Knowledge

Rational egoism

Source 📝

803:. Although utilitarianism can be provided with a rational basis and reconciled with the morality of common sense, rational egoism appears to be an equally plausible doctrine regarding what we have most reason to do. Thus we must "admit an ultimate and fundamental contradiction in our apparent intuitions of what is Reasonable in conduct; and from this admission it would seem to follow that the apparently intuitive operation of Practical Reason, manifested in these contradictory judgments, is after all illusory". 792:, first published in 1872. A method of ethics is "any rational procedure by which we determine what individual human beings 'ought'—or what it is 'right' for them—to do, or seek to realize by voluntary action". Sidgwick considers three such procedures, namely, rational egoism, dogmatic intuitionism, and 884:
giving him that dime. The issue is whether you must keep buying your life, dime by dime, from any beggar who might choose to approach you. The issue is whether the need of others is the first mortgage on your life and the moral purpose of your existence. The issue is whether man is to be regarded as
915:
now, even though this is detrimental to one's present interests (which are to spend the money now). But it seems equally reasonable to maximize one's interests now, given that one's reasons are not only relative to him, but to him as he is now (and not his future self, who is argued to be a
916:"different" person). Parfit also argues that since the connections between the present mental state and the mental state of one's future self may decrease, it is not plausible to claim that one should be indifferent between one's present and future self. 796:. Rational egoism is the view that, if rational, "an agent regards quantity of consequent pleasure and pain to himself alone important in choosing between alternatives of action; and seeks always the greatest attainable surplus of pleasure over pain". 859:
Do not confuse altruism with kindness, good will or respect for the rights of others. These are not primaries, but consequences, which, in fact, altruism makes impossible. The irreducible primary of altruism, the basic absolute is
872:
as a standard of the good. Do not hide behind such superficialities as whether you should or should not give a dime to a beggar. This is not the issue. The issue is whether you
819:. She holds that it is both irrational and immoral to act against one's self-interest. Thus, her view is a conjunction of both rational egoism (in the standard sense) and 844:(1964) explains the concept of rational egoism in depth. According to Rand, a rational man holds his own life as his highest value, rationality as his highest 1170: 1313:
Brink, D. 1992, "Sidgwick and the Rationale for Rational Egoism," in Essays on Henry Sidgwick, ed. B. Schultz, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
665: 759:
explicitly is unmentioned in the writings of both philosophers. Rational egoism was further embodied in Chernyshevsky's 1863 novel
612: 1458: 1195: 1453: 1444: 658: 712:. Its weaker form, however, holds that while it is rational to pursue self-interest, failing to pursue self-interest is 572: 708:
and normative forms. In its strong form, rational egoism holds that to not pursue one's own interest is unequivocally
1488: 651: 761: 123: 1493: 529: 1350: 723:
philosophy in Russia, it was later popularised in English-speaking countries by Russian-American author
424: 236: 1498: 941: 840: 744: 959: 627: 414: 25: 755:. However, their terminology was largely obfuscated to avoid government censorship and the name 998: 986: 824: 771: 473: 231: 98: 1185: 1054: 1029: 799:
Sidgwick found it difficult to find any persuasive reason for preferring rational egoism over
1403: 1164: 992: 788: 748: 512: 864:—which means self-immolation, self-abnegation, self-denial self-destruction—which means the 1483: 517: 495: 316: 8: 1478: 1373: 1321: 1211: 911:(1984). First, from the rational egoist point of view, it is rational to contribute to a 907: 507: 361: 336: 296: 291: 241: 206: 1151:(2). School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies, University College London: 48–68. 1336: 1102: 766: 705: 562: 436: 266: 153: 1191: 186: 138: 93: 1152: 1094: 974: 935: 852: 736: 567: 483: 429: 419: 351: 286: 281: 251: 246: 163: 148: 143: 128: 1409: 1473: 1140: 953: 637: 478: 366: 346: 331: 326: 221: 58: 1018:
Baier (1990), p. 201; Gert (1998), p. 69; Shaver (2002), §3; Moseley (2006), §2.
1440: 1360: 1316: 1156: 1121: 968: 912: 820: 800: 793: 783: 752: 597: 592: 502: 458: 446: 211: 158: 63: 1467: 1335:
Kagan, S., 1986, "The Present-Aim Theory of Rationality," Ethics 96: 746–59.
