Ethics

Ethical egoism is a morality theory that argues that people should always act in their on interest. This theory has generated a lot of debates concerning its ethical applications. While others have argued hat ethical egoism is the most plausible approach to morality, other theorist have criticized this theory claiming that the argument is invalid since its violates moral principles. This paper seeks to establish the plausibility of this moral argument.

Ethical egoism is a normative ethical stand which asserts that moral agents are supposed to do what favors their self interest. It can also be defined as a prescriptive principle that states that people should act from their own self interest. There are various forms of ethical egoism which includes personal ethical egoism, individual ethical egoism, and universal ethical egoism. What favors ones self interest may be incidentally dangerous to others, benefits others, or does not affect others in any way. Ethical egoism does not support the fact that persons disregard the welfare of other people or do not support ignoring the welfare of others. It advocates for the possibility of either action as long as what is selected is effective in meeting the self interest of the person doing it. It can be considered as a philosophical basis for ensuring that people do not prevent others from exercising the freedom of what they do.

Ethical egoism as opposed to ethical principle of altruism asserts that people have ethical responsibility to help or serve others. It maintains that one should exercise sincerity, just and benevolent. All these virtues listed above serve ones self interest and are therefore described as being egoistic. A person who maintains that one should practice these virtues for reasons not for self interest is not egoistic.

Most people believe that the view is far fetched and those who support it are doing so instead of expanding the term self interest to include even the interest of other people. It can also be used to mean hurting or enslaving others in the name of satisfying ones self interest. This argument might be countered by maintaining that ensuring the freedom of other people is sometimes the best alternative for ensuring ones freedom.

Although self interest or self love has also been attributed to be the cause of immorality, we can consider our relation to others as the cause of immorality. With ourselves, we can be considered as a single entity, not connected to any other person. We owe no duties or responsibility to ourselves since these requires more than one individual. We can therefore conclude that egoism is related to morality.

Some philosophers have argued that conflicts which result when every individual pursue their own self interest can be decided for the best of each person only if they all willingly sacrifice some of their aims. This implies that individual self interest is best tracked by tolerating others to track theirs as well so that the freedom is fairly distributed to everybody. Forgoing ones short lived self interest with the aim of increasing ones long term interest is referred to rational self interest. This has been identified as the driving force for most philosophers supporting ethical egoism.

The adequacy of ethical egoism to resolve moral conflicts has been questioned. This theory states that one has an obligation to serve and promote their self interest. But the question on the effects of our actions to others is not tackled conclusively. There are reasons which favor ethical egoism as an adequate theory. They include theories from altruism which has assumptions that we are not in a position of knowing interests of other people and as a result we are likely to fail in our attempt to help them out. The other assumption states that we are only in a position of knowing our own self interest therefore attempting to help others can be considered as being invasive and degrading to the people being accorded help. The assumptions above directs us to arguments that we should do what promotes the interest of everybody at the same level and that the interest of others are best promoted if everyone agrees to the principle of tracking our own interest. Everyone should take up the policy of tracking our own interest alone.

The second reason in favor of ethical egoism states that each person has inherent and ultimate values which they hold dearly. The theory of altruism does not take seriously the life of individuals because it states that it must be sacrificed for the benefit of others. Ethical egoisms take individuality of every man seriously and it is the only theory that does so. Because of these, ethical egoism is the best theory that should be adopted.

Virtues like honesty, generosity, and being fair can always be explained in relation to ethical egoism. This is because there are things which we should do since they serve our own interest. If we engage in behaviors like lying and hurting other people, we end up spoiling our relationship with others and this is not likely to serve our interest best. It therefore becomes our responsibility to protect our relationship with other people.

Criticisms have also been directed towards ethical egoism. Critics have argued that ethical egoism results into conflict in situations where one persons interest affects the other person negatively. The theory does not consider ethics as a factor to consider when solving a conflict. Because of this, ethical egoism falls short of moral approval since there are moral situations where ethics must be considered to solve the conflict. Ethical egoism should factor in the role of morals in resolving conflicts.

Ethical egoism is inconsistent with its values. It requires people to believe that it is wrong to bar someone from pursuing their interest and at the same time it becomes wrong to bar someone from carrying out their duty. Such acts should only be considered wrong if they are not for the self interest of the person doing it.

Ethical egoism also requires us to believe that from each individuals view, their own interests are more important than that of anyone else. The theory hold the same view with racism which also claims that one group is superior to the other and so does their interest, but fails to demonstrate the unique features in that group which are significant in showing that they are superior. For the theory to prove the individuality, then it will be proper to show the important features which differentiate one from the rest .

In conclusion, from the above discussion, it is evident that individual interest is paramount and should therefore come first. However, ss much as every individual will be focused in pursuing their interest, they will have to mind the consequences of their actions so as to avoid conflict with others. The theory also holds individualism seriously since it is the people themselves who can identify their interest. Although the theory protects individuality, it should embrace the ideas of ethics since other people actions in pursuing self interest might result into a conflict. In such a situation, morality should be considered.