,EGOISM 

#aibd 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,JOHN ,BEV]LEY ,ROB9SON 

,TEXT 3 

,!RE IS NO WORD MORE G5]ALLY MIS9T]PRET$ ?AN ! WORD EGOISM1 9 ITS MOD]N S5SE4 ,9 ! FIR/ PLACE1 IT IS SUPPOS$ TO MEAN DEVOTION TO SELF 9T]E/1 )\T REG>D TO ! 9T]E/ ( O!RS4 ,IT IS ?US OPPOS$ TO ALTRUISM -- DEVOTION TO O!RS & SACRIFICE ( SELF4 ,?IS 9T]PRETATION IS DUE TO ! USE ( ! WORD ?US ANTI!TICALLY BY ,H]B]T ,SP5C]4 

,AGA91 IT IS ID5TIFI$ ) H$ONISM OR EUDAIMONISM1 OR EPICUREANISM1 PHILOSOPHIES ?AT TEA* ?AT ! ATTA9M5T ( PLEASURE OR HAPP9ESS OR ADVANTAGE1 :I*EV] Y\ MAY *OOSE TO PHRASE IT1 IS ! RULE ( LIFE4 

,MOD]N EGOISM1 AS PROP\ND$ BY ,/IRN] & ,NIETZS*E1 & EXP\ND$ BY ,IBS51 ,%AW & O!RS1 IS ALL !SE2 BUT IT IS MORE4 ,IT IS ! REALIZATION BY ! 9DIVIDUAL ?AT !Y >E AN 9DIVIDUAL2 ?AT1 AS F> AS !Y >E CONC]N$1 !Y >E ! ONLY 9DIVIDUAL4 

,= EA* ONE ( US /&S ALONE 9 ! MID/ ( A UNIV]SE4 ,WE >E SURR\ND$ BY SI<TS & S\NDS :I* WE 9T]PRET AS EXT]IOR TO \RSELVES1 AL?\< ALL WE KN[ ( !M >E ! IMPRESSIONS ON \R RET9A & E> DRUMS & O!R ORGANS ( S5SE4 ,! UNIV]SE = ! 9DIVIDUAL IS MEASUR$ BY !SE S5SATIONS2 !Y >E1 = HIM_/H]1 ! UNIV]SE4 ,SOME ( !M !Y 9T]PRET AS D5OT+ O!R 9DIVIDUALS1 :OM !Y CONCEIVE AS MORE OR LESS LIKE !MSELVES4 ,BUT NONE ( !SE IS HIS_/ H]SELF4 ,HE_/%E /&S AP>T4 ,HIS_/H] CONSCI\SNESS1 & ! DESIRES & GRATIFICATIONS ?AT 5T] 9TO IT1 IS A ?+ UNIQUE2 NO O!R CAN 5T] 9TO IT4 

,H[EV] NE> & DE> TO Y\ MAY BE Y\R SP\SE1 *ILDR51 FRI5DS1 !Y >E NOT Y\2 !Y >E \TSIDE ( Y\4 ,Y\ >E =EV] ALONE4 ,Y\R ?\<TS & EMOTIONS >E Y\RS ALONE4 ,!RE IS NO O!R :O EXP]I5CES Y\R ?\<TS OR Y\R FEEL+S4 

,NO D\BT IT GIVES Y\ PLEASURE :5 O!RS ?9K AS Y\ DO1 & 9=M Y\ ( IT ?R\< LANGUAGE2 OR :5 O!RS 5JOY ! SAME ?+S ?AT Y\ DO4 ,MOREOV]1 QUITE AP>T FROM !IR 5JOY+ ! SAME ?+S ?AT Y\ 5JOY1 IT GIVES Y\ PLEASURE TO SEE !M 5JOY !MSELVES 9 ANY WAY4 ,SU* GRATIFICATION TO ! 9DIVIDUAL IS ! PLEASURE ( SYMPA?Y1 ONE ( ! MO/ ACUTE PLEASURES POSSIBLE = MO/ PEOPLE4 