693: 376: 306: 301: 276: 108: 103: 39: 1449: 926: 902: 828: 602: 587: 544: 539: 271: 216: 196: 168: 83: 1418: 1390: 832: 534: 381: 356: 311: 133: 78: 678:
Principle that an action is rational if it maximizes one's self-interest
1340: 1216: 1106: 980: 901:
Two objections to rational egoism are given by the English philosopher
709: 577: 524: 490: 404: 341: 261: 191: 88: 1078: 1061:(Spring 2019 ed.). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. 1183: 1036:(Spring 2019 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University 776: 697: 632: 582: 409: 226: 113: 73: 68: 1098: 947: 812: 724: 720: 689: 468: 463: 386: 371: 321: 201: 53: 775:. For Chernyshevsky, rational egoism served as the basis for the 622: 617: 607: 118: 17: 1428:
Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior
1187:
A History of Russian Thought: From the Enlightenment to Marxism
845: 701: 441: 21: 1379:
Parfit, D., 1986, Reply to Kagan, Ethics, 96: 843–46, 868–69.
1281:
Ayn Rand, "Faith and Force: Destroyers of the Modern World,"
256: 1345:
McKenzie, Alexander J. (2003). "Evolutionary Game Theory".
956: – Model of humans as rational, self-interested agents 885:
a sacrificial animal. Any man of self-esteem will answer:
747:, having developed in the works of nihilist philosophers 1141:"The Debate around Nihilism in 1860s Russian Literature" 964:
Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
931:
Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
848:, and his happiness as the final purpose of his life. 704:, though historically has been associated with both 743:) emerged as the dominant social philosophy of the 1079:"The Case against Rational Egoism in Dostoevsky's 1392:Rational Egoism: A Selective and Critical History 1300: 1169:: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2024 ( 827:, egoism cannot be properly justified without an 20:. For broader coverage of egoist philosophy, see 1465: 1184:Andrzej Walicki; Hilda Andrews-Rusiecka (1979). 1093:(3). University of Pennsylvania Press: 549–567. 950: – Theory or practice prioritizing pleasure 1382:Paul, E. & F. Miller & J. Paul (1997). 1138: 1212:"SparkNotes: Notes from Underground: Context" 1072: 1070: 1068: 851:Conversely, Rand was sharply critical of the 659: 1369:. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 929: – Ancient school of Indian materialism 1190:. Stanford University Press. p. 196. 1065: 977: – Use of reason to decide how to act 666: 652: 1402:(Winter Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). 1349:(Summer Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). 1310:. Peter Singer (ed.), Blackwell: Oxford. 905:, who discusses the theory at length in 815:also discusses a theory that she called 1400:The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1357:The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1347:The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1126:The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1119: 1076: 1059:The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1034:The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 995: – Standard example in game theory 1466: 1330:Morality: Its Nature and Justification 1052: 1027: 786:discussed rational egoism in his book 1355:Moseley, Alexander (2006). "Egoism". 688:) is the principle that an action is 1426:Sober, E. & D.S. Wilson (1998). 1359:. J. Fieser & B. Dowden (eds.). 1285:, 1982, New American Library, p. 74. 765:, and was criticised in response by 1454:Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1445:Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy 1012: 938: – School of anarchist thought 13: 1376:, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1325:. