David Collins, former CEO of Canadian Food for the Hungry, says that the root of all social injustice and evil in the world is always an attitude. The evils of business are rooted in an attitude of selfishness. This is the attitude that my own interests are more important than the interests of others.
This is reflected in our society's creation of the corporation. This "person" was created to be selfish. The purpose of a corporation is to maximize the value (largely understood as profits) of its shareholders, those that own the company. And if they need do this at the expense of others, then so be it.
But we don't like that people are harmed by corporations, so governments are created to protect the interests of all people. Governments create laws and rules that minimize the harm that corporations do to others and the environment. But corporations are so darn clever, and continue to use their creativity to find ways to serve their own interests and harm others. Then some special-interest group finds out, complains to the government, and in turn, the government fines the corporation and makes a new law preventing the harm. The cycle repeats itself.
How did we as the human race allow ourselves to create this selfish corporation and continue to live selfishly? Because we have convinced ourselves that living for ourselves is the best way to live.
Selfishness is the foundation of our current economic system. In fact, modern economic theory states that the world benefits the MOST when every individual acts SELFISHLY. This is largely referred to as the "invisible hand of the market." The economist Adam Smith who coined this term says, "By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it." Somehow, the reasoning goes, self-interest drives people to the most beneficial behaviour for society as a whole.
In light of this, we will make it illegal for businesses to act non-selfishly. Because acting non-selfishly doesn't help society as much as if you acted selfishly. If you want to help people, you can be a non-profit. But that is an ineffective way to help people. Being a self-serving business is the best thing for society.
When I first learned about this economic principle, I was amazed that my selfishness was actually the best thing for society. In fact, this belief gave me permission and empowered me to pursue selfishness and to promote the selfishness of others in business. My argument was that this is the best thing for society. I have not really doubted this truth until recently. Are we lying to ourselves by saying that self-love = neighbourly love? Or is it really true?
Jesus calls us to love our neighbour as our self (Matt 22:39). This is the second greatest commandant, after loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus does not say do not love yourself. But to love your neighbour and yourself equally.
So if modern economic theory is correct and loving yourself above your neighbour leads to the best result for all your neighbours, does that mean acting selfishly is the same thing as loving your neighbour as yourself and therefore God-honouring?
After reading your reference to Matthew, Philippians 2:3 automatically jumped into my head. Paul calls us to "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." I'm no Bible expert and don't know whether Paul is being contextual here, but what I often ask myself is "What if Jesus/Paul REALLY meant this? literally. word for word?"
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I think it is important to ask ourselves what acting “selfishly” means. Depending on one's definition, I think acting selfishly can be beneficial to society. That selfishness is the one has in giving or doing good. You know, the idea that everything, and I mean everything we do is derived from selfish motives, thereby causing us to give or do good, only because doing it makes us feel better than the associated costs. As cynical as that may sound, I much prefer a world where people were selfish on that level, than a purely money/power/greed based selfishness.
Though acting selfishly has “worked” so far (let’s ignore all the financial crises and giant disparity gaps) will it be the solution to the entire world’s problems, should we encourage what has been going on in the last 100 years? I highly doubt it. What happened was that 5% of the world controls 95% of the world’s income (somewhat embellished but you know what I’m talking about). And if consciously inducing people into a lifestyle that you are trying to get out of yourself is considered loving your neighbour and honouring to God then yes. Acting selfishly is the same thing as loving your neighbour as yourself and honouring God.
Scott (from Facebook) wrote:
ReplyDeleteEconomics distinguishes selfishness from self-interest. Is it selfish to eat food or drink water or seek shelter? Of course not, but if you did not act in your own self-interest, you wouldn't do these things, and you would die.
Self-interest does not lead to selfishness. Indeed, every person alive is self-interested. Even Mother Theresa took time out from helping the poor to eat, drink and sleep. Jesus himself on the cross asked for a drink, but no one would call him selfish for indulging in that bit of self-interest.
To get a bit nerdy, economists imagine an equation called a "utility function" that includes terms for all of our many desires. A self-interested person seeks to maximize their utility function, no matter what individual terms that function contains. An altruistic person includes the benefit of others in their own utility function, while a selfish person does not (and a sadist includes the suffering of others in their utility function).
Jesus' command to love your neighbor as yourself means including your neighbor's well-being in your own utility function such that you derive as much satisfaction from their happiness as you would from your own-- not the easiest of commands that Jesus ever gave! Even so, that doesn't mean to stop being self-interested, and it is this self-interest that drives Smith's invisible hand, not selfishness.
great thoughts Scott! what would you say is there difference between selfishness and being self-interested?
ReplyDeleteI really like your last point in including your neighbour's satisfaction and happiness in your utility function.
The other thing that I've learned about the economic "invisible hand" theory is that a condition is that all people are equal.
Thanks for your thoughts Ryan. I think to go further on your argument, you can say that if people act selfishly, then they will be led to discover that Jesus is the most satisfying relationship in the world. God created people to be selfish, so that they might find Him.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Dr. Guy Saffold, "God enthusiastically offered the Jews prosperity and long-life in the land if they obeyed. Jesus went about offering "abundant life", "eternal life" and vast future blessings. In common with His Father he was hardly shy of life-improvement messages. The offering of genuine, real, and certain blessing is part of the gospel message, but the truths about cost go along with it, including self-denial, cross-bearing, and turning everything over to Him."