Ethical Egoism Egoism n Two Kinds n Psychological

Ethical Egoism

Egoism n Two Kinds n Psychological We always do act in our own interest

Egoism n Two Kinds n Psychological We always do act in our own interest n Ethical We always ought to act in our own interest

Psychological Egoism n Hobbes No man giveth but with intention of good to himself; because gift is voluntary; and of all voluntary acts the object to every man is his own pleasure

Psychological Egoism n Problems n The Existence of Altruism It’s obvious that altruistic actions/motivations occur

Psychological Egoism n Problems n The Existence of Altruism n Mother Theresa

Psychological Egoism n Problems n The Existence of Altruism n Mother n Theresa Is she just doing it to get to Heaven?

Psychological Egoism n Problems n The Existence of Altruism n The good soldier

Psychological Egoism n Problems n The Existence of Altruism n The n good soldier Because it’s bad to feel guilty?

Psychological Egoism n Problems n Supposing Hidden Motives There must be effective selfish motivations that we aren’t aware of

Psychological Egoism n Problems n Supposing Hidden Motives There must be effective selfish motivations that we aren’t aware of n Makes this an unfalsifiable hypothesis, and therefore vacuous

Ethical Egoism n Personal Ethical Egoism n I ought to act in my own interest.

Ethical Egoism n Personal Ethical Egoism n n I ought to act in my own interest. Individual Ethical Egoism n Everyone ought to act in my own interest.

Ethical Egoism n Personal Ethical Egoism n n Individual Ethical Egoism n n I ought to act in my own interest. Everyone ought to act in my own interest. Universal Ethical Egoism n Everyone ought to act in their own interest.

Ethical Egoism n Personal Ethical Egoism n n Individual Ethical Egoism n n I ought to act in my own interest. Everyone ought to act in my own interest. Universal Ethical Egoism n Everyone ought to act in their own interest.

Ethical Egoism n Arguments for it

Ethical Egoism n Arguments for it n It’s the default guide to behaviour – altruists should be made to defend their position

Ethical Egoism n Arguments for it n n It’s the default guide to behaviour – altruists should be made to defend their position Putting others’ interests first is degrading to one’s own dignity. Altruism is a Slave Morality (Nietzsche. )

Ethical Egoism n Arguments for it n n n It’s the default guide to behaviour – altruists should be made to defend their position Putting others’ interests first is degrading to one’s own dignity. Altruism is a Slave Morality (Nietzsche) Things turn out better if people are made responsible for what they know best – themselves; not what they know least – others

Ethical Egoism n Arguments against it

Ethical Egoism n Arguments against it n It gives prescriptions that we intuitively disagree with

Ethical Egoism n Arguments against it n n It gives prescriptions that we intuitively disagree with It fails to satisfy the necessary criteria to be a moral theory at all n It’s not universalizable – it leads inevitably to unresolvable conflicts