How to explain why you are selfish?

[Toolboxnj]

When someone asks you, "Why is it good to be selfish?" - what do you say?

I generally say "Acting in my own self-interest is not zero sum." And then I give a concrete example, for instance a businessman that employs 100 people is acting in his own self-interest, yet others benefit from his actions as a secondary effect.

This usually disarms most attacks because there really isn't an rebutal against it.

[Evangelical Capitalist]

I haven't actually been confronted with this question, as I don't generally go around advertising my personal beliefs. That said, I have considered how I would answer the question if I were so confronted.

"Selfishness", to my way of thinking, means two things: 1) that the values I pursue must necessarily be my own values, not anyone else's, and 2) that it is my life and happiness that determines what those values are. I would also add that what most people cite as being problems with "selfishness" are problems with what people regard as in their interest, not that they choose to act in their own interest. Of course, this second argument requires that they be able to get past a subjectivist view of what is in someone's "interest", and comprehend at least the possibility of an objective view.

One point that I hadn't thought of, but which David Odden raised earlier in this thread, is to raise the question fo the basis by which "the good" is determined. Have to remember that one.