egoism
pronunciation
How to pronounce egoism in British English:
UK [ˈiːɡəʊɪzəm]
How to pronounce egoism in American English:
US [ˈiːɡoʊɪzəm]
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- Noun:
- attempting to get personal recognition for yourself (especially by unacceptable means)
Word Origin
- egoism (n.)
- 1785, in metaphysics, "the theory that a person has no proof that anything exists outside his own mind," from French égoisme (1755), from Modern Latin egoismus, from Latin ego (see ego). Meaning "doing or seeking of that which affords pleasure or advances interest" is from 1800; opposed to altruism, but not necessarily "selfish." Meaning "self-centeredness" is from 1840. Between egoism and egotism, egoism is more correctly formed; there formerly was a useful distinction, with egotism tending to take the senses "self-centeredness" and "extensive use of 'I'" and leaving to egoism the theoretical sense in metaphysics and ethics.
Antonym
Example
- 1. It was not egoism or narcissism , he insisted .
- 2. In this sense ethical egoism is a moral guide only in a purely technical philosophical sense .
- 3. He is ready , like the hungry wolf , to attack his neighbor , for he is governed by the crudest and most naked egoism .
- 4. However the current philosophical practice is to take ethical egoism as a view that promotes acting in one 's own self-interest even when this requires harming innocent people .
- 5. He called for a clear break with the " bad habits " of the past : demagogy , clinging to power , " primitive egoism " .