Egoism

Egoism is self-interest – the inclination to place one’s own advantage at the centre. It is the counterpart to altruism, selflessness. At the Kyborg Institute we regard egoism soberly – and distinguish it clearly from a healthy self-care.

What is egoism?

The term is – like “altruism” – comparatively young: the word “egoism” was coined in the 18th century. In the history of ideas, Thomas Hobbes counts as the strongest representative of a radical egoism: he saw the human being as a born egoist, driven by the “drive for self-preservation”. On this picture he built the idea of an artificial order to which the individual must submit.

Is the human being only an egoist?

This gloomy view is disputed. As Tobias Alke shows in his specialist book on loving-kindness and altruism, more recent research points in another direction: the human being is also, fundamentally, a social, helpful being (see empathy). Egoism and altruism are here no strict either-or, but form a continuum – most people carry both within them. How self-interest and public spirit can be balanced, without one crushing the other, is treated by the entry Collectivism & individualism.

Egoism is not self-care

An important distinction: to care for oneself and to represent one’s own interests is healthy and legitimate – that is self-care, not egoism. Self-interest only becomes problematic when it goes at the cost of others. Whoever cares for themselves in order to be able to be there for others in a lasting way acts not egoistically, but wisely.

What does that mean in practice?

• Keep apart self-interest and self-care.
• Represent one’s own interests – without taking unfair advantage of others.
• Do not reduce the human being to the egoist: helpfulness is just as much laid down.

Autor: Tobias O. R. Alke