The purpose of every act of altruism is only selfishness!

Psychological egoism, an attitude which always seeks a selfish motive behind our every activity. Proponents of psychological egoism have zero faith in the doctrine of altruism. According to them, every action of optimum altruism consciously or subconsciously actually hides the purpose of self-serving. Each and every act of altruism has originated from the self-driven, unexpected and hidden selfishness of human minds.

Altruism vs. ego

Actions that are seemingly presenting social interest are considered part of altruism, without the intention of satisfying one's own ulterior motives. Altruistic principle can only be driven by the objective of goodness of the doer, not by any unexpected motive, but solely influenced by welfare determination. Egoism, on the other hand, bears some distinctive features. Psychological egoists, for example, assert that good-heartedness in every case is guided by the optimum self-concerning desire. However, the notion of self-well-being or self-improvement acts as a driven force of that self-regard. A person's desire will be considered egoistic only when it satisfies his own aspirations and needs. The inclination which arises out of worry or anxiety for others, cannot be labeled as egoistic, it is acceptable in the form of psychological altruism.

Psychological egoism: Easy to invalidate?

A one-sided and stubborn theory which claims that all our kindness and benevolence are guided by egoism, is pretty easy to refute. In this case, if one counter-instance can be presented where a person's ultimate goodness is not influenced by the ultimate goodness not driven narcissistic behavior, but altruism, then it is possible to negate the logic of egoism theory. The claims of psychological egoism can easily be thwarted if I can prove that the act of covering a stranger with a blanket to protect him from cold, is completely guided by the positive and selfless intention.

Psychological egoism: Good or bad?

Nature has recognized mankind as the most intelligent species in the universe. The two most powerful emotions in human beings are pain and pleasure. Mankind's ultimate aspirations are in many cases driven by these two feelings. At the same time, every action of mankind is judged by the degree of justice and injustice. Feelings of self-pleasure or self-pity strongly inspire self-interest. Theorists of psychological egoism trigger the notion of disbelief by denying the concept of human beings' natural affection towards one another. Thesis of psychological egoism preaches the mantra of losing faith in people, which is the most negative aspect of this theory.