Egoism
Encyclopedia
- EgotismEgotismEgotism is "characterized by an exaggerated estimate of one's intellect, ability, importance, appearance, wit, or other valued personal characteristics" – the drive to maintain and enhance favorable views of oneself....
, an excessive or exaggerated sense of self-importance - Ethical egoismEthical egoismEthical egoism is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest. Ethical egoism also differs from rational egoism, which holds merely that it is...
, the doctrine that holds that individuals ought to do what is in their self-interest - Psychological egoismPsychological egoismPsychological egoism is the view that humans are always motivated by self-interest, even in what seem to be acts of altruism. It claims that, when people choose to help others, they do so ultimately because of the personal benefits that they themselves expect to obtain, directly or indirectly,...
, the doctrine that holds that individuals are always motivated by self-interest - Rational egoismRational egoismIn ethical philosophy, rational egoism is the principle that an action is rational if and only if it maximizes one's self-interest. The view is a normative form of egoism. However, it is different from other forms of egoism, such as ethical egoism and psychological egoism...
, the belief that it is rational to act in one's self-interest - SolipsismSolipsismSolipsism is the philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist. The term comes from Latin solus and ipse . Solipsism as an epistemological position holds that knowledge of anything outside one's own mind is unsure. The external world and other minds cannot be known, and might not...
(sometimes called egoism), the belief that only one's self exists, or that only the experiences of one's self can be verified - Egoist anarchismEgoist anarchismEgoist anarchism is a school of anarchist thought that originated in the philosophy of Max Stirner, a nineteenth century Hegelian philosopher whose "name appears with familiar regularity in historically orientated surveys of anarchist thought as one of the earliest and best-known exponents of...
, a form of anarchism, as most often represented by Max Stirner - EgocentrismEgocentrismEgocentrism is a personality trait which has the characteristic of regarding oneself and one's own opinions or interests as most important or valid...
, inability to "put oneself in other peoples' shoes"
See also
- AltruismAltruismAltruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
, the selfless concern for the welfare of others - SelfishnessSelfishnessSelfishness denotes an excessive or exclusive concern with oneself, and as such it exceeds mere self interest or self concern. Insofar as a decision maker knowingly burdens or harms others for personal gain, the decision is selfish. In contrast, self-interest is more general...
, denoting the precedence given in thought or deed to the self, i.e., self interest or self concern - SelfismSelfismSelfism refers to any philosophy, doctrine, or tendency that upholds explicitly selfish principles as being desirable. It is usually used pejoratively.-Definition:...
, a pejorative term referring to any philosophy, doctrine, or tendency that upholds explicitly selfish principles as being desirable - IndividualismIndividualismIndividualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses "the moral worth of the individual". Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance while opposing most external interference upon one's own...
, a focus on the individual as opposed to society - Individualist anarchismIndividualist anarchismIndividualist anarchism refers to several traditions of thought within the anarchist movement that emphasize the individual and his or her will over external determinants such as groups, society, traditions, and ideological systems. Individualist anarchism is not a single philosophy but refers to a...
, anarchism that exalts the supremacy of the individual - MachiavellianismMachiavellianismMachiavellianism is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct", deriving from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe and other works...
, a tendency to deceive and manipulate others for personal gain - Objectivism (Ayn Rand)Objectivism (Ayn Rand)Objectivism is a philosophy created by the Russian-American philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand . Objectivism holds that reality exists independent of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception...
, a philosophical system based on the writings of Ayn Rand that advocates egoism - SatanismSatanismSatanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
, a philosophy based on individualism and self-preservation - Post-egoismPost-egoismPost-egoism is a philosophy emerging from the schools of post-modernism and Buddhism that aims to transcend traditions of artistic egoism, ethical egoism, and notions of an autonomous self...
, a philosophy aiming beyond egoism - Suitheism, the belief in self as a deity