Misconceptions about Egoism

Addressing common complaints about the moral philosophy of egoism.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• egoism
• objectivism
• seflishness
• altruism
• collectivism
• individualism

[DJLorenzen]

Is there a difference between egoism and egomania, and if not, why did they come up with two different words for something that basically is the same!?

[XOmniverse]

Egomania would be obsession with yourself at the expense of your own long-term self interest and psychological health.

Not the same thing at all.

[jwp22announcer]

what are your views on that claim? why dont u think all actions are products of selfish motives whether one is aware of those motives or not(not that i think that im just wondering)

[XOmniverse]

I think all people act towards their own VALUES. However, not everyone comes to their values rationally, and thus many people act towards values that are detrimental to their self-interest.

[jwp22announcer]

do u agree with psycological egoism? or do u think psycological egoism and objectivism are the same? maybe i misinterpreted what you said

[XOmniverse]

I disagree with the claim that all people act towards their own interests.

[will34uk]

@sheepblitzer I think its argument is that if you give money, the underlying motive is to "feel good", to gain a stronger friendship with a person or to appear altruistic super-ficially to others, etc. Your final point is about the end result of an action; egoism is about motives not result, I believe.

[sheepblitzer]

i think the egoism/altruism debate is meaningless, since acting in these ways is based on what we THINK is best for onselfs/others.

but once we realize that all humanity is connected and shares the same fate, altruism and egoism become one in the same!

[sheepblitzer]

so your saying that giving money to a friend, or to charity, or working hard for someone else--things that at a first glance we'd consider altruistic--are actually egoistic?

also, things like becoming educated, producing, creating, etc, that we'd assume are beneficial to oneself (egoist) can actually help others, and are therefore altruistic....

[DJLorenzen]

So basically you are saying that an 'egomane' is an egoist that don't play the game well!? A person that don't understand when he has to give and take to, when all comes to all, get most out of the situation. Sounds reasonable.

[hagbardce]

soz, my last 3 coments are in the wrong order...

[hagbardce]

I would like to underline this with a far more drastic complaint, I have heard while talking about egoism: "Do you think a women loves her child for herself?" I agree that the "Motherly-love" is the under the strongest, but have to also ask a question back: "Wouldn't you knock a mother that hates her baby out of your society?"

Think about that.

(Sorry about the bad English, I am a 17 year old german)

[hagbardce]

Like you said positive actions have a positive effect on ones self in the long run, I totally agree, but the effect in the long run IS that we can continue to take part in our society, and therefore receive the safety it gives us. I would like to add that this has nothing to do with everybody being the same, like robots. It is just the mere nature of human kind, to seek safety, and a prolonging of life. cont.

[hagbardce]

I would like to disagree to your answer to the final complaint, I think, the moral guidelines our society ahs created, are only there to keep us "Inside" the society -- a cog -- the most basic need of the human race is to stay alive -- therefore to stay in a safe environment. cont.