Reflections on psychological egoism (Essay)

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Published: Sep 13, 2021
Updated: 2021-09-13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20983/noesis.2012.2.5
Keywords:
Selfish self-interest motives intention responsibility

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Enrique Trejo Vega
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1912-6749

Abstract

In this paper I’ll present some criticisms of the theory of psychological egoism, which states that all the motives that cause us to act ultimately were response to personal interests. The critiquing begins by noting that only the motives are not enough to be consider, but the intentions and the responsibility that the agent states to prosecute an act as selfish must also be taken into account. On the other hand, an act that meets one’s own interests is not considered sufficient to call it selfish: egoism, while referring to moral condemnation, self-interest does not suffer from this assessment; therefore it is necessary to distinguish these terms. With intent to oppose this theory, that each of our actions express selfish motives and denies the possibility of an altruistic act, I present the following lines.

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How to Cite
Trejo Vega, E. (2021). Reflections on psychological egoism (Essay). Noesis. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 21(42), 112–143. https://doi.org/10.20983/noesis.2012.2.5
Issue
Vol. 21 No. 42 (2012)
Section
Section Varies
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Enrique Trejo Vega, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Profesor – investigador adscrito  Facultad de Estudios Superiores Acatlán, División de Humanidades.Coordinación de Filosofía de la 
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

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