Mea Culpa: Self-interest and the common good

Questions of style and usage in last week’s Independent

On reflection, Narcissus is a good example of where self-interest might lead you

In an editorial about the effect on universities of the A-level imbroglio, we said: “It is very much in their self-interest to fill their places this year with the best domestic students, for the supply of international students will inevitably be sharply down.”

Thanks to Paul Edwards for pointing out that the “self-” is not needed, although I suppose it could be that it subliminally reinforces the argument, originally Adam Smith’s, that “self-love” can promote the common good. Smith used the plain term “interest” in The Wealth of Nations: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” But then he added: “We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love.”

Filler phrases: “In terms of” is one of those filler phrases that the reader doesn’t usually notice, but a writer ought to, because it makes any sentence feel weak. We used it in a report of the virtual Democratic Party convention, where, to change the subject back to the nominee, we said: “In terms of Joe Biden…” A simple “As for…” would have worked fine.