Ethical egoism

:For other senses of this word, see egoism (disambiguation).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ethical egoism is belief that one ought to do what is in one's own self-interest. What is in one's self-interest may incidentally be detrimental to others, beneficial to others, or neutral in its effect. Ethical egoism is not to be confused with rational egoism, which holds that it is rational to act in one's self-interest, but not that it is ethically imperative.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ethical egoism does not necessitate that individuals disregard the well-being of others, nor does it require that an individual refrain from taking the well-being of others into consideration. It allows for the possibility of either as long as what is chosen is efficacious in satisfying self-interest. The notion that taking the interests of others into consideration is one's best self-interest is known as the doctrine of "rational self-interest." For some, it is the philosophical basis of their espousal of libertarianism which advocates that individuals do not coercively prevent others from exercising freedom of action (others base libertarianism on deontological moral principles, natural law, or utilitarianism).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ethical egoism is in contrast with the ethical doctrine of altruism which holds that individuals have an ethical obligation to help or serve others. A philosophy holding that one should be honest, just, benevolent etc., because those virtues serve one's self-interest is egoistic; one holding that one should practice those virtues for reasons other than self-interest is not egoistic.

Related Topics:
Egoism - Altruism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many contend that the view is implausible on its face, and that those who advocate it seriously usually do so at the expense of redefining "self-interest" to include the interests of others. Or, it may be argued that harming or enslaving others is what is one's best self-interest. An ethical egoist might counter with by asserting that furthering the ends of others is sometimes the best means of furthering one's own ends, or that simply by allowing liberty to others one's self-interest is resultingly furthered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ethical egoism is present in the philosophies of individuals such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Max Stirner. Others, such as Ayn Rand (a rational egoist), Thomas Hobbes, and David Gauthier, have argued that the conflicts which arise when people each pursue their own ends can be resolved for the best of each individual only if they all voluntarily forgo some of their aims — that is, one's self-interest is often best pursued by allowing others to pursue their self-interest as well so that liberty is equalized among individuals. Sacrificing one's short-term self-interest in order to maximize one's long-term self-interest is known as "rational self-interest." And, this is the idea behind most philosophers' advocacy of ethical egoism.

Related Topics:
Friedrich Nietzsche - Max Stirner - Ayn Rand - Rational egoist - Thomas Hobbes - David Gauthier

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As Nietzsche (in Beyond Good and Evil) and Alasdair MacIntyre (in After Virtue) are famous for pointing out, the ancient Greeks did not associate morality with altruism in the way that post-Christian Western civilization has done. Consequently, followers of Rand may argue that Greeks like Aristotle (for whom pride was a virtue) were ethical egoists. However, Nietzsche, MacIntyre, and the Greeks do not associate ethical egoism with morality, either. Aristotle's view, for example, is that we have duties to ourselves as well as to other people (e.g. friends) and to the polis as a whole.

Related Topics:
Alasdair MacIntyre - Morality - Altruism - Western civilization - Aristotle - Polis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~