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1294:D. Parfit (1984), parts II and III 1272:Smith (2006); Moseley (2006), §2a. 1124:. In J. Fieser; B. Dowden (eds.). 692:if and only if it maximizes one's 14: 1510: 1434: 1398:Shaver, Robert (2002). "Egoism". 1306:Baier, Kurt (1990). "Egoism" in 1288: 1275: 1266: 1257: 1248: 1239: 1139:St. John Murphy, Sasha (2016). 1087:Journal of the History of Ideas 1301:References and further reading 1230: 1204: 1177: 1132: 1113: 1046: 1021: 983: – Theory of human action 779:development of human society. 696:. As such, it is considered a 1: 1423:. Cambridge University Press. 1414:. London, 1874, 7th ed. 1907. 1395:. Cambridge University Press. 1057:. In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). 1032:, in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), 1386:. Cambridge University Press 989: – Concept in economics 971: – Concept in economics 896: 853:ethical doctrine of altruism 124:Methodological individualism 7: 1430:. Harvard University Press. 1420:Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics 1120:Moseley, Alexander (2006). 1001: – Sociological theory 962: – Philosophical terms 919: 868:as a standard of evil, the 811:The author and philosopher 806: 10: 1515: 1332:. Oxford University Press. 1157:10.14324/111.0954-6839.045 1077:Scanlan, James P. (1999). 944: – Ethical philosophy 730: 425:Left-wing market anarchism 15: 942:Enlightened self-interest 841:The Virtue of Selfishness 745:Russian nihilist movement 740: 719:Originally an element of 1283:Philosophy: Who Needs it 1006: 960:Instrumental rationality 880:have the right to exist 16:Not to be confused with 1389:Shaver, Robert (1998). 1263:Sidgwick (1907), p. 508 1053:Shaver, Robert (2019). 1028:Shaver, Robert (2019), 823:, because according to 628:Tyranny of the majority 415:Individualist anarchism 26:Egoist (disambiguation) 1489:Rational choice theory 1328:Gert, Bernard (1998). 1254:Sidgwick (1907), p. 95 1159:(inactive 2024-09-12). 1081:Notes from Underground 999:Rational choice theory 987:Preference (economics) 894: 825:Objectivist philosophy 772:Notes from Underground 474:Individualist feminism 99:Individual reclamation 24:. For other uses, see 1411:The Methods of Ethics 1308:A Companion to Ethics 1245:Sidgwick (1907), p. 1 857: 789:The Methods of Ethics 749:Nikolay Chernyshevsky 513:Libertarian socialism 1417:Smith, Tara (2006). 1365:Mueller, D. (1989). 782:English philosopher 686:rational selfishness 518:Right-libertarianism 496:Classical liberalism 1374:Reasons and Persons 1322:Morals by Agreement 908:Reasons and Persons 762:What Is to Be Done? 508:Left-libertarianism 34:Part of a series on 1494:Philosophy of life 1459:The Red/Black Game 1372:Parfit, D., 1984, 993:Prisoner's dilemma 767:Fyodor Dostoyevsky 613:Social engineering 563:Anti-individualism 557:Principal concerns 437:Anarcho-capitalism 154:Self-actualization 1197:978-0-8047-1132-6 769:in his 1864 work 735:Rational egoism ( 676: 675: 139:Personal property 94:Individual rights 1506: 1499:Ethical theories 1367:Public Choice II 1295: 1292: 1286: 1279: 1273: 1270: 1264: 1261: 1255: 1252: 1246: 1243: 1237: 1234: 1228: 1227: 1225: 1224: 1208: 1202: 1201: 1181: 1175: 1174: 1168: 1160: 1136: 1130: 1129: 1117: 1111: 1110: 1074: 1063: 1062: 1050: 1044: 1043: 1042: 1041: 1025: 1019: 1016: 975:Practical reason 965: 936:Egoist anarchism 932: 742: 668: 661: 654: 568:Authoritarianism 484:Liberal feminism 430:Social anarchism 420:Egoist anarchism 164:Self-sufficiency 149:Private property 144:Positive liberty 129:Negative liberty 31: 30: 1514: 1513: 1509: 1508: 1507: 1505: 1504: 1503: 1464: 1463: 1437: 1317:Gauthier, David 1303: 1298: 1293: 1289: 1280: 1276: 1271: 1267: 