Every Act is a Selfish Act: A Defense of Psychological Egoism

This paper explores the proposition that all human actions — from the most virtuous to the most violent — are ultimately self-serving. Contrary to the moral ideal of altruism, it argues that selfishness is not a moral defect but the biological, psychological, and existential foundation of all motivation. Using interdisciplinary reasoning drawn from philosophy, psychology, biology, and sociology, this work defends psychological egoism and reframes “selfishness” as the organizing principle of both individual behavior and collective morality.