Joel Feinberg’s paper entitled  Psychological Egoism (1958), argues a pure self-interest goal of psychlogical egoism isn’t attainable —-> i. e. human self-interest motivation alone is not possible. Albert Einstein said, “a life directed chiefly toward the fulfillment of personal desires will sooner or later always lead to bitter disappointment.” (1954) I insist that if we are ever able to reach some level of balance and contentment in life, self-interest fulfillment alone will never be enough. Something more is needed!  Something is missing! And, that more and what is missing for the Theory of Balanceology includes meaning, balance, and health that is a byproduct coming from satisfying our Belonging-Needs. Fundamentally, all of us need other people in our life. I have psychological egoism interact and overlap with my theoretical paradigm in three ways:  1.) Self-Needs – it is true human beings have self-interests for we are motivated by the basal Self-Needs of security/safety, worth, empowerment, and enjoyment, 2.) Belonging-Needs – at the same time we have other-interest needs to connect with other humans. We are also motivated by Belonging-Needs —> interpersonal and social needs, and 3.) Prime Duality – is the division that exists between our Self-Needs and Belonging-Needs. We all will have to figure out how to balance-out our Self-interests and Belonging-interests. Especially during those times when one’s personal-interests and Self-needs are in direct conflict with our belonging-interests and Belonging-needs.

In a previous post, I discussed the concept of psychological egoism of self-reference and self-involvement. I now say, taken to its extreme, psychological egoism even intrudes into one’s acts of altruism —> psychological egoism includes psychological egoistic altruism. According to psychological egoism, altruism also involves self-motivated interest. Psychological egoistic altruism suggests that even the most apparent unselfish behaviors are done out of self-interest. According to this theory, doing good is for selfish reasons. Egoistic altruism can pertain to those patrionizing salvationists who have a show-and-tell agenda that indicates how honorable they are. Pontificating salvationists have a deep-need to feel good about themselves (they are enablers). Egoistic altruism bumps into the concept of true intentions, because only the individual truly knows what their altruistic intentions are. I might get myself into trouble here, but I must say what I must say. Here are 3 possible examples of egoistic altruism: 1.) were Mother Teresa’s lifelong altruistic behaviors merely self-motivated behaviors with an end goal  of reaching Heaven?, 2.) is Oprah Winfrey’s girl’s school in South Africa merely self-motivated behavior with an end goal of exhibiting herself as a philanthropist, to feel good about herself, and yet  another attempt to try fill her insatiable need for attention and praise?, and 3.) Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  –  In 2018,  Bill Gates  is worth 90 billion dollars. This multi-billionaire lavishly built a  house called  Xanadu  2.0,  that is valued at over  $154,000,000.  It angers me that one family rapes the Earth’s resources to build this obscene …

Psychological egoism is part of human nature.  It is a precept I view as being related to the solipsism of “my reality.” The philosopher Moritz Schlick recommended that it is a good idea to give serious consideration to the concept of psychological egoism. Schlick points out that human nature is one of self-reference and self-involvement. Psychological egoism is the theory that humans are only motivated by self-interest —> what is in it for me?  The only goal in life is in fulfilling my Self-Needs. The worldview of a psychological egotistical person is one of self-indulgence and selfishness. It is a world of self-preoccupation where my actions are about my benefit, my welfare, and my satisfaction. It is a person saying it is, “My way, or no way.” Such a worldview is often materialistically oriented.  According to Frederick Nietzsche, “in   moral  terms,  neighbourly love  and living  for others and other  things  may be the means of protection to maintain the most rigorous egoism.  This is the exception where I, against all my self-imposed rules and conviction, take the part of ‘selfless’ instincts:  here they are engaged in the service of egoism and self-discipline.”  (1988) Psychological egoism is a controversial concept. Is there any truth to it?  

