Egoism, altruism, relativism

Egoism says self-interest is the proper motive or standard of action, altruism says the good of others is, and relativism says moral truth varies with the individual or the culture. These positions pull in opposite directions, and much of Western ethics is the attempt to mediate them. For example, a person who donates blood anonymously challenges psychological egoism, while a culture that permits a practice another forbids raises the question of cultural relativism.