Final answer:
The terms universal egoism, individual egoism, and personal egoism represent different scopes of the practice of placing one's own interests first, ranging from a broad, societal level down to a more narrow, personal level.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distinguishing between universal egoism, individual egoism, and personal egoism is essential in understanding ethical theories.
- Universal Egoism argues that everyone should act in their own self-interest because it will ultimately benefit society as a whole. This perspective assumes that self-regulated pursuit of self-interest will create a balance in which everyone's interests are indirectly promoted.
- Individual Egoism posits that an individual should act in their own self-interest, but it does not claim that this axiom must necessarily apply to all individuals. Those who espouse individual egoism may or may not be concerned with the actions of others, focusing solely on their personal gain.
- Personal Egoism is the practice of making decisions based on one's immediate personal gain without the endorsement of such behavior as a universal principle. It is essentially the individual's application of self-interest without the broader ethical implication that everyone ought to do the same.
While ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, based upon the pleasure that results for all humans, egoism, in its various forms, is concerned primarily with the pleasure or benefit to oneself.