Please Read How You Can Help Keep the Encyclopedia Free Egoism
can be a descriptive or a normative position. Psychological
egoism, the most famous descriptive position, claims that each
person has but one ultimate aim: her own welfare. Normative
forms of egoism make claims about what one ought to do, rather
than describe what one does do. Ethical egoism claims that it is
necessary and sufficient for an action to be morally right that
it maximize one's self-interest. Rational egoism claims that it
is necessary and sufficient for an action to be rational that it
maximize one's self-interest. - 1. Psychological Egoism - 2.
Ethical Egoism - 3. Rational Egoism - 4. Conclusion - Other
Internet Resources - Related Entries All forms of egoism require
explication of “self-interest” (or “welfare” or “well-being”).
There are two main theories. Preference or desire accounts
identify self-interest with the satisfaction of one's desires.
Often, and most plausibly, these desires are restricted to self-
regarding desires. Wha