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Egoism is defined here as the human behavior of being driven by what is good for you and only you. Please explain your answer as best as you can. Thanks

2007-12-05 06:47:20 · 13 answers · asked by Angel Eve 6 in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

13 answers

Psychological egoism is the view that humans are always motivated by rational self-interest, even in what seem to be acts of altruism. Psychological egoism seems at first inconsistent, because many acts that appear to be altruistic are common and well known (e.g. self-sacrifice, gratuitous help). One possible response is to claim that the apparent altruism conceals conscious self-interest.The proponents of psychological egoism nevertheless consider that these acts are in their essence selfish, because the real motive of these actions is that they bring some benefit to the person who accomplishes them. This "something" is generally referred to as good feeling, and it includes such things as:


Satisfaction of a desire to comply with a given moral code
Feeling of power, by making notable changes in one's environment
The expectation of reciprocal beneficial action
Pride and self-worth

I believe that ego is primal, and unseperable from survival instinct.

I can't think of one thing a person does that does not have some selfish motivation, such as the ones above. Example: if we treat our spouses extremely well, and "put their needs before our own", isn't that done with the hope that they will love us, and therefore we will feel good?

2007-12-05 07:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by BillyTheKid 6 · 0 1

Egoism has 2 definitions. a million : a doctrine that particular self-pastime is the somewhat objective of all wakeful action 2: intense challenge for oneself / exaggerated thoughts of shallowness Def a million is largely Darwinism, i.e. existence ought to pursue self pastime with the intention to stay to tell the story. This makes egoism the only maximum vital element of all existence, which comprise people. yet def 2 is how maximum folk use the term. And the words 'intense' & 'exaggerated' needless to say advise this way of state isn't mandatory. Which brings us rapidly to the anomaly "How is it even achieveable to magnify self value while, as in line with def a million, the self is ALL significant." the respond lies in know-how that group pastime arises out of mutual self pastime. We supply up some freedom & supply some attempt to the gang in replace for the added secure practices & ability we obtain from the gang. yet if you consider that we are pushed by using self pastime there is often the temptation to cheat the social settlement. we are temped to have faith the gang exists to serve us yet no longer the opposite. We have faith we are entitled. This egoism isn't mandatory. whether this is going to likely continuously be with us when you consider that there's an remarkable benefit gained by using speaking some naive fool into unconditional love. some people can ever make the thought sound good. E.G. JFK: "Ask no longer what your u . s . can do for you; ask what you're able to do on your u . s ." Sorry John. we ought to continuously ask the two questions. Its egoism to ask purely what your u . s . can do for you, and asking purely what you're able to do on your u . s ., is silly.

2016-10-19 07:05:04 · answer #2 · answered by Erika 4 · 0 0

Instead of stating pure rhetoric, I'll go straight to the point.

Egoism as work ethics was the foundation for the rise of capitalism and industrialism against old monarchy and feudalism. So I would say yes. The goodness of egoism outweighs what is bad.

2007-12-05 07:19:31 · answer #3 · answered by Jason 3 · 0 0

i would say that egoism is a trait suited to survival.
to apply darwinian theory, egoism is a driving force for conquests, reproduction, the harding of resources, the quest for power. egoism leads people to do many things in self interest, and as life carries on, decisions made based on egoism tend to give a competitive advantage for survival.

2007-12-05 07:36:37 · answer #4 · answered by Joseph G 3 · 0 0

What Is Egoism

2016-10-04 02:18:45 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

Well acording to the Ancient Vedas, There is a false ego and a real ego. For example.-
We are not this material body, IE; Race, color, nationality, Religion, mind, intellect, senses, job, etc. We are all eternal spirit souls, part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, also known as Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu, etc. We never die, only this mortal body dies.
This material world is not our real home, it is called Maya (illusion) and is temporary and full of misery, only one fourth of the souls come here, and the rest are enjoying blissful eternal loving relationships with our Maker named above. We fell here due to envying Gods position. He made the material world for those who want to try to live separately from Him (Which is impossible because He is actually everywhere). After many lifetimes of trying to be happy in this temporary world one becomes frustrated and board and begins to question their existence. We then seek out real happiness, and when one becomes sincere God reveals how to come back Home. Those who are intelligent, take up the process of self realization (Bhakti Yoga) which begins with the chanting of the Maha Mantra (the great mantra for deliverance from all suffering and illusion), which gives one real peace, happiness and reality. Then at the end of life they can give up all material attachments and fully surrender to God and return to the eternal Kingdom, where there is no more birth, death, old age, or disease and be eternally happy. I choose my real ego. (spir soul)
For info. Go to harekrishnatemple.com Read Bhagavad Gita- As it is by Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada asitis.com you can read it on line.

2007-12-05 07:07:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Helps focus survival skills.

"Soul Mates and Twin Flames," Elizabeth Clare Prophet,
"Man, Master of His Destiny," O. M. Aivanhov,
"Men in White Apparel" and "Watch Your Dreams," Ann Ree Colton,
"The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?", Free and Wilcock, http://www.divinecosmos.com
"Expecting Adam," Martha Beck, and
"Life before Life," Jim Tucker, M.D., would likely be of value to you.

cordially,

j.

2007-12-05 09:29:28 · answer #7 · answered by j153e 7 · 0 0

What is good for you and you only does not mean the necessity of being bad for others. To believe this is to accept altruism as the highest good. What is good for you does not have to affect any other human except for perhaps his acceptance that you have that right to do anything which does no harm to another.

2007-12-05 08:52:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

In the work place, for example, ego can be good. You might be motivated to do your job well because it makes you feel good. In a management position, it is your ego that prompts you to trust yourself enough to believe that you have taught your employees well so that you can empower them to be the best they can be. :)

I do not agree with that definition. That sounds more like "egotism."

2007-12-05 07:01:18 · answer #9 · answered by Trina™ 6 · 1 1

rebel everything is good in moderation. interesting how we find friends & bf/gf compatible by similar levels of ego or motivation.

please don't email me if you hate my black cape or my phallic symbolism derived from me helmet. I am a practicing psychoanalyst & all me patients are now screwed up.

2007-12-05 07:34:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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