If you're into eastern philosophies/religions, there is an emphasis on understanding the Ego. Personally I would rather have less rights and be less rich than to see the less-fortunate continue to suffer.
A bigger house or a fancier cars doesn't persuade me more than doing something to empower the disenfranchised.
Edit: Also, civilisations arose because people were able to work together and trust each other. We stopped killing each other or relieving ourselves whenever we want so that we can all have a better quality of life.
A society that emphasizes the rights of the individual is a highly cooperative one, with a preponderance of altruism. A society of selfish people will never be able to maintain a social order that affords individual rights.
>>Personally I would rather have less rights and be less rich than to see the less-fortunate continue to suffer.
That's not inconsistent with believing in individual rights. If you have a right to self-autonomy, then you also have a right to give up your own rights to help the needy.
It's only if you deem your will as more worthy than that of others, and would like to use coercive means to compel others to make the same trade-off, that you no longer believe in individual rights.
A bigger house or a fancier cars doesn't persuade me more than doing something to empower the disenfranchised.
Edit: Also, civilisations arose because people were able to work together and trust each other. We stopped killing each other or relieving ourselves whenever we want so that we can all have a better quality of life.