Egosim

 

 Egoism as an egoist-individualist ethos, when rightly understood and practiced by the rational egoist, is much less about narcissism, selfishness, hedonism, callousness towards others or oneself or self-indulgence—though we all have some of these traits expressed in our choices, character and behavior—is about self-interest, an enlightened self-interest, that guides one to self-discipline, not self-dissipation, hard work more than taking it easy, truth-seeking about the self, others, God and the world, rather than self-deception, self-care more than other-care, but not exclusively or solely, favoring love over hate, and characterizing self-regard as a vigorous program of continual self-improvement, with little time for the conceit that one is fine as one is without a self-mandated and divine command that we make a serious effort to maverize.

 

The egoist accepts his moral requirement that he is to straighten himself out first and foremost, before he attempts to straighten out others and save the world. If he puts his first priority into action, that he is fine as he is, and what needs rearranging is the moral bankruptcy of people external to his own situation, then he is doing harm in the world, helping no one.

 

We live as individuals, or should, for our evil is a personal problem, and our cure is a personal cure. If 92% of adults were self-realizing supercitizens, then the social and political scenes would be much more healthy. Most collective problems and maladies would evaporate, and that is how we bring brotherhood and sisterhood to life, and that is how we move the meter towards a wholesome common good being our general state of existence.