Ethical Egoism The Nature Philosophy Essay - 2926 Words

After studying many different ethical schools of thought, I have further affirmed, for myself at least, that Ethical Egoism is the best and most natural personal philosophy to follow. While the principles of most other philosophies and ethics are not horrible or absurd, they are not as fitting as the principles and teachings of ethical egoism and Niccolo Machiavelli. As humans, we should accept the realization that we are all pursuing our wants, desires, and pleasures. This is not a shameful or wrong thing, it is only natural. We, as humans, simply wish to lead a good life, and the best component of a good life is achieving our desires and goals. However, I am not saying that we should wildly chase those desires. Indeed, it is important†¦show more content†¦It is wiser to have a reputation as a miser, which brings disdain without hatred, than by seeking reputation for generosity to incur a name for rapacity which begets both disdain and hatred.† When first reading this, one wonders how generosity can bring hatred, but really it seems simple. If someone knows you to be generous, but if for some reason, whether it be inability or something else, you deny someone something that you normally provide them, they will dislike and hate you for it. Yet, if you were known to be miserly, no one would come to you for such things, so you would not be hated for it, only thought of as a miser. A prime example of generosity being taken advantage of would be an encounter that I had with an old friend. In my eyes, Tim was a sort of â€Å"underprivileged kid† in high school. Simply meaning that he did not always have the means to obtain simple pleasures and necessities such as buying lunch when we would all go out. Because of that, I would regularly provide it for him, because I worked in high school and could afford to do so. Tim became accustomed to that practice, and it became expected of me. Once I realized that I had begun to be taken advantage of by him and now others, I stopped doing it. When I would no longer buy his lunch or what have you, he got upset with me and even seemedShow MoreRelatedPsychological vs Ethical Egoism Essay1167 Words   |  5 PagesPsychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism: A Comparison Abstract There is a certain innate desire to help others, just as others will feel that same fulfillment for returning that aid. At the same time, however, there is also an inherent yearning to seek out one’s own best interest. This brings about a discussion regarding the difference between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. To understand the similarities and differences, one must first understand the two concepts includingRead MoreThe Ethical Egoist: Whats the Problem in Plato’s The Republic, Socrates824 Words   |  3 PagesSocrates pokes holes in all of their statements. Socrates argues that there are many problems with their views on social philosophy, especially when it comes to Thrasymachus’ idea of ethical egoism. Plato delivers his view of justice through Socrates when he responds to Thrasymachus, Glaucon, and Cephalus on the issue. Throughout the discussion, Plato never argues against the egoism within humans, however he objects to the idea that th e unjust man is better off then the just man; he believes that inRead MoreEthical Egoism, Ethical Altruism, And Eudaimonia1660 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Egoism, Ethical Altruism, and Eudaimonia are terms adversely mentioned, and used interchangeably, especially in the philosophical field. 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