Egoism

Introduction of Theory

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Ethical Egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest. Ethical egoism also differs from rational egoism, which holds that it is rational to act in one's self-interest.

Explanation of Theory

Rationale

  Ethical egoism tries to develop a comprehensive set of rules by which each person should govern their lives. Instead of approaching each daily decision separately and interpreting the correct response, philosophers try and find an overall rule that will guide each person in their daily lives. This is obviously not an easy task and has given birth to hundreds of varying theories. Ethical egoism tries to solve the problem in terms of maximizing one's individual good. Ethical egoism is a system of creating a morality based not only on one's actions, but one's beliefs about those actions. A person's actions must not create good for others, only for themselves.

Although many disagree with the theory of ethical egoism, there are a number convincing arguments in its favor. When one considers the theory at face value, there is little that can be said wrong about it. What could possibly be bad about each person devoting their lives to maximizing their own personal good? Isn't that what we're all looking for anyway? Don't we all want good lives? In addition, if each person is living in a state which they consider good, then ethical egoists believe that this will bring about some universal good as well. The point of ethical egoism is not to bring about an overall good, yet through the actions of individuals, it will supposedly do so.

Each person acting under the theory of ethical egoism is not obliged to bring about a greater good, but it will exist nonetheless. Another appealing aspect of ethical egoism is that it allows each individual...