1262: 1258: 1253: 1249: 1244: 1240: 1236:Sidgwick (1907) 1235: 1231: 1222: 1220: 1210: 1209: 1205: 1198: 1182: 1178: 1162: 1161: 1137: 1133: 1118: 1114: 1099:10.2307/3654018 1075: 1066: 1051: 1047: 1039: 1037: 1026: 1022: 1017: 1013: 1009: 1004: 963: 954:Homo economicus 930: 922: 899: 889:Altruism says: 817:rational egoism 809: 757:rational egoism 741:разумный эгоизм 733: 682:Rational egoism 679: 672: 643: 642: 638:Totalitarianism 558: 550: 549: 479:Equity feminism 452:Rational egoism 400: 392: 391: 182: 174: 173: 59:Civil liberties 49: 29: 12: 11: 5: 1512: 1502: 1501: 1496: 1491: 1486: 1481: 1476: 1462: 1461: 1456: 1447: 1436: 1435:External links 1433: 1432: 1431: 1424: 1415: 1406: 1396: 1387: 1380: 1377: 1370: 1363: 1353: 1343: 1333: 1326: 1314: 1311: 1302: 1299: 1297: 1296: 1287: 1274: 1265: 1256: 1247: 1238: 1229: 1203: 1196: 1176: 1131: 1112: 1064: 1045: 1020: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1003: 1002: 996: 990: 984: 978: 972: 969:Invisible hand 966: 957: 951: 945: 939: 933: 923: 921: 918: 913:pension scheme 898: 895: 862:self-sacrifice 821:ethical egoism 808: 805: 801:utilitarianism 794:utilitarianism 784:Henry Sidgwick 753:Dmitry Pisarev 732: 729: 677: 674: 673: 671: 670: 663: 656: 648: 645: 644: 641: 640: 635: 630: 625: 620: 615: 610: 605: 600: 598:Indoctrination 595: 593:Herd mentality 590: 585: 580: 575: 570: 565: 559: 556: 555: 552: 551: 548: 547: 542: 537: 532: 527: 522: 521: 520: 515: 510: 503:Libertarianism 500: 499: 498: 488: 487: 486: 481: 471: 466: 461: 459:Existentialism 456: 455: 454: 449: 447:Ethical egoism 439: 434: 433: 432: 427: 422: 417: 407: 401: 398: 397: 394: 393: 390: 389: 384: 379: 374: 369: 364: 359: 354: 349: 344: 339: 334: 329: 324: 319: 314: 309: 304: 299: 294: 289: 284: 279: 274: 269: 264: 259: 254: 249: 244: 239: 234: 229: 224: 219: 214: 209: 204: 199: 194: 189: 183: 180: 179: 176: 175: 172: 171: 166: 161: 159:Self-ownership 156: 151: 146: 141: 136: 131: 126: 121: 116: 111: 106: 101: 96: 91: 86: 81: 76: 71: 66: 64:Do it yourself 61: 56: 50: 47: 46: 43: 42: 36: 35: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1511: 1500: 1497: 1495: 1492: 1490: 1487: 1485: 1482: 1480: 1477: 1475: 1472: 1471: 1469: 1460: 1457: 1455: 1451: 1448: 1446: 1442: 1439: 1438: 1429: 1425: 1422: 1421: 1416: 1413: 1412: 1408:Sigwick, H., 1407: 1405: 1401: 1397: 1394: 1393: 1388: 1385: 1384:Self-Interest 1381: 1378: 1375: 1371: 1368: 1364: 1362: 1358: 1354: 1352: 1348: 1344: 1342: 1338: 1334: 1331: 1327: 1324: 1323: 1318: 1315: 1312: 1309: 1305: 1304: 1291: 1284: 1278: 1269: 1260: 1251: 1242: 1233: 1219: 1218: 1213: 1207: 1199: 1193: 1189: 1188: 1180: 1172: 1166: 1158: 1154: 1150: 1146: 1142: 1135: 1127: 1123: 1116: 1108: 1104: 1100: 1096: 1092: 1088: 1084: 1082: 1073: 1071: 1069: 1060: 1056: 1049: 1035: 1031: 1024: 1015: 1011: 1000: 997: 994: 991: 988: 985: 982: 979: 976: 973: 970: 967: 961: 958: 955: 952: 949: 946: 943: 940: 937: 934: 928: 925: 924: 917: 914: 910: 909: 904: 893: 892: 888: 883: 879: 875: 871: 867: 863: 856: 854: 849: 847: 843: 842: 836: 834: 830: 826: 822: 818: 814: 804: 802: 797: 795: 791: 790: 785: 780: 778: 774: 773: 768: 764: 763: 758: 754: 750: 746: 738: 728: 726: 722: 717: 715: 711: 707: 703: 699: 695: 694:self-interest 691: 687: 684:(also called 683: 669: 664: 662: 657: 655: 650: 649: 647: 646: 639: 636: 634: 631: 629: 626: 624: 621: 619: 616: 614: 611: 609: 606: 604: 601: 599: 596: 594: 591: 589: 586: 584: 581: 579: 576: 574: 571: 569: 566: 564: 561: 560: 554: 553: 546: 543: 541: 538: 536: 533: 531: 528: 526: 523: 519: 516: 514: 511: 509: 506: 505: 504: 501: 497: 494: 493: 492: 489: 485: 482: 480: 477: 476: 475: 472: 470: 467: 465: 462: 460: 457: 453: 450: 448: 445: 444: 443: 440: 438: 