,ACCORD+ TO Y\R SYMPA?Y1 Y\ WILL TAKE PLEASURE 9 Y\R [N HAPP9ESS OR 9 ! HAPP9ESS ( O!R PEOPLE2 BUT IT IS ALWAYS Y\R [N HAPP9ESS Y\ SEEK4 ,! MO/ PR(\ND EGOI/ MAY BE ! MO/ COMPLETE ALTRUI/2 BUT HE KN[S ?AT H] ALTRUISM IS1 AT ! BOTTOM1 NO?+ BUT SELF-9DULG5CE4 

,BUT EGOISM IS MORE ?AN ?IS4 

,IT IS ! REALIZATION BY ! 9DIVIDUAL ?AT %E_/HE IS ABOVE ALL 9/ITUTIONS & ALL =MULAS2 ?AT !Y EXI/ ONLY SO F> AS HE *OOSES TO MAKE !M H] [N BY ACCEPT+ !M4 ,:5 Y\ SEE CLE>LY ?AT Y\ >E ! MEASURE ( ! UNIV]SE1 ?AT EV]Y?+ ?AT EXI/S EXI/S = Y\ ONLY SO F> AS IT IS REFLECT$ 9 Y\R [N CONSCI\SNESS1 Y\ BECOME A NEW P]SON2 Y\ SEE EV]Y?+ BY A NEW LI<T3 Y\ /& ON A HEI<T & FEEL ! FRE% AIR BL[+ ON Y\R FACE2 & F9D NEW /R5G? & GLORY 9 IT4 

,:ATEV] GODS Y\ WOR%IP1 Y\ REALIZE ?AT !Y >E Y\R GODS1 ! PRODUCT ( Y\R [N M9D1 T]RIBLE OR AMIABLE1 AS Y\ MAY *OOSE TO DEPICT !M4 ,Y\ HOLD !M 9 Y\R H&1 & PLAY ) !M1 AS A *ILD ) ITS PAP] DOLLS2 = Y\ HAVE LE>N$ NOT TO FE> !M1 ?AT !Y >E BUT ! 0IMAG9ATIONS ( Y\R HE>T40 

,ALL ! IDEALS :I* PEOPLE G5]ALLY ?9K >E REALITIES1 Y\ HAVE LE>N$ TO SEE ?R\<2 Y\ HAVE LE>N$ ?AT !Y >E Y\R IDEALS4 ,:E!R Y\ HAVE ORIG9AT$ !M1 :I* IS UNLIKELY1 OR HAVE ACCEPT$ SOMEBODY ELSE'S IDEALS1 MAKES NO DIFF]5CE4 ,!Y >E Y\R IDEALS JU/ SO F> AS Y\ ACCEPT !M4 ,! PRIE/ IS REV]5D ONLY SO F> AS Y\ REV]5CE HIM4 ,IF Y\ CEASE TO REV]5CE HIM1 HE IS NO LONG] REV]5D = Y\4 ,Y\ HAVE P[] TO MAKE & UNMAKE PRIE/S AS EASILY AS Y\ CAN MAKE & UNMAKE GODS4 ,Y\ >E ! ONE ( :OM ! POET TELLS1 :O /&S UNMOV$1 ?\< ! UNIV]SE FALLS 9 FRAGM5TS AB\T Y\4 

,& ALL ! O!R IDEALS BY :I* PEOPLE >E MOV$1 TO :I* PEOPLE >E 5SLAV$1 = :I* HUMYNS AFFLICT !MSELVES1 HAVE NO P[] OV] Y\2 Y\ >E NO LONG] AFRAID ( !M1 = Y\ KN[ !M TO BE Y\R [N IDEALS1 MADE 9 Y\R [N M9D1 = Y\R [N PLEASURE1 TO BE *ANG$ OR IGNOR$1 JU/ AS Y\ *OOSE TO *ANGE OR IGNORE !M4 ,!Y >E Y\R [N LITTLE PETS1 TO BE PLAY$ )1 NOT TO BE FE>$4 

