Robert Ringer

Robert Ringer has written a series of books promoting his philosophy of “looking out for number one.” He has published Winning Through Intimidation (1973), Looking Out For Number One (1977), Million Dollar Habits (1990), and Getting What You Want: Seven Principles of Rational Living (2000). Ringer explains in this viewpoint that all humans have a common goal in life: pleasure. Ringer hopes to simplify people’s lives by helping them seek rational ways to reach that goal.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What does the author mean when he uses the term “looking out for number one”?
2. Imagine a situation in which a person’s happiness harmed other people, but those people were too weak to cause the first person any pain. Should the first person go ahead and seek their own...