The last 50 years or so has seen the widespread propagation of the cult of the individual. Ayn Rand espoused that the selfish and amoral pursuit of one's self interest was the highest way of being. Psychologist Abraham Maslow created the well known hierarchy of needs -- placing self-actualization (the realization of one's full potential) at the top.
So for half a century people have been, to use the pop psychology term, focusing on themselves is a vain and doomed search for personal happiness. However, it turns out that what really makes a person happy is not the accumulation of personal wealth or personal enlightenment. Its being a loved and respected member of healthy community.
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/arc...new-and-improved-recipe-for-happiness/243486/
This shouldn't come as a surprise since we are social creatures. Indeed we seem pre-wired for communitarian activity. Which brings me to the 2 year old.
Earlier this year, on Easter Sunday, my mother-in-law had an Easter Egg hunt for all her grandchildren in her back yard. One of the grandchildren is autistic and mentally retarded -- she was having trouble finding eggs. Without anyone telling her to the disabled girl's 2 year old cousin took her by the hand and helped her find eggs for her basket. Of course this meant that the 2 year old cousin ended up with fewer eggs in her basket -- it didn't matter everyone was happy.
So instinctively we know that the right thing to do -- the thing that in the end makes everyone happy -- is for the strong to help the weak not take advantage of them. 2 year olds seem to know this. Unfortunately the apologists of the cult of the individual have been very successful in their fight against our altruistic instincts.
So for half a century people have been, to use the pop psychology term, focusing on themselves is a vain and doomed search for personal happiness. However, it turns out that what really makes a person happy is not the accumulation of personal wealth or personal enlightenment. Its being a loved and respected member of healthy community.
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/arc...new-and-improved-recipe-for-happiness/243486/
This shouldn't come as a surprise since we are social creatures. Indeed we seem pre-wired for communitarian activity. Which brings me to the 2 year old.
Earlier this year, on Easter Sunday, my mother-in-law had an Easter Egg hunt for all her grandchildren in her back yard. One of the grandchildren is autistic and mentally retarded -- she was having trouble finding eggs. Without anyone telling her to the disabled girl's 2 year old cousin took her by the hand and helped her find eggs for her basket. Of course this meant that the 2 year old cousin ended up with fewer eggs in her basket -- it didn't matter everyone was happy.
So instinctively we know that the right thing to do -- the thing that in the end makes everyone happy -- is for the strong to help the weak not take advantage of them. 2 year olds seem to know this. Unfortunately the apologists of the cult of the individual have been very successful in their fight against our altruistic instincts.
