What is a time when you or someone you know of experienced a conflict between duty to self and loyalty to the community? What would logical reasoning say should be done in that case? Why that? What would an Ethical Egoist say to do? Why would they say to do that? Note what you feel is the best course of action.

 

Answer:

-In everyone's lives there will be such a time that each person will experience a conflict of interest scenario. A time where interest conflicts are caused by competition over perceived or actual incompatible needs, either the person chooses personal gain over the duties to an organization or community. A conflict of interest can exist in many different situations, may it involve personal loyalty and loyalty to a private employer, government employer, or professional relationship, and others. Some common activities that can create a conflict of interest include: nepotism, self-dealing and excess compensation. 

One experience that arose as a conflict of interest for me,  involves nepotism. A situation wherein I was in between a situation to either help a cousin get a certain post in the company by passing her in the interview and assessment I will administer. The situation was brought in as  a favor for me to help her get in the company and since I am the charged interviewer for her application without the company knowing that we were relatives. Hence, the presented possibility of me getting into trouble for going against the company policy. Simply put, the conflict of interest, is between practicing nepotism without a cause for self-interest and loyalty to the company, as well as ensuring my stability in my job. 

In that particular scenario that most logical step is to not undergo with the favor and thereby breaking the course of nepotism, as you will ensue the loyalty and abide in the organization's policy. This action will not only reflect the trait of loyalty but also honesty and commitment to your moral beliefs and dutiful principles to your field of career. 

As Ethical Egoist is the normative ethical position that moral agents ought to act in their own self-interest, thus an ethical egoist will advise me to prioritize what will be more in favor for myself in a certain situation as it will be morally right for my well-being. In this particular perception, the same answer and step will be made as it will make me think of myself first above anyone else, in which in this scenario I will go for the most logical step as well as it will secure my job in the company. Whereas, if I went through with the course of action of nepotism, there is the possibility that it will endanger my position due to my violation of company policy. 

An ethical egoist will deem to push for self-interest above else, as it views that  holding the good is based on the pursuit of self-interest. Its perception roots from having no moral duty except to do what is best for oneself and one might be obligated to help others, but only as a means for a  long term self interest. As helping others is right only if and only when and because it is to one's own advantage. Additionally, not when we will jeopardize our standing and oneself. 

Simply put, as a result, the best course of action based on my opinion and as what I have decided during the situation, is basing it both logically and ethically egoist of pursuing my own self-interest. Thus not undergoing with the favor and abiding with the organization's policy as it will not possibly endanger my position and instead securing my standing which will be to my advantage. Sacrificing my extended family's favor and edge of placing a relative within the company, which I deemed as not much worth it compared to my own. 

Furthermore, the action behind my loyalty to the company can be cited as an ulterior motive to further advance myself. As what a Psychological Egoists might say, behind every action that appears to be altruistic there is really a selfish motive.