An Essay on the Principles of Human Action was written by

The correct option is William Hazlitt.

An Essay on the Principles of Human Action is a seminal philosophical work written by the English writer, literary critic, and philosopher William Hazlitt. Published in 1805, this essay was Hazlitt's first major publication and laid the foundation for his later works on psychology and ethics.

In this essay, Hazlitt argues against the self-interest theory of action (which suggests that all human action is ultimately motivated by self-love), proposing instead that the human mind is naturally disinterested and capable of being motivated by the future welfare of others just as easily as by its own future welfare.