On Iranian Egocentrism

Hassan Ghazi Moradi studied mechanical engineering and is a researcher in the field of sociology and a translator. In this book, he examines the characteristics of Iranian society and compares them with Western societies. Hassan Ghazi Moradi considers self-centeredness, which has economic, cultural, political, and historical roots, to be different from Western individualism. He identifies self-centeredness as one of the distinguishing features of Iranian society and attributes one of its main reasons to autocratic governance. In the definition of self-centeredness provided in the book, he equates it with egocentrism, which is described as “the tendency of individuals to live within the realm of addressing immediate and personal needs and interests.” According to the author, an individualist in Western societies prioritizes their personal goals over social goals and tries to achieve them within the social framework. However, a self-centered individual employs any method possible to realize their personal goals, regardless of whether this method adheres to societal norms and laws. Hassan Ghazi Moradi has not merely identified and analyzed this phenomenon and its roots but has also proposed solutions to address this issue, as he believes self-centeredness is one of the main obstacles to modernization in Iran and to the establishment of Iranians’ right to determine their own fate. This book was published in 2008 by Akhtaran Publishing House.