合理利己主义辨难

Dilemma of Rational Egoism

合理利己主义不失为一种可以作为理性观点申述的伦理学观点。其理论依据主要表现为两种证明,即生物学证明和经济学证明。前者为合理利己主义的证立提供了普遍的人性基础,而后者则为合理利己主义的推行提供了来自现实功利的有力支持。然而,合理利己主义现点所遭到的诘难也主要来自这两个领域。由于利己主义前提的限囿,合理利己主义在理论形式和理论内容上不仅具有其局部合理因素,而且即使在实践中也不乏有益启示,但是在面临现实利益冲突时却注定会陷入左右两难的困境。

Rational egoism can be regarded as an ethnical theory when rational points of view are stated. The arguments mainly stem from two aspects, i.e. the biological and the economical proofs. The former offers a universal foundation of human nature while the latter supports the rational egoism pragmatically. However, all the reproach just arises from the two aspects. Though rational egoism is partially acceptable in its forms and contents, it will definitely meet a dilemma when it faces conflicts of interests because of the limited prerequisite of rational egoism.