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| PRIDE | ||||||||||||||||||
| By Ronald C. Tobin | ||||||||||||||||||
| E-Mail: [email protected] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Objectivists, and the vast majority of libertarians, agree that pride is a valid, sincere, positive good. This attitude stands in stark contrast with most religions, which insist that to have pride in oneself is somehow evil, and that it is humility that one ought to value. This negative attitude is reflected in the first definition under 'pride' in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: "an overhigh opinion of oneself, exaggerated self-esteem; conceit." It is this misconception that has made the word ?pride? synonymous with 'arrogance' in the eyes of most people. Indeed, one does not find the proper, individualist definition of pride until the third entry in Webster's: "A sense of one's own dignity or worth; self-respect." | ||||||||||||||||||
| Also useful is the fourth entry: "delight or satisfaction in one's achievements, possessions, children, etc." Neither of these definitions infer or imply arrogance and conceit and vanity, words that are generally associated with pride. As is true of the words 'selfish' and 'selfishness,' 'pride' has been given a fiercely negative connotation. | ||||||||||||||||||
| By upholding pride as a virtue, this does not mean that a rational individual values arrogance and haughtiness. Such attitudes are based on exaggerated or false premises, and there is nothing virtuous in being a fraud. An individual earns Pride and self-esteem by personal achievement, by knowing that one does have value. In modern society, one is encouraged to debase oneself, to not take pride in themselves or their achievements. This self-esteem destroying vice, which masquerades as a virtue, is called humility. | ||||||||||||||||||
| I recall conversations that I had back in the early 1980s when some very sincere religious individuals took the concept of humility being a virtue way too far. If they did something regarded as good (did well on a test, wrote a stimulating essay, and so forth) they would not say "I did this and I am proud of it," instead they said "God did this through me." Now, if they screwed up, failed, did something regarded as bad or evil, they did not say "Satan did this through me." No, when it came to negative actions, that was their OWN fault. One sees this sort of bizarre attitude far less now. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pride is widely regarded as evil as a means of controlling people. An individual with low self-esteem and no pride in themselves or their achievements, is easy to control and manipulate. One who values pride and knows their own worth is in control of their own lives and thus will not be easy to fool. The State prefers individuals whose individuality has been so debased that they do not value their own lives and will do as they are bidden. As such, the intellectuals in league with the State will continue to argue against pride being a virtue and try to get everyone to buy into altruism and humility being positive goods. The moral code that upholds altruism as being a virtue is the one that says human reason is worthless, thus making it a morality of death. | ||||||||||||||||||
| My fiancée Shelley recently e-mailed me a "Tibetan Personality Test." The first part was to arrange five animals in the order that I thought most fitting. The order I came up with was: Tiger, Horse, Pig, Cow, Sheep. According to this test, this means I value, from highest to lowest: Pride, Family, Money, Career, Love. Well, I certainly do agree with the first choice, as did Shelley. My sense of dignity, self-esteem, self-respect, and personal honor, thus PRIDE, is paramount in my life. I have to be able to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and respect the individual I am seeing. I will not compromise my principles. I am proud of what I have achieved and I intend to build on it. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pride, as is also true of rational selfishness, is indeed a virtue. It is a cornerstone of living as a rational being who accepts responsibility for his/her own actions. It is nothing one should debase or apologize for. One can certainly be proud and still be respectful of those who are worthy of it. Do not be ashamed or afraid to use your mind and make sound decisions by using your reason. While I am certain, from personal experience, that intuition has its place and is also vital to survival, by and large it is one's reason that is the key to living life well. Use your brains, people - that is what they are there for! | ||||||||||||||||||
| How should one express their pride? I think the best way is just by living your life according to your principles. Practice that which you claim to uphold, to thine own self be true. Exercise your mind and your body, as is true with the body an active mind is a healthy mind. Do not go around being arrogant and conceited, and no matter what never take credit for something that someone else has done. Live your own life, live it well and respect the rights of others to live their lives accordingly. Pride will help make the world a much better place. | ||||||||||||||||||
| [This article originally appeared in the September/October 2004 issue of THE THOUGHT] | ||||||||||||||||||
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