Capitalist Solutions

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Selfishness and Tsunamis

By Simon Patkin

Selfishness Makes Benevolence Easier

(Below is a letter to the SCMP published on 21 Jan 2005 - note the SCMP made minor modifications)

Contrary to what Paul Serfaty (“Ethics of goodness”, January 18) and others imply, being selfish does not mean ignoring the plight of tsunami victims. The concept means being concerned with one’s own interests and happiness. Ethically, rational selfishness means people should be free to donate or not, as long as it does not adversely affect their own life, long term.

Further, humans are not autonomous robots. We are living beings with emotions and many were truly touched by the suffering caused by the tsunami. Indeed free markets make benevolence easier and Hong Kong; the economy that rated highest on the Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom Index privately donated the highest per capita to help the victims.

My hope is that the survivors can rebuild their lives as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, I await the day that Paul Serfaty and his ilk practice what they preach by letting go of most of their fortune and permanently opening their flats to the poor.

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