It could be considered selfish because then your family has to deal with the loss emotionally and physically.
It could be considered selfless because you are in a sense wish for the prolonging of the life of your family. You wish they live longer than you.

And on the flipside, would it be selfish or selfless to wish upon your family's death before yours?

It could be selfish, because you are wishing yourself a prolonged life, and thus wishing your family lived a shorter life than you did. Or is it selfless because your family dies before you and you have to put up with their loss, and they don't have to worry about your death: they won't be emotionally effected by it.

I don't really have a definate answer in mind, and I think this is more of a discussion question than anything else. So discuss. (sorry about the gloomy topic, by the way).

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I'll give you 1,500 points for clickingthis link.

It would depend on which is viewed as being more important to the individual who would weigh up the options, not experiencing the death of family members, or lasting longer in life.

Of course it is not as simple as that. There are other factors to consider, such as being alive to protect your family, or, if inevitable, aiding them to a painless death.

The measurement of selfishness depends on how strongly the individual considers each individual aspect of the hypothetical situation.

(Edited by x FENRIS x at 12:24 pm on July 19, 2006)

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"Does thinkin' you're the last sane man
on the face of the earth, make you "crazy"?
'Cause if it does...maybe I am"

If you wish your death before their's so you don't have to be put through the emotional pain of their deaths, then it's selfish

If you wish your death before their's because you want them to live a longer life then it's selfless.

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Careful... Don't turn into a pushy little shit

Many acts appear selfless, but they are only done in order to
- win the approval of another individual, or a group
- lay the groundwork for future activities that benefit the original actor, or
- satisfy a personal moral belief (e.g. Mother Teresa situation).

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DON'T PM me if you have nothing intelligent to say.

I disagree with Caseofbaskets and don't think that everything we do is ultimately selfish. But am too tired to elaborate. Can't find this piece that I wrote, on this topic, bah.