monster because of social isolation from his family, his act of selfishness, and his abandonment for what he created. The first evidence that proves Frankenstein is the real monster is when Frankenstein was in a social isolation when he was creating his experiment. One quality a monster has is social isolation and how

The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst is In the story Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst a older brother has a newborn younger brother who the doctors and family both though would die, but three months later they decided they should give the baby a name since it had not died yet. They gave him the name of Armstrong but the older brother thought that people would expect to much from him because if his name so he gave them the name Doodle. The unnamed brother in Scarlet Ibis rude to his younger brother because

he was isolated by choice, she was left on her own after her husband "had dismissed [her] so sincerely from his gallery of pleasures that he did not suspect that anyone else would take an interest in her” (). However she is used to highlight his selfishness, because despite their similar circumstances, there is a large contrast in their attitudes. For example, when they meet at the Rotunda, Mrs. Sinico remarks “what a pity there is such a poor house tonight! It’s so had to have to sing to empty benches”

By emphasizing loving the soul over the body, these authors aid in creating structures for long lasting relationships that stray from the need for instant gratification. For instance, when Socrates responds to Alcibiades' declaration that only Socrates possesses the worthiness of his love because he brings out the best in him, he speculates, "If I really have in me the power to make you a better man, then you can see in me beauty that is really beyond description and makes your own remarkable good

Nowadays people that put their lives in danger to do good for other s are considered brainless. Seeing this in a critical point of view I want to discuss if it is really worth it to risk our life for others ? This kind of concern about other people welfare is considered and defined by many as “altruism”. But what is it really like to be an altruist ? Altruist is the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare of others (def. by Dictionary.com ) .So the opposite of being selfish