Understanding “Enlightened Self-Interest” in order to benefit oneself and the wider society

Any learner who has ever been in the “Approaches to Learning” tutorials for our Secondary school students here at ISW will be aware of the philosophical idea of “enlightened self-interest.”

Enlightened self-interest is a powerful concept that can help learners understand the importance of making decisions that are both beneficial to themselves and society as a whole. This concept suggests that personal and societal benefits can be aligned, and that individuals can make decisions that are in their best interests while also having a positive impact on the wider community. The idea of enlightened self-interest is particularly important in the context of education, as sometimes learners are often not motivated by the prospect of improving society or the world, but instead focused on their own personal goals and ambitions. Of course, we utilize an array of strategies to develop intrinsic motivation, but we recognise that sometimes this can be a long process.

To help learners understand the importance of enlightened self-interest, we at ISW focus our attention on emphasizing the benefits that learners can reap from studying and working on projects that may not initially interest them.

For example, by researching and learning about issues such as climate change, threats to biodiversity, or child labour, learners are not only extending their depth of knowledge in these areas, but also building a portfolio of skills that will be valuable to them in the future. These skills may include critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, which are all highly sought after by universities and employers alike. Furthermore, by working on meaningful projects learners are not only building their skills, but they are also learning about important issues that they can potentially become passionate advocates for in the future. This kind of learning has the potential to inspire young people to become engaged and motivated citizens, who not only want to improve their own lives, but also the lives of those around them.

Adrian Scarlett, Vice Principal, Head of Secondary ISW