Do you belive that individual self-interest is the actual motive of all conscious action?
Yes. When we consciously act we are self- seeking/serving to the extent that we want a specific result for ourselves. Whether we act purely in a selfish manner for what we really want or act in a sacrificial manner for the appearance of charity or even the appearance of indifference, the choice of conscious action is driven by our own true character and how we feel about ourselves presently and how we believe we will feel after acting. Our self- seeking/serving lets us know that we will be pleased by the result based on our intention to either feel satisfaction simply for doing the right thing or for what we ourselves might personally gain by the action. If we feel guilty and deserving of punishment at the core of our character, we may even consciously act in such a way as to bring condemnation on ourselves in order to feel the satisfaction of “getting what we deserve.” It is still in our own self-interest.
