Ethical egoism is the normative theory that the promotion of one's own good is in accordance with morality. In the strong version, it is held that it is always moral to promote one's own good, and it is never moral not to promote it. In the weak version, it is said that although it is always moral to promote one's own good, it is not necessarily never moral to not. That is, there may be conditions in which the avoidance of personal interest may be a moral action.
In an imaginary construction of a world inhabited by a single being, it is possible that the pursuit of morality is the same as the pursuit of self-interest in that what is good for the agent is the same as what is in the agent's interests. Arguably, there could never arise an occasion when the agent ought not to pursue self-interest in favor of another morality, unless he produces an alternative ethical system in which he ought to renounce his values in favor of an imaginary self, or, other entity such as the universe, or the agent's God. Opponents of ethical egoism may claim, however, that although it is possible for this Robinson Crusoe type creature to lament previous choices as not conducive to self-interest (enjoying the pleasures of swimming all day, and not spending necessary time producing food), the mistake is not a moral mistake but a mistake of identifying self-interest. Presumably this lonely creature will begin to comprehend the distinctions between short, and long-term interests, and, that short-term pains can be countered by long-term gains.
In addition, opponents argue that even in a world inhabited by a single being, duties would still apply; (Kantian) duties are those actions that reason dictates ought to be pursued regardless of any gain, or loss to self or others. Further, the deontologist asserts the application of yet another moral sphere which ought to be pursued, namely, that of impartial duties. The problem with complicating the creature's world with impartial duties, however, is in defining an impartial task in a purely subjective world. Impartiality, the ethical egoist may retort, could only exist where there are competing selves: otherwise, the attempt to be impartial in judging one's actions is a redundant exercise. (However, the Cartesian rationalist could retort that need not be so, that a sentient being should act rationally, and reason will disclose what are the proper actions he should follow.)
If we move away from the imaginary construct of a single being's world, ethical egoism comes under fire from more pertinent arguments. In complying with ethical egoism, the individual aims at her own greatest good. Ignoring a definition of the good for the present, it may justly be argued that pursuing one's own greatest good can conflict with another's pursuit, thus creating a situation of conflict. In a typical example, a young person may see his greatest good in murdering his rich uncle to inherit his millions. It is the rich uncle's greatest good to continue enjoying his money, as he sees fit. According to detractors, conflict is an inherent problem of ethical egoism, and the model seemingly does not possess a conflict resolution system. With the additional premise of living in society, ethical egoism has much to respond to: obviously there are situations when two people's greatest goods the subjectively perceived working of their own self-interest will conflict, and, a solution to such dilemmas is a necessary element of any theory attempting to provide an ethical system.
The ethical egoist contends that her theory, in fact, has resolutions to the conflict. The first resolution proceeds from a state of nature examination. If, in the wilderness, two people simultaneously come across the only source of drinkable water a potential dilemma arises if both make a simultaneous claim to it. With no recourse to arbitration they must either accept an equal share of the water, which would comply with rational egoism. (In other...
