Psychological egoists argue that everything we do is self-serving even if we might think it is not. Self-sacrificial behaviors, such as using oneself as a human shield to protect others in a mass shooting, cannot disprove psychological egoism because people who sacrifice themselves are not motivated by altruistic concern. Rather, they do what they most want to do. Sacrificing one’s life happens to be what one most wanted to do in those circumstances. Given that doing what one wants to do is in one’s self-interest, one’s “self-sacrificing” behavior is again egoistic.  Do you agree or disagree with the above?

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
5th Edition
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Chapter1: The Science Of Psychology
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Psychological egoists argue that everything we do is self-serving even if we might think it is not. Self-sacrificial behaviors, such as using oneself as a human shield to protect others in a mass shooting, cannot disprove psychological egoism because people who sacrifice themselves are not motivated by altruistic concern. Rather, they do what they most want to do. Sacrificing one’s life happens to be what one most wanted to do in those circumstances. Given that doing what one wants to do is in one’s self-interest, one’s “self-sacrificing” behavior is again egoistic. 

Do you agree or disagree with the above?

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