Altruism and egoism are almost contrasting terms that relate to philosophy, psychology, ethics and biology. Both terms refer to one’s behavior and prioritization of self-interest over the interest of others. While altruistic people put fulfilling the needs of others over their own, egoists pursue their own interests in the first place. Hence, the paper identifies similarities and differences in each of the terms as well as elaborates on the role and definition of them.
There is an ongoing debate on the role of altruism and egoism in the evolutionary theory, as well as their place in the hierarchy of moral and spiritual development. Some believe that altruism constitutes the essence of morality. Although people often act selfishly, they always tend to cooperate and connect with others. Humans are social beings, therefore pursuing community and socializing is one of the essential need towards one’s psychological and social well-being (Mangone, 2020). Hence, some believe that pursuing altruistic virtues is in essence an egoistic effort as it is an attempt to establish closer connections with other people – which is a fundamental necessity for many individuals.
On the contrary, the same can be said about egoism in a sense that it promotes consideration of the good of others and at the same time, considers personal benefit. The example of altruism can be seen in behaviors such as volunteering, adopting children or doing activism and charity work. It contributes to well-being of particular people, community or society in general. Whereas the examples egoistical behaviors can be seen in expressing excessive self-importance, greed or selfishness. Although the terms and behaviors seem to be opposite in its theoretical description, when described in real life context, it is evident that they are deeply connected. It is incorrect to view altruism as purely white and egoism as purely black or vise versa. The natural human behavior is far more complex and there are many shades of grey to it. Hence, it is important to remain ethical, and ensure that one’s behavior does not cause harm or limits freedoms of other people.
Reference
Mangone, E. (2020). Beyond the dichotomy between altruism and egoism: Society, relationship, and responsibility. IAP.