Ethical Egoism
Ethical egoism is a normative ethical theory that posits individuals should act in ways that promote their own self-interest. This theory distinguishes itself from other ethical frameworks by suggesting that moral decisions should primarily benefit the decision-maker, regardless of the potential negative impact on others. Ethical egoism encompasses different forms of egoism, including psychological egoism, which asserts that people are inherently driven to act in self-interest, and rational egoism, which posits that rational actions align with one's self-interest.
Critics of ethical egoism argue that it can lead to conflicts and moral dilemmas, where one person's self-interest may directly oppose another's. For instance, in a hypothetical scenario, a son might perceive that his best interest lies in harming his wealthy father, representing a moral conflict that ethical egoism struggles to resolve. Proponents, however, contend that caring for oneself is essential for being able to help others in the long run, suggesting that a society where individuals pursue their self-interest can lead to overall harmony and efficiency. Misconceptions about ethical egoism often arise, such as the belief that it promotes instant gratification, when in reality, long-term benefits may sometimes necessitate delaying immediate desires. Overall, ethical egoism invites complex discussions about morality and self-interest, providing a unique lens through which to evaluate ethical behavior.
Ethical Egoism
Ethical egoism is a theory relating to egoism. In philosophy, egoism is the idea that one should, or does, act to benefit oneself. Theories relating to egoism include ethical, psychological, and rational egoism. Ethical egoism is a theory that claims people should make choices that are beneficial to their own self-interest. Psychological egoism states people are psychologically compelled to act in their own self-interest. Rational egoism states that actions are rational if they are in one’s self-interest.
Ethical egoism is a normative ethics theory. Normative ethics attempts to tell people how they should act. Ethical egoists believe it is always moral to act in one’s own self-interest, even if acting in one’s self-interest might negatively affect someone else. Ethical egoism is different from many other normative ethics theories because it does not weigh the welfare of others in the decision making.
In ethics, altruism is the converse of ethical egoism. Altruism is the act of doing something because it is good for the most number of people. Although altruistic decisions are those that benefit the most people, they can, at times, also benefit the agent making the decision. Sometimes, ethical egoists make decisions that benefit others, but these decisions also have to benefit the agent taking the action. Even so, an ethical egoist would not make a huge sacrifice, such as giving up their life to save someone else. Giving up one’s life has no foreseeable benefit for the agent, so that action could not be in the person’s own self-interest.
Common Misconceptions
A few common misconceptions about ethical egoism exist. The first is that egoists make choices based on instant gratification. Ethical egoism does not imply that all actions should be immediately gratifying. For example, a person might gain enjoyment from spending all her money on a new wardrobe. However, paying for food, water, and heat will help the person stay alive. Therefore, paying for these necessities—not buying a new wardrobe—might actually be what is in the person’s self-interest.
Another misconception about ethical egoism is that it can never benefit people other than the agent making the decision. When an ethical egoist is making a decision, they might find the decision that benefits them most also benefits others. For example, an ethical egoist might decide to safely dispose of chemical waste so that the waste does not make him sick. This choice greatly benefits the agent making the choice, but it also benefits everyone else who lives in the area.
Arguments For and Against Ethical Egoism
One of the main arguments in support of ethical egoism is that one must care for one’s self before caring for others. If one does not do the things necessary to stay alive, one will be unable to help others in the future. Furthermore, some supporters of ethical egoism claim that if all people in a society care for themselves and work toward gaining things for themselves, society would run smoothly and people would not need to depend on others. This concept was popularized by Dutch social philosopher Bernard Mandeville's poem "The Fable of the Bees" (1714) and Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" (1776).
A number of arguments against ethical egoism exist. One of these arguments is that this theory creates conflicts that cannot be resolved. For example, think about a son and a wealthy father. The son’s best interest might be to kill his father and use his father’s money. However, his father’s best interest is to live his life and spend his own money. One or the other of the people in the example will not be able to fulfill his moral obligation to put himself first. Supporters of ethical egoism may argue, however, that this scenario does actually address each person’s self-interest. A supporter of ethical egoism may say that it is not in the son’s self-interest to kill his father. Other people in the community could imprison or harm the son for killing his father. Therefore, it might not be in the son’s self-interest to kill his father.
Another argument against ethical egoism is that one who believes in this theory could not promote this way of thinking to others. If a person should always follow their self-interest, that person would actually want others to be altruistic. Therefore, a person who wanted only the best outcomes for themselves would not want others to work in their own self-interest. For example, the son of a wealthy father might want the father to give him all his money. This action would benefit the son, but it would not benefit the father. If the son received what was in his self-interest, the father would not be acting in his own self-interest.
Another problem with ethical egoism is that people who try to follow ethical egoism may also have other problems identifying what is truly in their self-interest. For example, a person who wants to relax and sleep all day might believe this action is in his own self-interest. In fact, however, working to make money to pay for food and other necessities may actually be in the person’s self-interest. Therefore, people can have problems following ethical egoism because they cannot identify what actions are actually in their own self-interest.
Bibliography
"Egoism." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 9 Jan. 2023, plato.stanford.edu/entries/egoism. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Heathwood, Chris. "IV. Ethical Egoism." Philosophy 220: Ethics: Course Outline, Regents of the University of Colorado, spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil220/egoism.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Kay, Charles D. "Varieties of Egoism." Department of Philosophy, Wofford College, sites.wofford.edu/kaycd/egoism. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Moseley, Alexander. "Egoism." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/egoism. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Westacott, Emrys. "What Is Ethical Egoism?" ThoughtCo., 12 Oct. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/what-is-ethical-egoism-3573630. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.