Ethical egoism key terms

Ethical egoism

a normative agent based theory focused on self interest rather than altruism

altruism

acting selflessly in someone elses interest

eigenheit

ownness

einzige

ego/ true self

union of egoists

a group of egoists which work together until the partnership becomes mutually dependent

psychological egoism

a descriptive theory which states not how we should act but how we do act

Plato

created psychological egoism

destruction of community ethos

a criticism which says that the idea of community gets rejected

leads to bigotry

a criticism which says that it could led to bigotry due to everyone doing what they want

Ayn Rand

selfless behaviour is short sighted creating a society that treats individuals as disposable

Max Stirner

a german philosopher and teacher who influenced the development of existentialism, nihilism and individual anarchism

Stirner claimed

we are slaves to duty, guilt or conscience

Einzig

unique

social injustices

leads to conflict with no clear way of resolving it

involvement of religion

stirner argues people become shackled to a religion out of obligation

stirner on psychological egoism

believes that it should be rejected

unselfish people

are weak and do not belong to themselves

owness

is seen to be the highest good