(March 22, 2012 at 7:41 am)NoMoreFaith Wrote: On the contrary, selfish altruism allows for one to live life more completely. A mother carries a baby not on grounds of caring completely and giving up part of yourself for the child, but to fulfill your own inner needs.
The term "selfish altruism" is oxymoronic. Actually, it's just moronic.
An action is selfish if the primary motivation for it is welfare of oneself. It is altruistic if the primary motivation is the welfare of others. By definition, it cannot be both at the same time.
If the primary motivation of the mother is fulfilling her own needs and carrying the baby happens to be a way to do it, then the action is selfish, not altruistic.