What are the problems with egoism?

Answer 1

there are an incredibly long list of problems with egoism

but it is important to remember to egoist is a heading including a group of people with different views just like left wing politics comprises (socialist's, "new labour", communists, Marxist's, Buddhist ect) - each being just another heading

i split egoists into two headings

long term - does what is in there best interests in the long term (a bit like a conformist utilitarian but that's by the by)

and short term - does what they want when they want it

Problems with short term egoists

• don't think about the negative consequences to themselves - analogy "i didn't do my maths homework so I`ll kill miss Anderson so we get a supply teacher who doesn't know about the homework" - a unrealistic solution but it illustrates clearly that some people are so over come with emotion that they can commit an action that they would never normally do - without thinking about the consequences of murder...
• don't plan there decisions based on the fact that some factors that would affect future choices would be out of there control or determined for them by others Analogy - "i misbehave in school in my first few years - result i don't get back after I'm 16"

Long term

1. Time is potential infinite - has a finite past but a potentially infinite future

2. An action results in another action

Conclusion -If we act now it may result is a desired reaction but that action may result in a series of negative events - ie we cant predict the future as there are too many variables and IF we do have freewill then you cannot predict any future event

ie if 1.i help my friend resolve marital difficulties

2. his neighbour is jealous of my friends happy marriage

3. he goes crazy and kills his wife and kids before

4. his son was going to become world leader and solve poverty

so have i a) helped a friend? b) caused one of the 7 deadly sins? c) been accomplice to a multiple homicide? d) caused poverty to plague earth for at least a bit longer than if i hadn't helped? or e) all of the above

(if this is not making sense read up on determinism and causal effect)