Colleges Have An Obligation To Move Students Beyond Self-Interest

When addressing any tough philosophical question, it is first essential to decide what the most basic part of the question is asking. When we feel we can answer this most basic level, based on sound reasoning, only then can we move to higher levels, and eventually answer the original question effectively. Using this sort of reasoning model, it can be deducted that colleges should indeed attempt to move students beyond self-interest.

On the most elementary level, if people only looked out for their own self-interests the world would be a very bad place. If someone wanted certain resources, they would just try to kill anyone in their way. If someone wanted to have sex with another person, they would just force him or her into it. These things do not happen as frequently in modern society because we have legal and social implications to try to represent the interests of the weak. As far as economics goes, if we did not create some social programs and other forms of regulation, even our interest-driven free market economy would not stand. Socio-economic gaps would grow too large and the poorer side would revolt. To generalize, civilization could not survive if people were not concerned in the least bit about others.

Becoming concerned about the interests of others is a long, essential process that should be increased during college. College is usually a long period of time, in which an individual is a student. In being a student, one is normally more open to concepts than usual, and is therefore also more open to suggestions. College is also the time when most of us really become independent from our families. This new independence allows us the freedom to rethink all of the social morays our parents had been teaching us, and either strengthen in them or turn from them. This is true for concerning oneself with others as well. If the college does not suggest that this is, indeed, the path to travel, through offering opportunities and integrating these lessons into teaching styles, students are far more likely to shut themselves away and focus on their self-interests. One good example of a way colleges can help get students to have more concern for others is the Discovering Vocation Lily Project at Alma College. Outside of helping students find their calling, this group also presents grants for students who wish to help others, and also pays for speakers, such as the founder of habitat for humanity, to visit the college.

Some people will undoubtedly argue this view. Some will say that looking out for self-interest is the way of the world; that it comes naturally. However, this is not good reasoning because natural works well for animals, but is not always the preferred life for most humans. Anyone who would support this argument would not even be alive today if it were applied to life. Their mothers would not have raised them through childhood because it probably would not have been in her best interest.

So it seems to be a simple answer that we should broaden ourselves outside of our self-interests, and then have faith that others will learn to do the same. Therefore, it also is reasonable that the college should play some part in helping move students beyond self-interests, given the time and state that the students dwell there. When people become truly compassionate to the interests of others, everyone can be happier about the effect they are having on the world.