Egoiste

Egoiste is the French term for a person who acts primarily in their own interests, or for the quality of being self-centered. In standard French, the adjective is égoïste and the noun form égoïsme denotes the concept of selfishness. The word carries a pejorative nuance when describing people or actions, though in some contexts it can be used more descriptively.

Etymology and usage notes: égoïste derives from the Latin ego, “I,” through the French suffix -iste. A related noun, égoïsme, names the behavior or attitude of pursuing one’s self-interest. A closely related but distinct term is égotisme, which refers more to egotism or self-importance rather than concrete selfish actions. In everyday writing, a non-accented variant such as egoiste may appear in informal contexts or in environments where typography limits accents, but égoïste is considered the standard spelling in modern French.

In philosophy and social thought, egoism appears as a theoretical position, with subtypes such as égoïsme éthique (ethical egoism) and égoïsme psychologique (psychological egoism). Ethical egoism argues that individuals ought to act in their own best interests, while psychological egoism claims that people naturally do so. These views are widely debated and contrasted with theories emphasizing altruism, utilitarianism, or Kantian ethics. A well-known literary treatment is Max Stirner’s egoism, which presents a radical form of self-assertion.

See also: egoism, selfishness, egotism, egocentrism, narcissism.