Psychological Egoism: Self-interest is the ultimate drive behind human behaviour. The need to increase pleasure and decrease pain is the motivation that governs human actions. We perform altruistic, virtuous or honourable acts either to feel good about ourselves, to benefit directly or indirectly, or for immediate (emotional or otherwise) rewards/long-term gains. So even when we give a beggar a dime, we do so not necessarily because we want him off the street but because we expect good to come back to us at some point or to reinforce the belief within us that we are kind-hearted (still about the self). While this is peculiar to humanity and inherent in individuals in all societies, unfortunately, there is an overdose of self-interest, driving the behaviours of most individuals in my society. In other words, there is a high concentration of psychological egoism in the African society. The aggressive pleasure-seeking tactic we employ for the benefit of the self alone has become detrimental to the development of the general society. Such a society can never be a morally conducive habitat where selfless leaders are groomed. We are all psychological egotists! We are all guilty!
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:39:57 +0000
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