Psychological egoism and ethical egoism are different in the sense that one of them is based on fact and the other is based on what ought to happen. Due to this each of these types of egoism have different outcomes that occur.
Psychological egoism is the view that “all men are selfish in everything that they do, that is, the only motive from which anyone ever acts is self-interest” (72). This means that even when men are doing an action to benefit another they are “actually motivated by the belief that acting in this way is to their own advantage” (72). People choose to help others only because of the personal benefits that they expect to obtain from them. An example of this would be holding the door for another person. Although it may seem as though holding the door is an un-selfish act the door-holder is only doing this action for the feeling of satisfaction received after completing the task. This type of egoism is a descriptive theory. Meaning that that each person in fact purses his self-interest. …show more content…
This means that ethical egoism is “about how men ought to act” (72) rather than how they do. With this theory it also states that regardless of how men behave, “they have no obligation to do anything expect what is in their own interest” (72). That each person’s action is justified “regardless of the effect on others” (72). An example that is used in Chapter Nine regarding ethical egoism is that of setting a building on fire. If someone has the urge to start a fire in a building with people inside, just for the pleaser of watching the fire burn. According to ethical egoism, this action is justified. This is with the understanding that the people inside of the building might be burned to death. It is still justified because the people inside of the building is their own welfare and it should not be considered by the person wanting to start the fire
Psychological egoism is the view that “all men are selfish in everything that they do, that is, the only motive from which anyone ever acts is self-interest” (72). This means that even when men are doing an action to benefit another they are “actually motivated by the belief that acting in this way is to their own advantage” (72). People choose to help others only because of the personal benefits that they expect to obtain from them. An example of this would be holding the door for another person. Although it may seem as though holding the door is an un-selfish act the door-holder is only doing this action for the feeling of satisfaction received after completing the task. This type of egoism is a descriptive theory. Meaning that that each person in fact purses his self-interest. …show more content…
This means that ethical egoism is “about how men ought to act” (72) rather than how they do. With this theory it also states that regardless of how men behave, “they have no obligation to do anything expect what is in their own interest” (72). That each person’s action is justified “regardless of the effect on others” (72). An example that is used in Chapter Nine regarding ethical egoism is that of setting a building on fire. If someone has the urge to start a fire in a building with people inside, just for the pleaser of watching the fire burn. According to ethical egoism, this action is justified. This is with the understanding that the people inside of the building might be burned to death. It is still justified because the people inside of the building is their own welfare and it should not be considered by the person wanting to start the fire