The Theory Of Egoism And Altruism - 1511 Words

In this paper I will argue that selecting only one form of egoism is not enough to explain human motives and that it takes a mix of several theories to explain it, specifically a mix of ethical egoism and altruism, with the side note that intent is not important in this situation. The mix is important, as any one theory seemingly fails to encapsulate the scope of human interactions. Pure ethical egoism, the idea that each person should only try to help themselves, makes people out to be too greedy and seemingly unwilling to help anyone at any point in their lives. Pure altruism, the idea that people should use their abilities and advantages to exclusively help others, makes people too willing to sacrifice what they have for someone else. If people were completely altruistic nothing would ever be accomplished and eventually those advantages would become erased as people stop working to better themselves. I also believe that the intent of the action is not important so the morality of the action should be directly tied to the outcome, not the thought process of the person doing the action. All of these ideas will be explained in more detail later in the paper. This paper will look at each of these three factors individually, show why they are insufficient for explaining human motives on their own and then explain how they can all work in conjunction to better explain human motives. This paper will then go on to show how someone might disagree with this thesis by providing someShow MoreRelatedAltruism: The Illusion of Self-Interest Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe behavior of altruism in an individual is when it brings more costs than benefits for the benefit of another individual. Altruism comes from the Latin word Alter which means the others. This translation of alturism describes it relatively well. Another great definition of altruism can be found in a statement of Edward Osborne Wilson, an American biologist. According to Wilson, Altruism is defined in b iology, as in everyday life, as a self-destructive behavior for the benefit of other.Read MoreEthical Egoism Reflection Paper1739 Words   |  7 Pagesselflessness, psychological egoism, ethical egoism, and altruism all somehow relate towards beneficiating, but I believe that psychological egoism is the correct way to view selfishness for its positive symbiotic relationship between the person doing the action and the person receiving it. Of the three views to choose from – psychological egoism, ethical egoism, and altruism – I had the hardest time choosing between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. In my opinion, altruism is not possible, whichRead MoreEthical Egoism, Ethical Altruism, And Eudaimonia1660 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Egoism, Ethical Altruism, and Eudaimonia are terms adversely mentioned, and used interchangeably, especially in the philosophical field. From a philosophical angle, egoism can take the descriptive or the normative perspective. While taking the ethical egoism angle, the source highlights that for a particular action, it must adhere to the moral requirements to the extent that there is no depriving of the individual’s self-interests. With regards to ethical altruism, there is the tendencyRead MoreAltruism And Egoism : A Moral Code Of Conduct1417 Words   |  6 Pagespsychology, altruism and egoism are two contrasting views on morality, one holding that one sho uld value principles/actions that benefit others over oneself, the other holding that not only are we innately selfish species, but that selfishness is how one ought to act. While both theories of morality are prevalent throughout history and cultures around the world, I will be examining the two sides of egoism: physiological and ethical, and how these can be connected to altruism. These theories are essentialRead MoreEgoism And Ethical Egoism1291 Words   |  6 PagesEthics by Russ Shafer-Landau and Psychological Egoism and Hobbes by Hun Chung in order to talk about and give more insight on psychological egoism and ethical egoism. There are many things to know and learn such as what these theories are and how they are different and alike as well as other components supporting each theory. Psychological Egoism states that human actions are based on self-interest, even if the action appears to be selfless. It is a theory that all human actions are aimed at avoidingRead MoreEthical Egoism1596 Words   |  7 PagesLove Your Neighbor As Yourself: Response to Ethical Egoism PHIL-122 22 March 2013 We are often taught at an early age that when struggling to make a decision to â€Å"let our consciences be our guides†. Conscience can be defined as our adherence to moral principles, or our considerations of fairness and justice. The word â€Å"consideration† is used because every individual has their own standards for what they feel to be morally right versus what they feel to be morally wrong, however this conceptRead MoreNo Behaviour Is ‘Really’ Altruistic. Based on Theory and Research in Social Psychology, Critically Discuss This Contention.1260 Words   |  6 PagesAltruism is a subcategory of helping behaviour, and refers to an act that is motivated by the desire to benefit another rather than oneself (Batson Coke, 1981; Berkowitz, 1970, cited in Hogg Vaughan, 2005). The main issue with determining whether a helping act is truly altruistic is one of motivation; if we cannot determine whether an act stems from a desire to benefit others or some kind of ulterior motive, altruism is difficult to demonstrate (Rushton Sorrentino, 1981, cited in Hogg VaughanRead MoreBenefits Of Raising Minimum Wage1291 Words   |  6 Pagesstates and the District of Columbia pay above the minimum federal level of $7.25 per hour. The raising of the minimum wage has numerous supporters; however, there are individuals who are opposed. The analyzation of ethical theories, such as, utilitarianism, altruism, and egoism will be utilized to obtain a more significant understanding of the importance to raise the minimum wage to a livable wage. According to registered voters, most Americans are in favor of raising the minimum wage to a $15 perRead MoreEgoism By Thomas Hobbes And Immanuel Kant1660 Words   |  7 PagesEgoism can be described as the theory of solely acting towards the advancement and good of one’s own self, without any other causes for action. While egoism has been interpreted differently throughout history, the two variants of egoism conceived by Thomas Hobbes and Immanuel Kant are widely considered today to be theoretically bound and consistent. The egoism, described by Hobbes, conceives egoism as  a fully psychological motive that is within the minds of all human beings, who think only of theirRead MoreEgoism And Its Effects On Society819 Words   |  4 PagesEgoism states that humans need to do what is best for them. It claims that it is not only people’s right, but their duty to look after their own interests first. Altruism, on the other hand, is the direct opposite of this; it claim s that people ought to look after others interests ahead of theirs. One argument supporting egoism is rooted in what appears to be conceptual truths concerning intentional action. For instance, Feigin et al. (2014) argue that people’s actions are aroused by their own desires