Two Arguments In Support Of Psychological Egoism

Psychological Egoism Psychological egoism is a thesis on motivation, more specifically the intentional motivation of humans. The theory claims that all behavior stems from human self-centeredness and that humans act out of selfishness, by doing only what is in their own best interest. Even behaviors that seem to be acts of altruism—selfless concern for others— are done so ultimately because of personal goals and benefits. Psychological egoism is a claim about human nature, not to be mixed with what morals humans should have. The self-interested motives that humans should have is referred to as Ethical Egoism. A psychological egoist holds the belief that self-interested behaviors are merely how humans are. Psychological egoism rests on an

The first argument is false, because there are many things people do not because they want to but because they have to. For example, a teenager may clean her room because her mother told her she had to, and not because she really likes to clean her room. Proponets of the theory would suggest that she cleans her room to listen to her mother or stick to her word, but theres nothing she wants more than to not listen to her mother. As James Rachels says, the teenager is acting out of conscience, not because she wanted to do it. As for the second argument for Psychological Egoism, James Rachels explains the nature of desire, “We want all sorts of things— money, friends, a new car— and because we want these things we may derive satisfaction from getting them. But the object of our desire is typically NOT the feeling of satisfaction. What we want is simply the car, the money, the friends; it is the same with helping people. Our desire to help others comes first; and the good feelings we get are merely a by-product” (Rachels EMP 71). Psychological egoism is not a credible theory because the two main arguments that the theory stands on are not valid and the premise is not

Although many acts are selfish and only for ones own best interest, not every act is this way. Altruism exits, and the severity of ones own altruism is dependent on each and every person and their situations. A psychological egoist might adapt a slightly different view of egoism, “predominant egoism:” we act unselfishly only rarely, and then typically where the sacrifice is small and the gain to others is large or where those benefiting are friends, family, or favorite causes (Kavka). A psychological egoist may then chose to support Ethical Egoism; believing even if people don 't act selfishly all the time, they ought to do so for their own