Is being moral good for you?
According to the prevailing moral code, it is not. And I think that’s obscene.
If—as conventional morality holds—being moral consists in self-sacrificially serving others, then in order to be fully moral, you must sacrifice for others as a matter of course. You must be selfless on principle. You must make self-sacrifice your MO in life.
This means giving up all the values that support your life and bring you joy. It means:
- You must give up any self-serving career you might have or want to pursue. Why? Because if your career fills your days and years with meaning and purpose, that’s not selfless or sacrificial; it’s self-interested—you gain from it.
- You must give up all life-enhancing relationships you have or want to pursue. Why? Because if a relationship makes your life better—if it adds richness and joy to your life—then it’s not self-sacrificial; it’s a positive value to you.
- You must give up all life-enhancing hobbies and recreational activities that bring you personal joy. Again, if they add value to your life, they are not selfless; thus, they are not moral—at least not according to conventional morality.
A project, relationship, or activity either promotes your life or it doesn’t. If it does, it’s self-interested. And that doesn’t square with the morality of sacrifice.
How do people handle this conflict? They compromise on morality. And what’s the result of that?
What if you accept conventional morality yet refuse to give up some of your self-interested values? What if you engage here and there in some degree of self-serving behavior so you can live and enjoy life? Then you know you are being less than fully “moral.” And how does that affect your soul?
Exactly.
This is what happens if you accept a moral code that is contrary to the requirements of your life and happiness. This is what happens if you accept a moral code made of poison.
What’s the antidote?
My upcoming course, Rational Egoism: The Morality for Loving Life, will help you to understand not only why the morality of self-sacrifice is false, but also what the morality of self-interest is, what facts support it, and how its principles can help you think more clearly, live more fully, and develop beautiful relationships.
With this knowledge, you’ll be able to live your life to the fullest—free of guilt, full of pride, full of joy.
Come and learn about the principles of rational egoism—the morality that is designed for human flourishing. And make 2025 the year you began loving your life to the fullest.
PS: If you’re 29 or younger, you’re eligible to apply for a scholarship.
