An Argument Against Egoism

Egoism is not an effective organizational backbone.

Consider driving on a publicly-funded highway system or a street system. Wrecks happen, i.e., failures in the system are inevitable. They're caused, oftentimes, from a lack of awareness of surroundings. If drivers maintain awareness and drive defensively in response to other drivers, who, in turn, are doing the same, then fewer wrecks will cause system failures. Even if the government that funds the system fails to create rules maintaining a high-functioning highway system, the fact that all drivers maintain awareness will ensure fewer system failures.

Maintaining awareness is not an act of egoism. It benefits a person more, in many situations, to exclude outside stimuli for secluded contemplation or relaxation. Yet, the need to tune others out endangers other individuals. And in an overworked society, the ease of operating a vehicle lends itself to disrespecting the responsibility of maintaining full awareness. It’s easy to tune out and think about your past or future.

Societies need effective coordination between members. A pure egoist would argue that coordination is a symptom after relieving individual awareness of other members–that focusing on one’s self is necessary and of utmost importance.

This akin to trickle-down economics, because both are attenuated and lazy: they assume an effect one step removed from the source of an action.