Psychological egoism is the perspective that individuals are so constituted that they always seek their best interest or own advantage. The statement makes a claim that individuals cannot perform any act unless they believe that it is of their best interest. In that aspect, psychological egoism observes that individuals cannot perform two aspects, including the one that is contrary to their best interest and the one that they have no belief, especially to how they relate to their interests. Therefore, the core rationale of psychological egoism is based on the aspect that people’s only obligation is to promote their best interest. The rationale of this analysis is to provide a persuasive discussion confirming the concept of psychological egoism that indicates that all persons, without exception, seek their own self-interest.
The discussions about psychological egoism are peculiar and receive numerous contributions from many philosophers. However, the concept has not been embraced by major figures in the field of philosophy. In fact, the only philosophers attributed to its development include Benthan Jeremy and Hobbles Thomas. Other popular philosophers have vehemently rejected the theory based on the Joseph Butler work. However, psychological egoism has played a pivotal role in other disciplines as a background assumption, especially in economics and psychology. Therefore, psychological egoism plays an important role in understanding the behaviors of people and the decision they make when they interact with other individuals. Although the theory concerns being self-centered, it does not necessarily mean that, it is about selfishness. The claim that the individuals only care about their welfare would not reflect an act of selfishness when an individual desire to take; for instance, a nap, which is well deserved and which would not negatively affect any person. Therefore, the nap concern’s individuals benefit, hence, no sense of selfishness.
From a broader perspective, psychological egoism encompasses the theory of motivation, which asserts that the ultimate desires of individuals are self-directed. In that aspect, whenever an individual wants others to perform an acceptable deed or otherwise, they will always have personal desires that are instrumentally attached to the outcome. In essence, people only care about others because they believe that the welfare of other individuals will demonstrate ramification for their welfare. However, for this theory to be acceptable, its claim must be approached from descriptive and not a normative approach. More fundamentally, the essence of psychological egoism has exerted a significant influence in the whole aspect of social sciences as well as the thinking of ordinary individuals. For instance, economists have explained the thinking and behavior of human being as influenced by the concept of “rational self-interest.” In this thinking, the economists dismiss any irreducible concern for the welfare of other individuals. Therefore, people, businesses, institution, and government among others will initiate policies and plans that are aimed at benefiting them and not the other entities.
Another aspect of the theory confirms that people will just seek their own interest by involving themselves in those activities that make them feel good; hence, portraying their selfishness. For instance, an individual may help a physically challenged individual to cross a highway not because of the well-being of that person, but to derive self-satisfaction, since if he/she fails to do so, he/she might have a sense of guilt. Therefore, the motivation is not to assist, but to feel good about self. In addition, a soldier may decide to expose his/her life to save people and in the process lose his/her life. In this aspect, psychological egoism would indicate that the soldier did not die because of the concern of those people, but because of the self-interest, which would prevent sense of guilt in the entire life if he/she allowed people to be killed yet he is expected to provide safety to them.
As is evident from the above analysis, many philosophers have not accepted the arguments; however, they have not been able to present a powerful theory against psychological egoism. Therefore, it is not easy to refute the theory considering the strong universal claim, which indicates that the ultimate desires for people are egoistic. Notably, the thesis presents a factual claim that according to human nature, there is no person who can act unless assured that everything is on his or her best interest. Indeed, people all over the world regardless of their career will ensure that whatever they do will always have a ramification for their personal interest