ETHICAL EGOISM

Ethical Egoism

Ethical egoism

Introduction

Human beings put so much value on other people's interests. They find that if they satisfy their hunger for helping others, they (in turn) will have satisfaction for themselves. This was shown in Mother Teresa's giving to others without taking anything back. However, as with everything else, there are exceptions. Iunderstand many persons (i.e. car salesman ha-ha) that have only their interests in mind when they are taking action. This brings us to the discussion of the difference between psychological egoism and ethical egoism and my position upon ethical egoism.

Ethical egoism

Ethical egoism is the most logical theory. The second argument for ethical egoism runs along the lines of the first. Humans ought to act on whatever will promote the interests of everyone. The interests of everyone can only be promoted if humans pursue their own interests. Thus, every human should look out for him/herself.

Ethical egoism is the theory that the advancement of one's own good is in agreement with morality. It is what one "ought" to do. In the powerful type it is held that it is habitually lesson to promote one's own good and it is not ever lesson not to encourage it. In the weak version, it claims that although it is always moral to promote one's good, it is necessarily never moral not to do so. There is one solid, logical argument for ethical egoism. If, in the wilderness, two humans come across the only source of food, a dilemma arises if both claim the food. The rational idea would be to accept an equal share of the food. However, both humans would only have half as much food as they need. Therefore, there is no possible resolution and they must fight for it. They must resort to the "might makes right" theory and in the interest of living, they must indirectly kill the other one. Here are two main arguments against it: First, only the human in question can say what is best for him/her. No human can say that they clearly know what is better for another human. Moreover, helping others is offensive to them. It is presumptuous to show a human that they are inadequate and that others are able to do what they cannot. Secondly, given that any argument that puts forth the idea of a different treatment for different groups of people without any justifiable differences is unacceptable arbitrary. ...