Selfishness

What degree of self benefitting intentions, does it take to be considered selfish?

As most things seem to turn out, there is likely a scale from 1 end of the spectrum to the other, of varying degrees of the concept. And as with most trait or attribute concepts, selfishness is likely basically impossible to measure accurately, but that is where a best estimate comes in. To make a best estimate of the degree of selfishness, the factors involved in the concept which is insinuated by the word, should be understood. The basic factors involved in selfishness, seem to be a given action taken, and the intentions of the action. 

In my previous post, Immoral Quantity Question, I explained how an individuals intentions seem to determine the degree of an action being immoral. In the case when the negative effects of their action were not the main intention, yet they were aware of which, then an extra step is involved to estimate the degree. The extra step is determining the individuals estimate of comparison between the knowledgeable negative side effects, vs their intended positive effect. If this is the method for estimating the degree of immorality of an action, how is selfishness estimated?

The intended positive effect, just might be the key for estimating selfishness. For immoral degree, I generalized the positive and negative effects, but the receiver of the positive effect, should be very relevant for selfishness. If the receiver of the positive effect, is the individual themselves, who is performing the action, then it could likely be selfishness, whereas if the receiver is someone or something else, it would not be a selfish act. So when the positive action is intended for oneself, what amount of negative side-effects are acceptable, without being selfish? 

For eg, when Bob is holding a door open for the next random person, how long should he hold it, to not be considered selfish? The intended positive action for Bob’s self, when he stops holding the door, is he no longer has to spend time and energy holding the door. The negative side effects for others, are the next person has to use more time and energy to open the door themselves. 

Perhaps understanding what is fair and equal between people is a significant factor. If everyone is considered equal by default, then hypothetically, every person should receive equal positivity (including oneself). So when an action is taken, the negative side effects which result for others, should not outweigh the positive effects for oneself. If there are more negative side effects on others, than the individual gains from the intended positive effect for themselves, then it seems they are being selfish. Determining amounts of negative and positive, to be compared, is of course very complicated and inaccurate, and unknowable even by the individual themselves. But best estimate of perspective of these factors, should still be the best estimate for selfishness.

So hypothetically, if Bob stops holding the door for the next person, at the point when the negativity of the extra energy and time it takes for them to reopen it, outweighs the positivity gained by him, of saving time and energy holding the door, then he is being selfish. For it to be considered selfish (on these bases), it would basically have to be an estimate by his perspective, that the next person will have to spend more energy to reopen the door, than he has to spend holding it.

The degree that an action is selfish, seems to be a similar estimate, to an immoral action. Both are the individuals’ perspective of their intended positive effects, compared to the negative side-effects. The main difference is that a selfish act, involves specifically a positive effect for themselves. Determining what degree of negative, is fair to outweigh the positive, may be another concept in itself, but for a basic understanding, this comparison seems to be a fundamental function in the concept of selfishness.