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egoism - 4 dictionary results

e⋅go⋅ism

[ee-goh-iz-uhm, eg-oh-]
–noun
1. the habit of valuing everything only in reference to one's personal interest; selfishness (opposed to altruism ).
2. egotism or conceit.
3. Ethics. the view that morality ultimately rests on self-interest.

Origin:
1775–85; < F égoïsme. See ego, -ism


1. See egotism.
e·go·ism   (ē'gō-ĭz'əm, ěg'ō-)   
n.  
    1. The ethical doctrine that morality has its foundations in self-interest.
    2. The ethical belief that self-interest is the just and proper motive for all human conduct.
  1. Excessive preoccupation with one's own well-being and interests, usually accompanied by an inflated sense of self-importance.
  2. Egotism; conceit. See Synonyms at conceit.

Egoism

E"go*ism\, n. [F. ['e]go["i]sme, fr. L. -ego I. See I, and cf. Egotism.]

1. (Philos.) The doctrine of certain extreme adherents or disciples of Descartes and Johann Gottlieb Fichte, which finds all the elements of knowledge in the ego and the relations which it implies or provides for.

2. Excessive love and thought of self; the habit of regarding one's self as the center of every interest; selfishness; -- opposed to altruism.
Language Translation for : egoism
Spanish: egoísmo,
German: der Egoismus,
Japanese: 利己主義

Main Entry: ego·ism
Pronunciation: 'E-g&-"wiz-&m also 'eg-&-
Function: noun
1 a : a doctrine that individual self-interestis the actual motive of all conscious action b : a doctrine that individual self-interest is the valid end of all actions
2 : excessive concern for oneself withoutexaggerated feelings of self-importance —compare EGOTISMego·ist /-w&st/ nounego·is·tic /"E-g&-'wis-tik also "eg-&-/ also ego·is·ti·cal /-ti-k&l/ adjectiveego·is·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
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