I think that the pursuit to become a better human has attributes that go to both being selfless and selfish at the same time. It really just depends on a persons purpose behind pursuing it. For example there are those that chase after making themselves better for themselves and themselves only, these kind of people, while having their own unique reasons come off as self-centered to me as they are only working hard for themselves.
While those that better themselves for those around them, to be stronger for them are noble causes that can be thought of as selfless. But at the same time the idea of achieving arete in my eyes is always so me focused. Maybe that's just who I am but when i look at someone increasing ones quality of life, it seems very hard to say that they are doing it for someone else. I think this has to do with the way that arete has been used, one trains themselves so that they could win an agon, that doesn't scream "hey i'm doing this for someone else" right off the start. Now if they could truthfully tell me that what they do, what they strive and live for is for someone else then and only then I'll say that they were selfless and working for others. But humans have and always will be selfish outside of some cases. If it's my life vs someone else's i'll save mine 10/10 times. I have no problems admitting that. So to say that someone else can enjoy my own arete feels wrong. It's my personal accomplishment which means that really only I can truly enjoy it. There can be some that are happy for me, some that are jealous but no one will feel that true accomplishment like the one that accomplished it.And for that reason alone the idea of bettering oneself will and always has been for yourself.
If arête embodies virtue, would someone who has achieved arête be more willing to help others as a result? If so, would that make it less selfish of them to pursue and achieve arête?
ReplyDeleteDon't mistake arête as an attempt to increase "one's quality of life." Arete is about pursing quality in one's life. That's a subtle by key difference--do you see it? The question then becomes is there quality to be found in service to others versus service to self.
ReplyDeleteAlso, to receive full credit for you posts, you have to explore this issue in a more organized way; here's how:
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