Decease… Death… Die…

Some people say that egoism and altruism are compatible. So, they often say that sincere, deeply emotional altruism is the best way to reach own happiness. On the other hand, self-interest makes a person more useful for society. Therefore, people who are defending egoistic side, they all the same admit (but secretly) that to be useful for other people is very good. And the people who are defending altruism, they secretly concede that personal happiness is not bad.

And what does it mean to be reasonable in such situation? Generally speaking, reasonableness is ability to such action and thinking which allow reaching certain goals. However, we can ask, what goals are reasonable. But to answer this question is not easy. But it is clear that it is unreasonable to choose and follow unachievable goals, or goals which have an obviousness not to be reached.

In real life the goals of behavior (which is dictated exactly by egoism) in fact are not achievable. Not always, of course. But pure, immutable, undiluted egoism cannot reach own goals. It is impossible to imagine that a person who loved in the society or community, was always carrying out only egoistic goals (we don’t take a situation when a person lives alone in the desert island).

It is possible to concede that successive altruism is more viable. But we cannot affirm this with full confidence.

Self-interest is subjective in its meaning of the word (it is oriented at the subject itself) and altruism is objective as it is oriented at other people. Probably, the basis for the belief in reasonableness of altruism is a belief in reasonableness rather objectivity than subjectivity.