Pros And Cons Of Psychological Egoism

Introduction

Psychological egoism is a perspective that humans are motivated, always, deep down by what they perceive to be in their self-interest. Psychological altruism, on the other hand, is the view that sometimes they can have ultimately altruistic motives.

To cite an example suppose that Jack is saved by John from a capsizing boat in the river. What was the ultimate motive behind the John’s act? Why he did, what he did? Wouldn’t be it odd to suggest that john had some vested interests and benefits associated? After aIl in the process he risked his own life. Here the psychological egoist holds that John’s apparently altruistic act is ultimately motivated by the goal to benefit himself, whether he is aware of that or not. John might have wanted to gain a good feeling from being a hero, or to avoid social reprimand that would follow had he not helped Jack, or something along these lines.

Structure for Debate on Abstracts

Psychological egoism speaks of motivation, usually with a focus on motivation behind intentional (human) action. It is defined on terms of people’s actions in terms of hidden, ulterior motives. Abraham Lincoln usefully illustrates that we are all ultimately self-interested when he suddenly stopped to save a group of piglets from drowning. His interlocutor seized the moment, attempting to point out that Lincoln is a living counterexample to his own theory. But Lincoln reportedly replied: “I should have had no peace of mind all day had I gone on. I did it