EGOISM
What is egoism?
Egoism is a willful rationale for behaviour. Just as hedonists are notorious for their perpetual quest "to have a good time", so egoists are equally notorious for their perpetual quest "to get their own way". And in this case too, there is nothing wrong per se with getting your own way, provided that your goal is worthwhile. "Ah, but there's the rub." All too often egoists are far more concerned with what they want than with the implications or impacts on anything and everything outside themselves. One Russian émigré who became a novelist and amateur philosopher in 20th century America claimed that this value was the only one a rational person would have - but since she died from complications brought on by chain-smoking, I find both her rationalism and her egoism more than a little self– defeating. If egoism doesn't lead a person to define their own self-interest in such a way as to preserve and enhance their life as a primary objective, then they and their goals are both ludicrous. And despite all the talk of so many egoists (and their existentialist fellow-travelers), in practice they fail to fulfill that primary objective in case after case.
Does the foregoing paragraph seem somewhat "slanted" to the reader? Consider the following: improving nutrition, public health, and modern medicine have created a "longevity revolution" over the past two centuries. There are more alternatives to pursue, and more opportunities to pursue them than at any time in previous human history. The fundamental premise of egoism is that people's primary moral responsibility is to themselves. In developed societies at least, the vast majority of people can get access to the knowledge and wherewithal to lead long, healthy, productive, fulfilling, happy lives, in association with family and/or friends. The key characteristics to enable this are attitude, willingness to learn, persistence, and planning, all of which are well within the ambit of that same vast majority - so egoists especially need the courage of their convictions! When you’ve thought through something critically and come to the conclusion that seems most reasonable to you, it should follow (a) that you believe it, and (b) that you start acting in accordance with that belief (Nosich, 2005).
How is egoism manifest?
Effective egoists will recognize when and where collaboration with others is actually in their own self-interests (which is almost every time, everywhere!). The suppliers of knowledgeable advice, nutritious food and supplements, public health facilities, and modern medicine, and well as all of the other facilities that make a modern life-style so promising, all deserve our respect and support, whether we be egoists or altruists. The metaphor most appropriate to an egoist's strategy in this life is the runner on an obstacle course. Too many people, offering little or nothing of value want to get in your way for no other reason than the attention they get. Learn to avoid them.
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