enlightened self-interest
Selfish but helpful
Enlightened self-interest is the idea that acting for the benefit of others ultimately serves one's own interests.
It differs from pure altruism by acknowledging selfish motivation, and from shortsighted selfishness by recognizing that cooperation and fairness produce better long-term outcomes: The company's environmental initiatives reflect enlightened self-interest—good PR and regulatory goodwill pay off.
- rationalGoverned by logic
- long gamePlanning for distant goals
- altruismPrioritizing others' wellbeing
- mutualShared between parties
- mutual aidCooperative community support
benefit · common good · pragmatic · cooperative · calculated · strategic · smart money · reciprocity · long-term · win-win · rising tide · prudent · utilitarian · Adam Smith · invisible hand · symbiotic · shrewd · collective
enlightened self-interestshort-termism
Focus on immediate results
instant gratification · shortsightedness · cutting off one's nose to spite one's face · tunnel vision
enlighten, enlightened, enlightenment, light, lighten, lighter, lighted, lighting, lights