The document discusses self-interest from philosophical, psychological, and biological perspectives. Philosophically, self-interest has been examined through concepts like enlightened self-interest, ethical egoism, hedonism, and individualism. Psychologically, concepts of psychological egoism and narcissism relate to self-interest. Biologically, Richard Dawkins' theory of the selfish gene examined how self-interest plays a role in evolution. For engineers, maintaining a healthy level of self-interest is important for survival and avoiding unethical behavior, but too much can lead to professional ego.

1. SELF INTEREST
Which may occur for an Engineer.
BY
DERAK DAVIS

2. WHAT IS SELF
INTEREST…?
Self-interest generally refers to a focus on the
needs or desires (interests) of the self.
A number of philosophical, psychological,
and biological theories examine the role of self
interest in motivating human action.
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3. IN PHILOSOPHY
× Enlightened self-interest, a philosophy which states that
acting to further the interests of others also serves one's
own self-interest.
× Ethical egoism, the ethical position that moral
agents ought to do what is in their own self-interest.
× Hedonism, the school of ethics which argues that
pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
× Epicureanism, a philosophical system related to
hedonism.
× Individualism, a philosophy stressing the worth of
individual selves.
× Rational egoism, the position that all rational actions are
those done in one's self-interest.
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4. IN PSYCHOLOGY
× Psychological concepts concerned with self-
interest include psychological egoism, the view
that humans are always motivated by self-interest
and narcissism, which is an unhealthy self-
absorption due to a disturbance in the sense of
self.
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5. IN BIOLOGY
× In Richard Dawkins' book - The Selfish Gene,
self-interest concept was concerned as one of the
artefact in evolution process among all alive
organisms.
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6. AS AN ENGINEER

× A healthy amount of
self interest is
essential for survival
but if it increases,
professional ego will
be the result.

× An engineer without
self interest and self
esteem may easily
be tempted to
unethical behaviour.
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7. AN APPEAL TO
SELF
INTEREST
DURING
WORLD WAR II
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