Egoism
- For other uses, see Egoism (disambiguation).
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Egoism is putting the interests of one's self above other's interests or at the exclusion of others' interests; that is, selfishness.
In extreme forms, egoism may include narcissism and antisocial behavior.
As Ethical egoism, it is the foundation of the Libertarian system of Ayn Rand, where it is the belief that the pursuit of one’s self-interest is the basis of a desirable economic state.
If egoism suggests that an individual seeks his own ends without regard to the interests of or consequences to others, it differs from individualism. Individualism may be simplified as minding one's own business and letting others mind theirs. Although individualism may imply the purely self-serving motivation of the egoist, a healthy individualism promotes respect of the others' individuality and the valuable role which each may play in a community. Thus, unlike egoism, individualism can exist within the structure of a unified communitarian system.
Egoism has often been identified as the basis for immorality. To suggest, as Rand does, that it is the basis for morality, is not new and is for many an absurdity. Writes Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Thomas Law, 1814:
- Self-interest, or rather self-love, or egoism, has been more plausibly substituted as the basis of morality. But I consider our relations with others as constituting the boundaries of morality. With ourselves, we stand on the ground of identity, not of relation, which last, requiring two subjects, excludes self-love confined to a single one. To ourselves, in strict language, we can owe no duties, obligation requiring also two parties. Self-love, therefore, is no part of morality. Indeed, it is exactly its opposite.
Two different theoretical systems of interpretation are commonly labeled egoism:
- ethical egoism is the view that one ought to always act that in a way that best serves one's self-interest (Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness).
- psychological egoism is the view that one is always motivated to act in one's own best interests. This view is generally discredited by professional philosophers and psychologists.
Commonly, the term egoism is understood as a repulsive characteristic. Egoism is a primary motive for conflict, since the interests of others or of a community are either ignored or are given a low priority.
Egoism also has been applied to philosophers such as Bernard de Mandeville and to many other materialists of his generation, but none of them declared themselves as such. One must also note that being a materialist does not necessarily imply egoism, as indicated by Marx, and many other materialists, who espoused various forms of collectivism. The first Western philosopher to apply the label of egoism to his or her own work was Max Stirner; although he did, in effect, re-invent the meaning of the term to suit his philosophy. A related word is egotism. Ayn Rand makes a distinction between egoism and egotism, but few philosophers do so.
Egoism is considered by many as a controversial and dangerous philsophy; many religions, as well as political ideologies, are based on sacrifice or collectivist ideas. The egoist' denial of things above them are anathema to religions that require subservience to God or gods, or political philosphies that require subordination to state, class, or caste.
Debates of this kind span such religions as Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism (see Atman, Anatman and Pudgalavada). Most religions hold that egoism is the product of a lack of genuine spirituality and shows an individual's submersion in materialism or greed. This agrees with the traditional ethical system of the West, where the pursuit of the individual's ends without consideration of the greater good is the basis for sin. Indeed, the bulk of Western ethical thought relies on personal restraint in regard to others, such as expressed in the Ten Commandments, with its prohibition against giving false witness against others, against stealing from others, and against even coveting other's property.
In direct opposition to egoism, Christianity places its golden rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.