I know some people who really have done rather well for themselves, yet in the same are some of the most self-centered people I know. I would go as far to call them narcissist, always looking out for their own well-being, sometimes you can even catch them forgetting other people even exist. Yet they are among the most well-off people I know. And yes, yes I know money can't buy happiness, but when you talk to them they don't seem the lest bit down. They're so cuaght up with themselves that they cant think that maybe there's something else... sometime I wish I could be this numb (dumb) and just stop thinking/caring.

"The young child is totally egocentric -- meaning not that he thinks selfishlly only about himself, but to the contrary, that he is incapable of thinking about himself. the egocentric child in unable to differentiate himself from the rest of the world; he has not separated himself out from others or from objects. Thus he feels that others share his pain or his pleasure, that his mumblings will inevtably be understood, that his perspective is shared by all persons, that even animals and plants partake of his consciousness. In playing hide-and-seek he will "hide" in broad view of other persons, because his egocentrism prevents him from recognizing that others are aware of his location. The whole course of human development can be viewed as a continuing decline in egocentrism." - Harverd Developmental Psychologist Howrd Gardner

I thought this rather interesting when I read it. And while reading it something triggered that made me think about how many times I heard people say that childhood is one of the happiest/greatest times in ones life because your still so innocent. I think it's put something close to that most of the time.
Now I dont necerssarily believe what I'm about to say, but I thought it fun to at least congar the idea for a while that in narcissism (excessive self admiration and self-centeredness) one might truely find happiness. Now from that statement alone, in narcissism one might truely find happiness, I think I would hear a lot of rebottles right of the bat.
The thing I find is that every one is looking all over for "true happiness" right now, but when I suggest looking in an odd place everyones sure it's not there. I thought this would be a fun debate to cerry on for a while, purely for amusement.

And maybe just for fun debate the otherside just to see if you can. I think this good to try with all debates.

Narcissism is just a unhealthy extension of self confidence. If you`re happy with yourself then you`ll be happier with the world around you. On the other hand you can always get to the point were you love yourself so much it turns others away from you, making your goals harder to obtain.

Pie.

Sure, you could find happiness in food but if you overindulge that will only serve to shorten your lifespan.

I like apple pie...

"The whole course of human development can be viewed as a continuing decline in egocentrism." - Harverd Developmental Psychologist Howrd Gardner
I rather like that statement.

Who would you say is actually happier or has the greater ability of finding true happiness, a bleeding heart, boy scout, good doer, philanthropist, altruist or a pompous, egocentic, self-absorbed, vainglorious, narcissist?

I personly find that there is a kind of feel-good-ness that comes from making and having a postive impact in some ones life. Yet in the same there is something that makes me wish I could be as vain to just care about my own well being, and as long as that was solved the world "to me" is perfict. Would any one say that the narcissist is missing out? Or how about that the bleeding heart good doer is really being shorthanded?

*a slice of pie is always nice*

you can say a narcissist is missing out on helping others just as much as a humanitarian is missing out on total self-absorbsion

i posted a comment earlier, but the damn "server busy" thing deleted it......god dammit......

but um.....what i was sayin, is that this is a very interesting topic......but what concerns me the most is how closely narcissim is tied to existentialism.......

Yeah the similarities between narcissism and existentialism are worth the comment. Maybe it is the road to happiness, but only if you die young or are happy being alone. Then again the narcissistic personality will often attract an adorer who will have the co-dependent personality to be follower, companion and ego stroker.

i think the definitions here are at issue...

you could be the doingest do gooder in the world and still be acting out of self-interest.

damn mother theresea!!!!! she did it out of her own pride!!!! that evil bitch!!!!

for some reason, that just seems so wrong of you

hmmm....

Do you not find that argument self-suiting to people who want to justify their own lack of do gooding?

why not?

seems justified enuff

It's such a caustically negative attitude with the soul purpose to undermine any good intentions people may have. And an effect of perpetuating the myth that voluntary humanitarian work has no value.