Philosophical riddle: What do you think?

Question

I thought of this interesting dilemma the other day:

Suppose there is somebody in your life who is the most important thing to do. You would die for this person. You know that you are as important to them as they are to you.

Suppose there was a situation where you had to lay down your life for them. Your life or theirs. But what would be your motives for doing so? Probably, because to live without them would be too painful.

But then: if that is how they felt about you, wouldn't you be hurting them by sacrificing your life for them? Surely your motives would be selfish?

Whose life should be "saved" (in the material sense)? Why?

Answer 1

Sacrificing your life in order to save the life of a friend can be considered selfish.  But you died for your action.  So no one is going to consider you selfish when they think about you.  

So the question really ends up being a philosophical cipher.

-John

Answer 2

Well the idea of a supreme sacrifice as an act of selfishness to me is most ridiculous.   Today words and meaning are getting mixed up like "double speak" in Orson Wells 1984 world.  

A true friend would see your actions not as an act of selfishness but one of love.  And they would live their life in gratefulness for what you did for them, always.  And they would know without a doubt that if they had traded places with you , they would have died for you so that you would live.

Love always sees things in a noble and virtuous light.  Always.   Friendship proves this and so does love.  

In the end both lives are saved because of love.  The one who dies knows that a friend they care about still lives.  And the one who lives knowing that they are alive because someone loved them so much they gave up their own life to preserve theirs.

I think that's what those philosophers are missing with that type of reasoning that noble actions are selfish.  Selfishness prioritizes only self cares nothing of others when push comes to shove.

I hope this helps.  I just disagreed with that last part of sacrificing is an act of selfishness especially between friends.  Sorry.