Possibly, each person at least once in the life heard in the party that he is an egoist. Very few people want and can admit to himself own selfish motives, having even realized them, we find for ourselves a lot of justifications. But what is egoism and is it really bad?
Summarizing and uniting interpretation from various dictionaries, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the egoism is such creation of own life, interests and a scale of values at which mainly personal interests and advantage are considered.
In what egoism problem?
The egoism is often compared to the self-preservation instinct which got to us by nature. Certain analogies, really, can be carried out. Natural aspiration of the person to providing to themselves comfortable and safe living conditions, maintenance of health and creation of convenience are echoes of an instinct of self-preservation. And in it there is nothing bad or pathological.
The problem of egoism begins to be shown when the self-love and personal self-interest begin to pass a framework of a reasonable limit. When own interests become above public and family problems, and personal preferences are solved for the account and to the detriment of other people, there is a question of the exceeded reading off scale egoism.
Especially at such behavior of a certain person the personal relations suffer. If in couple all decisions are made only by one party, proceeding from own interests, the behavior of one person is directed only to satisfaction only the requirements, then for other party such situation is destructive. Egoism in the relations from one of partners it becomes frequent the reason of a gap and family breakdown.
In what difference of egoism and egocentrism?
If to determine the egoist by his behavior, it is possible for acts and motivation quickly enough and simply, then with egocentrics everything is much more difficult. The difference of egoism and egocentrism first of all is that egocentrics are often extremely reserved people, introverts who do not show the true feelings and desires to the first comer.
According to psychologists, the egocentrism is an extreme form of egoism. Egocentrics in principle do not perceive others living positions or it just does not interest them. The world around can interest few such people, they completely go deep into own inner world. Moreover, they have an opposition of own interests to opinion and foundations of surrounding people. For the egocentric, as follows from the formulation, he is also the center of the world.
Quite often egocentrics adapt to life in society, build the personal relations, however their inner world is tightly closed even for the closest people. By definition of esotericists the egoism and egocentrism is considered a low step of development of soul, only sacrificing the interests, assuming duties and care of others, such people can develop in themselves higher spiritual level.
Golden mean
In philosophy and psychology there is such concept as healthy egoism. In century before last the principles of reasonable egoism were created by Chernyshevsky. According to its theory there is no sense to do offense or harm to other person, proceeding from the fact that personally it is not favorable to itself. The offense and pain caused to another provoke rage and probable revenge from its party. Thus, it is simply unprofitable to subject to threat own interests. Certainly, this theory is a little idealistic.
What means healthy egoism in our ordinary life? As well as in other psychological and behavioural aspects, its extreme forms are dangerous. If the person does not go into extremes in achievement of the purposes, it is considered with the interests of other people, but at the same time does not forget about own benefit, then such egoism is quite acceptable and reasonable living position.