h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You mention being an egoist...are you an ethical egoist or a psychological egoist? If you're an ethical egoist, which type?

Hi SarahM,

thanks for your posting! I'm so sorry, but I don't know of these classifications. I'm a long term egoist, that is, I want the best for me in my life in the long term. I want have have many good things, like good friendships, nice colleagues, good sex and so on. I could have that by cheating, which would be a short term success. But I plan to have it for a long time bringing up the necessity to establish a good environment first.

So actually I'm quite the opposite of an egoist, I'm a altruist. I care for people I deal with, and in return most of them care for me. There are a few cheaters, Ok - I'm sorry for them.

Please have also a look at http://www.h2g2.com/A472682.

Could you please explain to me the terms you used?

Nice greetings,
Wonko

A psycological egoist is someone who is self-absorbed (ie: egotisitical).
An individual ethical egoist believes that EVERYONE should always act in that person's own interest.
A personal ethical egoist believes that everyone ought to act in their own self interest.
A universal egoist believes that everyone ought to act in the interest of all people. This is almost the same as utilitarianism.
I haven't had time to check out that link yet, but I'll let you know when I get around to it.

Thanks a lot. This is quite a big topic in life and the cause of many griefes. I once was a universal egoist, but it didn't work as people didn't act as expected and I was frustrated. So I lowered my expectations and it works since then.

Happy new year!