... individualism, yet many people who are basically individualists uphold altruism as the standard of morality. What's going on? The problem is wide-spread confusion over the meanings of ``altruism'' and ``egoism.'' The first confusion is to confound altruism with kindness, generosity, and helping other people. Altruism demands more than kindness: it demands sacrifice. The billionaire who contributes $50,000 to a scholarship ... these values do not require true sacrifice, and thus are not altruistic in the deepest sense of the word. Second, I question if brutality, the form of selfishness ...

• Word Count: 1797
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... projected results. There are no absolutes in consequentialist theory; therefore morality becomes a relative term defined by environment and actions. Two theories at opposite ends of the consequentialist spectrum are ethical egoism, which focuses on consequences that benefit the individual; and utilitarianism, which focuses on consequences that benefit the group or society of the individual ... .. Ethical egoism asserts that we are all basically selfish creatures (IEP). The justification for putting "self" first is that selfishness is the condition of the natural man. In order to ... dive...

• Word Count: 646
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School