Overview
Is selfishness always a bad thing? This video explores how acting in your own self-interest—without cheating or stealing—can actually make the world better by creating jobs, lowering prices, and improving lives. Using real-world examples and ideas from Ayn Rand and Thomas Sowell, it challenges students to rethink what they know about capitalism, selfishness, and progress.

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Lesson Insights

Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Economics and Other
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify examples from the video that show how self-interest can benefit others;
• explain the difference between selfishness that harms and self-interest that helps;
• analyze how voluntary exchanges create win-win outcomes in a free market; and
• evaluate the argument that self-interested behavior can lead to greater societal progress.

Key concepts and terms covered
Capitalism, Competition, Entrepreneur, Objectivism, and Self-interest.

Sample discussion questions
• What is selfishness, according to the video?
• Why do businesses have to lower their prices over time?
• If an individual starts a business just to make money, how can that benefit other people around him/her?
• Do you agree that acting in your own self-interest can help others? Why or why not?
• How might media or school influence how we feel about people who pursue profit?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 16-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.