Read more:
Essay about Ethical Egoism - 1656 Words - StudyMode
- Psychological Egoism - Philosophy Home Page [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Psychological Egoism - University of Idaho [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Dr. Charles Kay Egoism - Wofford College [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- Rational egoism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 10th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Carnegie Mellon University [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2016]
- Consequentialism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Education [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2016]
- More than a game: ND Ethics Week examines sports and the common good - ND Newswire [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- THE BACKSTORY: How Trump got to yes on Gorusch -- PLAYBOOK EXCLUSIVE: PETRAEUS warns US ... - Politico [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Lecture series explores ethics in sports industry - Observer Online [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Ethical Egoism | Psychological Egoism [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Psychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- The Weakness and wickedness of Kiir's Administration: South Sudan in political and ethnic crisis - Borglobe [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- Human Nature, Morality, & Salvation Jewish Theology Pt. IV - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- Rebel Crossings by Sheila Rowbotham review feminist utopian dreams - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- A Jewish Social Vision Jewish Theology, Pt. VI - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: March 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 3rd, 2017]
- Reinhold Niebuhr and our common good - Bowling Green Daily News [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2017]
- Why Is It Difficult to Live Together in Differences? (A Reflection) - Netralnews [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Free ethical relativism Essays and Papers - 123helpme [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- 'Wounded but not dead' Cassola says AD right in not joining PN - MaltaToday [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- Egoism - New World Encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2017]
- Mailbag: The limits of ethical egoism - Albany Democrat Herald [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2017]
- Orwell vs Huxley vs Zamyatin: Who would win a dystopian fiction contest? - Scroll.in [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2017]
- IDF Medics to Learn Groundbreaking Trauma Procedure - Breaking Israel News [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2017]
- The Courage to Face a Lifetime: On the Enduring Value of Ayn Rand's Philosophy - IAI News [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2017]
- On Albert Einstein's peaceful musings - The Livingston County News [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2017]
- Psychological Egoism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- The Differences Between Utilitarianism & Ethical Egoism ... [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2018]
- Egoism | Learning to Give [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2018]
- Selfless Good Deeds? Psychological vs. Ethical Egoism ... [Last Updated On: March 17th, 2018] [Originally Added On: March 17th, 2018]
- Ethical Egoism - University of Colorado Boulder [Last Updated On: April 8th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 8th, 2018]
- Ethics - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2018]
- Difference Between Psychological and Ethical Egoism ... [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2018]
- Ethical Egoism - Seven Pillars Institute [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2018]
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of ethical egoism? [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2018]
- Ethics | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2018]
- Egoism: Examples and Definition | Philosophy Terms [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2018]
- Ethical Theories Summarized & Explained: Consequentialism ... [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2018]
- Ethical Egoism Essay - 1537 Words | Bartleby [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2018]
- Egoism | philosophy | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2018]
- The Differences Between Utilitarianism & Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2018]
- Ethical Egoism, Essay Sample - essaybasics.com [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2018]
- Ethical Egoism Essay - 1596 Words - studymode.com [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2018]
- Ethical egoism - RationalWiki [Last Updated On: January 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 1st, 2019]
- Ethics: Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism - Bartleby.com [Last Updated On: January 10th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2019]
- Psychological Egoism vs Ethical Egoism | Flow Psychology [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2019]
- A Framework for Making Ethical Decisions | Science and ... [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2019]
- Psychological egoism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2019]
- Dr. Charles Kay Egoism [Last Updated On: February 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 16th, 2019]
- The Triumph of Preposterousness - Fair Observer [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2019]
- Dostoyevsky Misprisioned: The House of the Dead and American Prison Literature - lareviewofbooks [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2019]
- The '7 Social Sins' as a Warning and Way Onto a Path Toward Equality and Liberation - The Good Men Project [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2020]
- Crimes and Misdemeanors | Issue 139 - Philosophy Now [Last Updated On: August 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 3rd, 2020]
- Here are the 7 social sins that Trump supporters can't stop committing - LGBTQ Nation [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2020]
- Egoism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- 15 Important Pros and Cons of Ethical Egoism ConnectUS [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Ethical Egoism Theory Explained - HRF [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Egoism | philosophy | Britannica [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- What Is Ethical Egoism? - ThoughtCo [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Ethical egoism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2020]
- Ethics and the virus: 'nothing spoils mighty craic like ethics' - RTE.ie [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2020]
- 42nd Anniversary of JPII's Election: The Civilization of Love is the Way of the Church - National Catholic Register [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2020]
- Book Review: Philanthropy - Can the rich save the world? - Independent Catholic News [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- 10 Denim Industry Experts on the Highs, Lows and Predictions for 2022 - Sourcing Journal [Last Updated On: January 25th, 2022] [Originally Added On: January 25th, 2022]
- Rishihood University Forms a Knowledge Society with the launch of the New Research Cell | India Education - India Education Diary [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]