0,! ,/ATE0 OR 0,! ,GOV]NM5T0 IS IDEALIZ$ BY ! MANY AS A ?+ ABOVE !M1 TO BE REV]5C$ & FE>$4 ,!Y CALL IT 0,MY ,C\NTRY10 & IF Y\ UTT] ! MAGIC WORDS1 !Y WILL RU% TO KILL !IR FRI5DS1 :OM !Y W\LD NOT 9JURE BY SO MU* AS A P9 SCRAT*1 IF !Y W]E NOT 9TOXICAT$ & BL9D$ BY !IR IDEAL4 ,MO/ PEOPLE >E DEPRIV$ ( !IR REASON UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( !IR IDEALS4 ,MOV$ BY ! IDEAL ( 0RELIGION0 OR 0PATRIOTISM0 OR 0MORALITY10 !Y FLY AT EA* O!RS' ?ROATS -- !Y1 :O >E O!RWISE (T5 ! G5TLE/ ( NEI<BORS6 ,BUT !IR IDEALS >E = !M LIKE ! 0FIX$ IDEAS0 ( LUNATICS4 ,!Y BECOME IRRATIONAL & IRRESPONSIBLE UND] ! 9FLU5CE ( !IR IDEALS4 ,!Y WILL NOT ONLY DE/ROY O!RS1 BUT !Y WILL QUITE (T5 S9K !IR [N 9T]E/S1 & RU% MADLY TO DE/ROY !MSELVES AS A SACRIFICE TO ! ALL-DEV\R+ IDEAL4 ,CURI\S1 IS IT NOT1 TO ONE :O LOOKS ON ) A PHILOSOPHICAL M9D8 

,BUT ! EGOI/ HAS NO IDEALS1 = ! KN[L$GE ?AT HIS IDEALS >E ONLY HIS IDEALS1 FREES H] FROM !IR DOM9ATION4 ,%E ACTS = HIS [N 9T]E/1 NOT = ! 9T]E/ ( IDEALS4 ,%E WILL NEI!R HANG A P]SON NOR :IP A *ILD 9 ! 9T]E/ ( 0MORALITY10 IF IT IS DISAGREEABLE TO H] TO DO SO4 ,HE_/%E HAS NO REV]5CE = 0,! ,/ATE40 ,%E KN[S ?AT 0,! ,GOV]NM5T0 IS BUT A SET ( M51 MO/LY AS BIG FOOLS AS HE IS HIMSELF1 MANY ( !M BIGG]4 ,IF ! ,/ATE DOES ?+S ?AT B5EFIT H]1 HE WILL SUPPORT IT2 IF IT ATTACKS H] & 5CROA*ES ON HIS LIB]TY1 %E WILL EVADE IT BY ANY MEANS 9 HIS P[]1 IF %E IS NOT /RONG 5\< TO )/& IT4 ,HE_/%E IS A P]SON )\T A C\NTRY4 

0,! ,FLAG10 ?AT MO/ PEOPLE ADORE1 AS PEOPLE ALWAYS ADORE SYMBOLS1 WOR%IP+ ! SYMBOL MORE ?AN ! PR9CIPLE IT IS SUPPOS$ TO SET =?1 IS = ! EGOI/ BUT A RA!R 9H>MONI\S PIECE ( PAT*-WORK2 & ANYBODY MAY WALK ON IT OR SPIT ON IT IF !Y WILL1 )\T EXCIT+ !IR EMOTION ANY MORE ?AN IF IT W]E A T>PAUL9 ?AT !Y WALK$ UPON -- OR SPAT UPON4 ,! PR9CIPLES ?AT IT SYMBOLIZES1 !Y WILL MA9TA9 AS F> AS IT SEEMS TO !IR ADVANTAGE TO MA9TA9 !M2 BUT IF ! PR9CIPLES REQUIRE !M TO KILL PEOPLE OR BE KILL$ !MSELVES1 Y\ WILL HAVE TO DEMON/RATE TO !M JU/ :AT B5EFIT !Y WILL GA9 BY KILL+ OR BE+ KILL$1 BE=E Y\ CAN P]SUADE !M TO UPHOLD !M4 

,:5 ! JUDGE 5T]S C\RT 9 HIS TOGG]Y1 7JUDGES & M9I/]S & PR(ESSORS KN[ ! VALUE ( TOGG]Y 9 IMPRESS+ ! POPULACE7 ! EGOI/ IS UNT]RIFI$4 ,%E_/HE HAS NOT EV5 ANY RESPECT = 0,! ,LAW40 ,IF ! LAW HAPP5S TO BE TO HIS ADVANTAGE1 %E WILL AVAIL HIMSELF ( IT2 IF IT 9VADES H] LIB]TY %E WILL TRANSGRESS IT AS F> AS HE ?9KS IT WISE TO DO SO4 ,BUT %E HAS NO REG>D = IT AS A ?+ SUP]NAL4 ,IT IS TO H] ! CLUMSY CREATION ( !M :O /ILL 0SIT 9 D>KNESS40 

