Final answer:
The ethical egoist perspective approaches difficult matters by prioritizing personal self-interest as the guiding moral principle. It faces criticism for not effectively resolving moral conflicts and lacks consistency. Ethical egoism is divided into strong and weak forms and requires a move towards a more objective view for broader ethical consideration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ethical egoist perspective suggests that individuals should act in their own self-interest, as it is morally right to seek their own greatest good. In approaching difficult matters, an ethical egoist would consider the outcome that best serves their personal well-being. For example, the ethical egoist might argue that it is not inherently wrong to prevent someone from changing a will if it is in their self-interest. However, such a stance is controversial because it does not resolve moral conflicts effectively; ethical egoism lacks consistency and universality, leading to power struggles rather than collaborative conflict resolution. This poses a significant challenge when ethical dilemmas arise that require a broader consideration of others' interests, such as at the United Nations where the Principle of Utility is used to strive for greater good for all. Additionally, ethical egoism confronts objections that acting solely out of self-interest may not always lead to everyone's betterment and that people should have moral principles beyond self-interest.
To approach philosophical issues with less subjective bias, it is suggested to abstract from specific circumstances and strive for a more objective point of view, considering general and wide-ranging implications rather than being limited by one's personal experiences. This abstraction aids in contemplating ethical egoism with a clearer, more inclusive mindset. Ethical egoism is divided into strong ethical egoism, which dictates that it is always correct to seek one's own benefit, and weak ethical egoism, which allows for the possibility of not always pursuing one's own good.