Psychological Egoism

Psychological Egoism

Psychological egoism is a reflex that every person has to orient

themselves toward their own welfare. Through this, it follows that every one of

his (or her) voluntary actions is some good to himself. If someone gives away

the last piece of bread to someone else, it is because they want to look like a

better person. Due to the fact that they would give away the last piece of bread.

Human nature is completely and exclusively egoistic. People are entirely

selfish and devoid of any genuine feelings of sympathy, benevolence, or

sociability. They are always thinking of themselves in everything they do.

Each individual is preoccupied exclusively with the gratification of

personal desires (felicity or happiness).Ones success in maintaining a

continuous flow of gratification is the means of ones happiness.

The object of the voluntary acts of every man is some good to himself.

Whenever man renounces his right it is either in consideration for some right

reciprocally transferred to himself, or for some other good he hopes for from

the outcome. This presents us with the old saying: "Do unto others as you would

want them to do unto you."

Social organization originates out of self interest. All society is for

gain, or for glory. It is not like we think it is—for love of our fellows.

Instead it is for self preservation. It is a sort of social contract. In a state

of nature we are at war with each other and life is solitary, poor, nasty,

brutish, and short. In a natural state individuals are in equal powers.

Voluntary collective organization is the most effective way for individuals to

utilize their powers.

Man should be allowed the right to use all means or actions to preserve

himself. For every man is desirous of what is good to him, and shuns what is

evil, but chiefly the chiefest of natural evil, which is death. The right to

bear arms.

In conclusion, I would like to say that?

Psychological Egoism-- This is the claim that humans by nature are

motivated only by self-interest . Any act, no matter how altruistic it might

seem, is actually motivated by some selfish desire of the agent (e.g., desire

for reward, avoidance of guilt, personal happiness). This is a descriptive claim

about human nature. Since the claim is universal--all acts are motivated by self

interest--it could be proven false by a single counterexample (Weston, rule #11).

It will be difficult to find an action that the psychological egoist

will acknowledge as purely altruistic, however. There is almost always some

benefit to ourselves in any action we choose.