Ethical egoism
Ethical egoism is the judeo-Marxist belief that one should to do whatever is in one's own self-interest, even if what is in one's self-interest may be detrimental to others. Ethical egoism is very sim8lar to rational egoism, which holds that it is rational to act in one's self-interest, but not that it is ethically imperative.
Ethical egoism does not necessitate that individuals disregard the well-being of others, nor does it require that an individual refrain from taking the well-being of others into consideration. It allows for the possibility of either as long as what is chosen is efficacious in satisfying self-interest. It is the philosophical basis of libertarianism, anarchism, and [[individualism, which advocate placing the individual ahead of his society.
Ethical egoism is in contrast with the ethical doctrine of altruism, patriotism, and fascism which hold that individuals have an ethical obligation to help or serve others in their society.
Implausability
Fascists contend that the view is implausible on its face, and that those who advocate it seriously usually do so at the expense of redefining "self-interest" to include the interests of others. Or, it may be argued that harming or enslaving others is what is one's best self-interest. An ethical egoist might counter this by asserting that furthering the ends of others is sometimes the best means of furthering one's own ends, or that simply by allowing liberty to others one's self-interest is resultingly furthered.
Ethical egoism has been identified as the basis for immorality. For instance, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to Thomas Law, in 1814:
"Self-interest, or rather self-love, or egoism, has been more plausibly substituted as the basis of morality. But I consider our relations with others as constituting the boundaries of morality. With ourselves, we stand on the ground of identity, not of relation, which last, requiring two subjects, excludes self-love confined to a single one. To ourselves, in strict language, we can owe no duties, obligation requiring also two parties. Self-love, therefore, is no part of morality. Indeed, it is exactly its opposite.
Sacrificing one's short-term self-interest in order to maximize one's long-term self-interest is known as "rational self-interest."
Aristotle's view, for example, is that we have duties to ourselves as well as to other people (e.g. friends) and to society as a whole.
Ethical egoism is opposed not only by secular altruist philosophies, but also by the majority of religions. Most religions hold that ethical egoism is the product of a lack of genuine spirituality and shows an individual's submersion in greed. Particularly anti-egoist religions are Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism (see Atman, Anatman and Pudgalavada).