Ethical Egoism Vs Social Responsibility
Essay title: Ethical Egoism Vs Social Responsibility
Merriam-Webster collegiate dictionary defines egoism as “a doctrine that individual self-interest is the actual motive of all conscious action.” Social responsibility entails ones actions benefiting ones society more than oneself. A cost benefit analysis sided towards the many rather than towards the individual. In the two books The Elements of Moral Society and Ethical Issues in Engineering by James Rachels and Deborah Johnson respectively, the subject of egoism and social responsibility come up. Hannaford in Johnsons book and James Rachels support social responsibility. Friedman and I are supporting the egoism side.
Our modern society is based on individualism. Without individualism wed end up just like serfs on a medieval manor. That is looking out for the “society” as opposed to oneself. The Renaissance in the western world is where we broke those chains of social obligations. Looking out for number 1, ones family, ones company