Stage 2: The Management Morality of Selfishness and Egoism

Stage 2 is reflective of moral philosophy dedicated towards improving personal life and gaining a personal advantage. In moral philosophy this relates to an ethics called moral egoism that has selfishness as its basic principle placing the subjectivity of an individual at the centre. Hence, moral egoism is related to the moral philosophy of subjectivism that has been outlined by David Hume (1711–1776). A key part of subjectivism is found in its link to intuitionism. The ethics of moral egoism and Hume’s subjectivism and intuitionism lay out foundation principles for selfishness. How to achieve personal advantages and benefits has also been outlined by two other philosophers, Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) and Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900).220 While Hobbes locates the self at the centre, Nietzsche has been more interest in how the self and use others gain advantages over the self. Hence, Nietzsche’s writings drew attention to slave morality, superhuman ideas, the herd mentality, and his work on the moral right of the strong to use the weak for their advantage. To outline moral egoism, selfishness, Hume’s subjectivism and intuitionism, Hobbes’ and Nietzsche’s moral philosophy, this chapter will start at the foremost fundamental ethical idea of selfishness.