Ethnosolipsism is a concept that I felt required a new word.  I view ethnosolipsism as the group equivalent of solipsism. I consider ethnosolipsism as an ethnocentric way of understanding the world. Ethnosolipsism is about saying that only my culture exists and only my culture is right. Ethnosolipsistic cultures involve  our way of thinking, believing, and behaving as being the only way of thinking, believing, and behaving. Ethnosolipsism is a dualistic concept that leads to borders, boundaries, and divisions between cultures, nations, religions, and races. Extreme ethnosolipsism (and maybe not so extreme in some cases) is a decivilizing of other cultures that leads to a pseudo-speciation of people ——> making them subhumans, subspecies, subcultures, and subclasses.  Niles  Eldredge maintained that, “cultural ideas seem deeply embedded in human life that other people are inferior.” (2004) With the view of pseudo-speciation we are only one step away from group extermination, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Solipsism and ethnosolipsism are dangerous dehumanizing and demonizing concepts, and they are views of reality that would be wise for us to understand and be on-guard for.   

Make no mistake about it, solipsism is a key inherited foundational concept of human nature and the reality of the world we live in. In one way or another, our journey will find its own route to reality, and that makes us  the architect of our own reality —-> no matter how surreal that reality can become.  In the Theory of Balancelogy, I emphasize over and over again that we must reach a point where we can say, “I Am the Architect of My life,” in order to make something out of our life.  Solipsism is a substratum human nature pattern of self-oriented behavior that must be given the attention it duly and rightfully deserves. Only with an early understanding and appreciation of the concept of solipsism can individuals (cultures) start to move from a reality of self-existence to an empathic reality that we exist in this life with others. Solipsism involves insolation. The more a person is isolated, lacks a true baseline reality, and hears only their own voice in their head —> the more that person is vulnerable to sicklier fears, paranoia, loneliness, distrust, and even bodily pain. Sometimes it is a good idea to turn-down the voice in our head. Solipsism is a mind problem, and we need to understand that other people and societal groups have minds too. As I continue to develop, discuss, and present the Theory of Balanceology and the Balancetherapy Treatment Model, I will indicate that the crucial anecdote for solipsism is empathy. …

The following are some additional points related to solipsism: Unreality – Extreme solipsism can spin one’s thinking from reality to a surreal world of living in one’s own universe —-> a true divorce and break with reality. Extreme solipsism can twirl one’s thinking into a kind of twilight zone reality. Unreality is a moving reality that doesn’t stay in the same place. Extreme solipsism can’t distinguish reality from virtual reality. There can be a true break between a fantasy world and the real world. Solipsistic reality can become distorted reality and in some cases a psychotic break with reality can happen. In extreme solipsism there isn’t anything to measure sanity with. Buddha pointed out the illusion the mind can create when one is only able to think from a self-existence point of view, making for an inability to live in the real world. Invulnerable – What individual has not thought, “I am invulnerable?” You will die, but I will never die.  Thinking about our own death, and that my life will become extinct can be a difficult thing to do. I think that at some level we all believe that we can defy physics? When one is racing down a highway at 100 mph there has to be a solipsistic component to this behavior saying, “I can’t be terminated.” The young are especially prone to this sense of invulnerability. Duality – Solipsism is an individualistic way to view the world;  a devaluation concept. It devalues other individuals. There is already …

Solipsism is an extraordinary word, a powerful word, and by far an underused word. I am not sure why it isn’t used more in trying to understand the human condition. No philosophical worldview has yet to advocate for the concept of solipsism. Yet, I argue at least a rudimentary understanding of solipsism is needed to have a fuller picture of human nature and one’s own nature. An understanding of solipsism helped me develop a worldview, recognize aspects of my nature, and opened the door to obtaining a more empathetic appreciation of the world of others. There are those times when the world overwhelms me, and I need to enter my solipsistic hermetic inner world where I can “just do me.” To some degree all humans are encapsulated in their own inner self-minded hermetic chamber. It is a wise thing to realize we are naturally solipsistic creatures. As I define solipsism see if you recognize any solipsistic traits and moments in your own reality. Gorgias, a Greek pre-Socratic Sophist, is the first on record to use the word solipsism. Immanuel Kant equates solipsism with egoism. It puts the Self at the center of everything. However, not to disrespect the genius of Kant, but for me solipsism includes egoism but it is much more then egoism. Solipsism’s literal meaning is “only-one selfism.” It is from solus (alone), and ipse (self). Solipsism is literally the theory that the Self knows only of its own existence, because only the Self exists. Reality – Solipsism is a …