Business and Ethical Thinking Egoism and Altruism

Analysts of ethical conduct explain egotism as

personal values and displays of behaviour where the dominant goals are benefit, pleasure or greatest good for the egotist alone.

The argument here is that people - by their very nature - are motivated only by self-interest. This underpins moral conduct. Any act, no matter how altruistic it might seem, is actually motivated by some self- interest e.g. desire for praise, to stock up favours, for reward, avoidance of guilt, personal happiness/contentment.

In contrast altruists are not strictly self-interested. Their goals

account for and are sensitive to the interests of others, in a balanced relationship with pure-self interest.

We aim to accrue routine benefits in the choices we make and our actions. Helping a work colleague to resolve a problem may secure recognition or a future favour. It may just make "me" feel good. The pleasure is

• a motive (anticipated) prompting me to action and
• a result/pay-off for my endeavour.

At least, I might construe (cognition) it this way.

Self-referential Egoism

Whatever serves my interests is morally right. Simply because it is what I value most, I ought to act in my own self-interest - even if this over-rides the values and interests of others. .

Unfortunately, everyone else thinks the same way. Things start to turn nasty. Dog eats dog. Competition and conflict result. So lets be cleverer.

"I want everyone else to be altruistic towards me (serves my interests) but not the other way around! Being quick witted, my best interest is served by appearing as an altruist in public. This way I keep everyone's good favour whilst I pursue my own private (selfish) agenda when they are not looking."

Just a mite inconsistent don't you think?

"Good morning Hal - I have come to clean the lens of your camera"

"Hello, Dave. My oh my, what a lovely sheep-skin coat you are wearing."