Ethical egoism is, “is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest. It differs from psychological egoism, which claims that people can only act in their self-interest (internet encyclopedia of philosophy).” While some may think ethical egoism is similar to rational egoism it differs in the means that rational egoism holds that it is rationals to act in one’s self-interest. Ethical egoism has played a major role in my life; growing up without parents has made me want to work hard for everything I have. It has also molded me into a very independent person. I rarely rely on others for anything, I go out and get what I need on my own. Ethical egoism has played a very important role in my childhood and how I have grown up to be the man I am today.
When I was younger, my parents weren’t always around therefore many of the decisions that were made were my own. I did not seek out for other people’s approval; I did what I thought was best for me and I moved forward. Due to that absentee of my parents when I was growing up, I had to grow up a lot faster than most. Having to do most of the things that parents would do when a child is growing up has made me into a better person. I have been able to learn how to do things on my own and achieve a ton by myself. Ethical egoism has made me very aware of my own self-interests.
I have learned what I cherish in life and I know what makes me happy. My self interest is most important to me; I do what I want when I want. This makes me feel accomplished and makes me feel as if I am in control of my life. I have never had someone to control my life and my actions, which has enabled me to learn from my mistakes. Learning from my mistakes is a good thing, it has taught me a lot of different lessons. I have been able to find myself through knowing myself. Many people don’t get to learn who they really are until they go to college or move out; most of their lives they follow what their parents tell them and don’t have the opportunity to do things on their own. Many people find their true self when they’re alone and older. I was able to learn myself and know my self interests at a much earlier age in life.
Ethical egoism has a big impact on many people’s lives; it may have helped them for the better or for worse. For me, ethical egoism has helped me, I feel like I have been able to live a very unsheltered life. Many of the people that I see around me know very little about the outside world. They have been sheltered their who life and now when they got to college they realize that there is a lot more out there then what they’re used to at home. I have been able to encounter a lot of different situations in my lifetime that a lot of people around me haven’t. It has made myself a better self; I have been accustomed to a different kind of lifestyle and it is a lifestyle that works out for me.
Ethical egoism has enabled me to see what my growing up process has existed of. It has allowed me to see how much I rely on myself and how independent I have become. It has made me see that what I know what is best for me and that I will do anything I need to do in order to make myself successful. This moral theory is not an easy one to come by; many people always seek out for others approval. When they don’t get the answer they were expecting they become bent out of shape and it affects their whole mood. I on the other hand do what is best for me and move on, I don’t look back and I don’t worry about what others have to say. I have loved living for myself and doing what needs to be done to make myself better. It is a good way to live and has had a positive impact on my life. When someone knows themselves and cherishes what they have achieved on their own it makes you feel a lot better. It enables one to understand all aspects of life and it allows one to cherish things much more than if it was just given. Working hard for what I have needed in life makes me appreciate what I have a lot more than I think I would appreciate if things were just given to me.
