egoism

egoism

egoism , in ethics, the doctrine that the ends and motives of human conduct are, or should be, the good of the individual agent. It is opposed to altruism , which holds the criterion of morality to be the welfare of others. The term has been variously used, from the benevolent self-interest of the utilitarians to the belief, articulated by Friedrich Nietzsche, that all altruistic sentiment is cowardice. Egoism is frequently associated with the ethics of the early Greek hedonists. Some modern philosophers attempt to reconcile egoism and altruism by adducing the concept of the growing self who invests his interests in an ever-widening field.

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"egoism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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egoism

e·go·ism / ˈēgōˌizəm/ • n. Ethics an ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality. ∎ another term for egotism. DERIVATIVES: e·go·ist n. e·go·is·tic adj. e·go·is·ti·cal adj. e·go·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

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"egoism." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"egoism." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-egoism.html

"egoism." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-egoism.html

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egoism

egoism See INDIVIDUALISM; SUICIDE.

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GORDON MARSHALL. "egoism." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

GORDON MARSHALL. "egoism." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-egoism.html

GORDON MARSHALL. "egoism." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-egoism.html

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egoism

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"egoism." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"egoism." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-egoism.html

"egoism." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-egoism.html

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Deontological egoism.
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