What is the opposite of selfish?
Which word makes a better answer; Unselfish or Selfless?
A friend of mine asked me recently about some perfume he was buying for his wife. The question sounded innocent enough but I know my friend better than that. He wanted to know what I thought about what defines selfishness and unselfishness when it comes to gift giving. “Is it selfish of me to give my wife a perfume that I really like? It’s pretty expensive.”
That question got me thinking about the definitions (and nuances of definition) of a few words; selfish, unselfish and selfless.
Is unselfish and selfless the same thing?
Can a person be selfish and selfless?
Can a person be generous and selfish?
Can a selfless act have selfish motives?
Can an unselfish act have selfish motives?
I have some thoughts on the matter and some ways to think it through but I am curious about what you think. Click below and leave your comments. I will post some of the best ones along with my on thoughts in a subsequent posting in the next few days.
