Yeah, that’s the point. To get the answer “egoism”, one defines egoism as enlightened self-interest, and altruism as self-destructive behavior. To get the answer “altruism”, one defines altruism as enlightened pro-social behavior, and egoism as short-sighted greed. Perhaps less extremely than this, but usually from the way these words are defined you understand which one of them is the applause light for the person asking the question.
(I typically meet people for whom “altruism” is the preferred applause light, but of course there are groups which prefer “egoism”.)
Yeah, that’s the point. To get the answer “egoism”, one defines egoism as enlightened self-interest, and altruism as self-destructive behavior. To get the answer “altruism”, one defines altruism as enlightened pro-social behavior, and egoism as short-sighted greed. Perhaps less extremely than this, but usually from the way these words are defined you understand which one of them is the applause light for the person asking the question.
(I typically meet people for whom “altruism” is the preferred applause light, but of course there are groups which prefer “egoism”.)