435: 431: 428: 426: 423: 421: 418: 416: 413: 412: 411: 408: 406: 403: 402: 396: 395: 388: 385: 383: 380: 378: 375: 373: 370: 368: 365: 363: 360: 358: 355: 353: 350: 348: 345: 343: 340: 338: 335: 333: 330: 328: 325: 323: 320: 318: 315: 313: 310: 308: 305: 303: 300: 298: 295: 293: 290: 288: 285: 283: 280: 278: 275: 273: 270: 268: 265: 263: 260: 258: 255: 253: 250: 248: 245: 243: 240: 238: 235: 233: 230: 228: 225: 223: 220: 218: 215: 213: 210: 208: 205: 203: 200: 198: 195: 193: 190: 188: 185: 184: 178: 177: 170: 167: 165: 162: 160: 157: 155: 152: 150: 147: 145: 142: 140: 137: 135: 132: 130: 127: 125: 122: 120: 117: 115: 112: 110: 109:Laissez-faire 107: 105: 104:Individuation 102: 100: 97: 95: 92: 90: 87: 85: 82: 80: 77: 75: 72: 70: 67: 65: 62: 60: 57: 55: 52: 51: 45: 44: 41: 40:Individualism 38: 37: 33: 32: 27: 23: 19: 1427: 1419: 1410: 1399: 1391: 1383: 1366: 1356: 1346: 1329: 1320: 1307: 1290: 1282: 1277: 1268: 1259: 1250: 1241: 1232: 1221:. Retrieved 1215: 1206: 1186: 1179: 1165:cite journal 1148: 1144: 1134: 1125: 1115: 1090: 1086: 1080: 1058: 1048: 1038:, retrieved 1033: 1023: 1014: 906: 903:Derek Parfit 900: 890: 886: 881: 877: 873: 869: 865: 861: 858: 850: 839: 837: 829:epistemology 816: 810: 798: 787: 781: 770: 760: 756: 734: 718: 716:irrational. 713: 685: 681: 680: 603:Mass society 588:Group rights 573:Collectivism 545:Voluntaryism 540:Subjectivism 451: 337:Schopenhauer 181:Philosophers 169:Subjectivity 84:Human rights 1484:Rationalism 535:Objectivism 134:Open border 79:Freethought 1479:Capitalism 1468:Categories 1223:2015-05-30 1217:SparkNotes 1040:2020-05-27 981:Praxeology 714:not always 710:irrational 578:Conformity 525:Minarchism 491:Liberalism 405:Autarchism 399:Ideologies 267:Mandeville 232:Hipparchia 192:Aristippus 89:Individual 48:Principles 897:Criticism 838:Her book 831:based on 777:socialist 698:normative 633:Theocracy 583:Dogmatism 530:Mutualism 410:Anarchism 297:Nietzsche 292:Montaigne 247:Jefferson 242:Ingersoll 114:Libertine 74:Free love 69:Eremitism 1319:(1986). 1122:"Egoism" 1055:"Egoism" 1030:"Egoism" 948:Hedonism 920:See also 870:selfless 813:Ayn Rand 807:Ayn Rand 725:Ayn Rand 721:nihilist 706:positive 700:form of 690:rational 469:Humanism 464:Hedonism 372:Voltaire 327:Rothbard 237:Igualada 202:Diogenes 187:Antiphon 54:Autonomy 1452:in the 1443:in the 1341:2381097 1107:3654018 927:Cārvāka 882:without 737:Russian 731:Origins 623:Tyranny 618:Statism 608:Mobbing 362:Thoreau 357:Stirner 352:Spooner 347:Spencer 277:Mencken 272:Marsden 217:Goldman 207:Emerson 119:Liberty 18:Egotism 1474:Egoism 1450:Egoism 1441:Egoism 1339:  1194:  1105:  876:or do 846:virtue 833:reason 702:egoism 442:Egoism 377:Warren 367:Tucker 317:Quelle 312:Popper 307:Onfray 302:Nozick 212:Godwin 22:Egoism 1337:JSTOR 1145:Slovo 1103:JSTOR 1007:Notes 382:Wilde 342:Smith 287:Mises 262:Locke 257:Laozi 222:Hayek 197:Camus 1404:link 1361:link 1351:link 1192:ISBN 1171:link 891:Yes. 866:self 751:and 387:Yang 332:Sade 322:Rand 282:Mill 252:Jung 227:Hess 1153:doi 1095:doi 887:No. 878:not 1470:: 1214:. 1167:}} 1163:{{ 1149:28 1147:. 1143:. 1101:. 1091:60 1089:. 1085:. 1067:^ 874:do 855:: 835:. 739:: 727:. 1226:. 1200:. 1173:) 1155:: 1128:. 1109:. 1097:: 1083:" 667:e 660:t 653:v 28:.

Index

Egotism
Egoism
Egoist (disambiguation)
Individualism
Autonomy
Civil liberties
Do it yourself
Eremitism
Free love
Freethought
Human rights
Individual
Individual rights
Individual reclamation
Individuation
Laissez-faire
Libertine
Liberty
Methodological individualism
Negative liberty
Open border
Personal property
Positive liberty
Private property
Self-actualization
Self-ownership
Self-sufficiency
Subjectivity
Antiphon
Aristippus

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.