The Descriptive Theory of Psychological Egoism

The descriptive theory of psychological egoism is the theory that every action is selfish reasons. Psychological egoism exists in many philosophical theories such as hedonism, one should strive for what feels good to self, and social contract theory, one should live in society because it is advantageous for survival. Hobbes view of psychological egoism is visible in his writings on the nature of man. He claims that the only reason people accept societal law is for self preservation and without the desire for safety we would have no reason to follow societies rules. The presence of psychological egoism does not end in his social contract theory but also expands into so-called righteous actions wherein people help others. Hobbes believed that the only reason that a person helps others is not because it brings them joy, but instead as a way to cast off the fear that in not helping others there will not be anyone to help the person should they ever need it. Helping people is a way of perpetuating a society where charity is good in order to maintain an inner understanding that the individual will receive charity in the future.

Ethical egoism is the ought to psychological egoisms’ is. Where psychological egoism observes that all actions are for selfish means ethical egoism is the philosophy that not only agrees with that theory but also states that by accepting it and working with it we accomplish our goals for survival and success. Nietzsche’s version of ethical egoism teaches that by accepting our selfish behaviors for what they are instead of troubling ourselves with the right or wrong of things we can take on an opportunistic identity and find success in all things, thus becoming ubermen through our will to power. Even though this philosophy may be effective against ones enemies, it appears that eventually a person practicing this philosophy would end up with nothing but. Any Rand’s egoism, coined rational egoism, is a much more practical approach to selfishness. I think rational egoism implies that there is nothing wrong with being selfish or opportunistic, but one must understand that eyes are watching, and at some point, the person viewing