Why Being Self-Interested is for the Collective Good.
Through the collective interest of individuals. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
The majority of our interactions lie with other people. Our relationship with associates, family and friends. It is rare to contend with wild animals or the forces of nature. We have progressed beyond the need for basic survival.
Our day to day contentions come from other human beings whose interest and opinions may not align with ours. It is a source of immense stress and conflict.
Cultural leaders emphasize the importance of harmonious cooperation. They moralize the good of the group. Sacrifice for the many. This is not inaccurate. Often the goals of an ambitious leader with good intentions. Unintended consequences ensue.
An exceptional quality of human beings is the ability to cooperate on a massive scale. We can share a common belief, faith and myth. Our shared culture tether us to believe and act singularly.
Our leaders speak for the collective. Their voice tell us what we are to imagine. The collective interest. What is socially acceptable. What is transiently moral. What is the true faith and path to salvation.
Order is essential for a functioning society. Rebellion, individual thought, asocial behaviour could be destabilizing. Too much cooperation restricts and constrains. Leads to uniformity, rigidity and fragility.
Acting on your own may be disagreeable and contentious. Going against the grain, and questioning the status quo may be uncomfortable.
We are sovereign. We think for ourselves and prioritize the self. We are selfish by nature. Our personal survival is our natural priority. We contend to bring others into our compliance, leading to a conflict of wills.
There is a balance between individual will and group cooperation. Disproportion leads to rigidity or banishment. There is a long game we have to play. A game of games, played over a lifetime. A premature exile would be catastrophic.
The free market is a powerful mechanism for wealth and value creation. Through the self-interested behavior of individuals, open trade, private property rights and social trust, stunning productivity is possible.
It is a paradox that acting in your own self interest results in what is ultimately beneficial for society. Individuals freely choosing what is best for themselves results in what is better for the collective.
This contradicts conventional ideas. It goes against traditional beliefs. But with indisputable results, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
The End
