egotistical adj

1 characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance [syn: egotistic, narcissistic, self-loving]

2 characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; "a conceited fool"; "an attitude of self-conceited arrogance"; "an egotistical disregard of others"; "so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty"; "growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary"; "vain about her clothes" [syn: conceited, egotistic, self-conceited, swollen, swollen-headed, vain]

English

Etymology

Adjective

1. Tending to talk excessively about oneself.
2. Believing oneself to be better and more important than others.
3. Egoistical.

Related terms

• egotist
• egotism

Derived terms

• egotistically

Translations

• Czech: ješitný

Selfishness denotes the precedence given in thought or deed to the self, i.e., self interest or self concern. It is the act of placing one's own needs or desires above the needs or desires of others. Selfishness is the opposite of altruism.

The implications of selfishness have inspired divergent views within religious, philosophical, psychological, economic and evolutionary contexts.

See also

• Egoism
• Egotism
• Enlightened self-interest
• Ethic of reciprocity (the 'Golden Rule')
• Generosity
• A Theory of Justice (by John Rawls)
• Objectivist philosophy

References

• Twilight of the Idols, Friedrich Nietzsche Penguin Classics; Reissue edition (February 15, 1990), ISBN 0140445145
• The Evolution of Cooperation, Robert Axelrod, Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-02121-2
• The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins (1990), second edition -- includes two chapters about the evolution of cooperation, ISBN 0-19-286092-5
• The Virtue of Selfishness, Ayn Rand, ISBN 0451163931

acquisitive, ambitious for self, autistic, boastful, boasting, bragging, careerist, conceited, crowing, egocentric, egocentristic, egoistic, egotistic, grasping, greedy, individualistic, narcissan, narcissine, narcissistic, narcistic, overweening, personalistic, possessive, privatistic, proud, remote, self-absorbed, self-admiring, self-advancing, self-besot, self-centered, self-considerative, self-contained, self-devoted, self-esteeming, self-indulgent, self-interested, self-jealous, self-occupied, self-pleasing, self-seeking, self-serving, self-sufficient, selfish, swelled-headed, vain, vainglorious, vaunting