Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Dealing with self interest VS what's best for everybody

[Loren Davidson (loren]

At 04:32 PM 3/4/96 -0600, Rob Sandelin (Exchange) wrote:
>Lately Sharingwood has run into a situation where we need to resolve a
>couple issues where self interest of individuals bumps against what is
>best for the whole group.  Any advise about how to approach it so people
>admit their self interest in the first place, and then feel comfortable
>about dealing with it? 

>From where I'm sitting, I wonder about definitions.  I wonder who defines
what is "self interest" and "best for the whole group".  Is there consensus
on what these terms mean within Sharingwood?  How is this problem
manifesting, and who defines it as a problem?

Often, I've found that what person A perceives as "best for the group" is
what person B perceives as only in the "self interest" of person A.  This
can be the source of many problems in a group.

Also...I assume you're referring to "unenlightened" self-interest rather
than the type that really *does* benefit everyone...but again, who defines,
and who decides?  Is this process of definition and decision part of why the
perceived problem exists?

Just my $0.02.  Welcome back to my mailbox, everyone!

Loren
Loren Davidson
loren [at] wombat.net
http://www.batnet.com/beauty/
The First Amendment went too far.  It should have said, "Congress shall 
make no law".