,NOR DOES HE B[ ! KNEE TO ,MORALITY -- ,SACR$ ,MORALITY6 ,SOME ( ITS PRECEPTS %E MAY ACCEPT1 IF HE *OOSES TO DO SO2 BUT Y\ CANNOT SC>E H] (F BY TELL+ HIM IT IS NOT 0RI<T40 ,HE USUALLY PREF]S NOT TO KILL OR /EAL2 BUT IF %E MU/ KILL OR /EAL TO SAVE H]SELF1 HE WILL DO IT ) A GOOD HE>T1 & )\T ANY QUALMS ( 0CONSCI5CE40 

,& 0MORALITY0 WILL NEV] P]SUADE H] TO 9JURE O!RS :5 IT IS ( NO ADVANTAGE TO HIMSELF4 ,%E WILL NOT BE F\ND AMONG A B& ( 0:ITE CAPS10 FLOGG+ & BURN+ POOR DEVILS1 BECAUSE !IR ACTIONS DO NOT CON=M TO ! DICTATES ( 0MORALITY10 ?\< !Y HAVE 9JUR$ NONE BY SU* ACTIONS2 NOR WILL HE HAVE ANY H& 9 P]SECUT+ HELPLESS GIRLS1 & ?R[+ !M \T 9TO ! /REET1 :5 %E HAS RECEIV$ NO ILL AT !IR H&S4 

,TO H] FRI5DS -- TO ?OSE :O DES]VE ! TRU? FROM HIM1 -- %E WILL TELL ! TRU?2 BUT Y\ CANNOT =CE ! TRU? FROM HIM BECAUSE %E IS 0AFRAID TO TELL A LIE40 ,HE HAS NO FE>1 NOT EV5 ( P]JURY1 = %E KN[S ?AT OA?S >E BUT DEVICES TO 5?RALL$ ! M9D BY AN APPEAL TO SUP]NATURAL FE>S4 

,& = ALL ! O!R SMALL1 T5U\S IDEALS1 ) :I* WE HAVE FETT]$ \R M9DS & TO :I* WE HAVE %RUNK \R PETTY LIVES2 !Y >E = ! EGOI/ AS ?\< !Y W]E NOT4 

0,FILIAL LOVE & RESPECT0 HE WILL GIVE TO HIS P>5TS IF !Y HAVE E>N$ IT BY DES]V+ IT4 ,IF !Y HAVE BEAT5 H] 9 9FANCY1 & SCORN$ H] 9 *ILDHOOD1 & DOM9E]$ OV] HIM 9 MATURITY1 HE MAY POSSIBLY LOVE !M 9 SPITE ( MALTREATM5T2 BUT IF !Y HAVE ALI5AT$ H] AFFECTION1 !Y WILL NOT REAWAK5 IT BY AN APPEAL TO 0DUTY04 

,9 BRIEF1 EGOISM 9 ITS MOD]N 9T]PRETATION1 IS ! ANTI!SIS1 NOT ( ALTRUISM1 BUT ( IDEALISM4 ,! ORD9>Y P]SON -- ! IDEALI/ -- SUBORD9ATES !IR 9T]E/S TO ! 9T]E/S ( !IR IDEALS1 & USUALLY SUFF]S = IT4 ,! EGOI/ IS FOOL$ BY NO IDEALS3 %E_/HE DISC>DS !M OR USES !M1 AS MAY SUIT HIS [N 9T]E/4 ,IF HE_/%E LIKES TO BE ALTRUI/IC1 !Y WILL SACRIFICE !MSELVES = O!RS2 BUT ONLY BECAUSE !Y LIKE TO DO SO2 !Y DEM& NO GRATITUDE NOR GLORY 9 RETURN 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aibc 3 ,EGOISM -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,APRIL #a#f1 #bb 3 ,EGOISM -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #c1 #bbb 3 ,EGOISM -- ,UPDAT$4 

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