Thinking About Relationships
I have become interested by the roles of relationships towards my self and others…
SE: The role of a friendship is utilization.
EP: It would seem to me that a friendship involves the use of someone else for a purpose originating from one's self.SE: The role of a partnership is collaboration.
EP: It would seem to me that a partnership mirrors a friendship though seemingly more for a mutually agreed purpose.SE: The role of a companion is support.
EP: It would seem to me that a companion such as a lady friend provides mutual support at a time of emotional need.SE: The role of an individual is business.
EP: It would seem to me that an individual has the chief role of getting down to business in producing and sharing values.
With this understanding let's now summarize two extremes and an ideal…
"Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live,
it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."
SE: A relationship should not be one of irrational selfishness.
EP: I would say that a person in need of something that you can't help with or no longer see a value in providing would come across sooner or later as a burden thus the apparent selfishness will likely drain respect.
"Loyalty is like rubber: one can stretch it so far
and then - it snaps."
SE: A relationship should not be one of irrational selflessness.
EP: I would say that a person who lacks assertiveness to stand up for their own beliefs and values will likely run the risk of becoming a recognized dogsbody causing a one-sided conditional and dishonest relationship.
"To know one's own desires, their meaning and their costs
requires the highest human virtue: rationality."
SE: A relationship should thus be one of rational self-interest.
EP: Considering the extremes of living for one's self versus living for others I would conclude that a rational self-interest would equate to a continuous evaluation of how your actions benefit yourself and others in the ultimate pursuit of happiness ideally created through a string of win-win interactions with others where negligible time loses out to irrational impulses or concerns etc.