In ordinary speech, selfishness (also called ‘egotism’, a word never used in philosophy).
As a philosophical doctrine egoism is either psychological egoism (for which see hedonism), or ethical egoism, which contrasts with universalism and altruism. Like them it is a form of consequentialism, and prescribes that everyone should always act so as to maximize his own happiness or welfare.
Egoism must be distinguished from the absurd doctrine, which has no name, that everyone should maximize the speaker’s happiness – but this very distinction leads to an objection to egoism: can I consistently prescribe egoism to you, since I shall be encouraging you to act in your interest and not in mine? Also seeking my own happiness may not be the best way of achieving it.
However, sometimes ‘enlightened egoism’ is advocated as a means rather than an end, on the grounds that for everyone to pursue their own interest will maximize the general prosperity.
Source:
H Sidgwick, The Methods of Ethics, book 2 (1874; 7th and final edn 1901)
Table of Contents
- 1 Videos
- 2 Related Products
- 2.1 A Bible Not Borrowed from the Neighbors.: Essays and Aphorisms on Egoism
- 2.2 Egoist Primer: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Egoism
- 2.3 Egoism: The First Two Volumes 1890-1892 (Stand Alone) (Volume 8)
- 2.4 The Ego and Its Own
- 2.5 Egoism
- 2.6 Egoism
- 2.7 Rational Egoism: The Morality for Human Flourishing
- 2.8 Protagoras. Nietzsche. Stirner.: Expositors of Egoism (Stand Alone Book 1090)
- 2.9 The Objective Standard
- 2.10 egoism (feat. yoru younagi)
Videos
A Bible Not Borrowed from the Neighbors.: Essays and Aphorisms on Egoism
- Slaughter, Kevin I. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 164 Pages - 12/23/2012 (Publication Date) - Underworld Amusements (Publisher)
Egoist Primer: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Egoism
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Penny, Brian (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 59 Pages - 12/17/2016 (Publication Date)
Egoism: The First Two Volumes 1890-1892 (Stand Alone) (Volume 8)
- Replogle, Henry (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 212 Pages - 04/17/2017 (Publication Date) - Underworld Amusements (Publisher)
The Ego and Its Own
- Stirner, Max (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 195 Pages - 10/16/2017 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
Egoism
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- 21st Circuitry Rec. (Publisher)
Rational Egoism: The Morality for Human Flourishing
- Biddle, Craig (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 216 Pages - 07/17/2019 (Publication Date) - Glen Allen Press (Publisher)
Protagoras. Nietzsche. Stirner.: Expositors of Egoism (Stand Alone Book 1090)
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Lachmann, Benedict (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 73 Pages - 03/26/2020 (Publication Date) - Underworld Amusements (Publisher)
The Objective Standard
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Glen Allen Press (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/13/2010 (Publication Date) - Glen Allen Press (Publisher)
Last update 2020-06-17. Price and product availability may change.