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

EgoismEgoism

EgoismEgoism

Two KindsTwo Kinds PsychologicalPsychological

We always We always dodo act in our own interest act in our own interest

EgoismEgoism

Two KindsTwo Kinds PsychologicalPsychological

We always We always dodo act in our own interest act in our own interest EthicalEthical

We always We always ought toought to act in our own act in our own interestinterest

Psychological EgoismPsychological Egoism

HobbesHobbes

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


ProblemsProblems The Existence of AltruismThe Existence of Altruism

It’s obvious that altruistic actions/motivations occurIt’s obvious that altruistic actions/motivations occur



Mother TheresaMother Theresa



Mother TheresaMother Theresa Is she just doing it to get toIs she just doing it to get to Heaven? Heaven?



The good soldierThe good soldier



The good soldierThe good soldier Because it’s bad to feel guilty?Because it’s bad to feel guilty?


ProblemsProblems Supposing Hidden MotivesSupposing Hidden Motives

There must be effective selfish motivations that we There must be effective selfish motivations that we aren’t aware of aren’t aware of


ProblemsProblems Supposing Hidden MotivesSupposing Hidden Motives

There must be effective selfish motivations that we There must be effective selfish motivations that we aren’t aware of aren’t aware of

Makes this an unfalsifiable hypothesis, and Makes this an unfalsifiable hypothesis, and therefore vacuoustherefore vacuous

Ethical EgoismEthical Egoism

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



Individual Ethical EgoismIndividual Ethical Egoism Everyone ought to act in my own Everyone ought to act in my own

interest.interest.



Individual Ethical EgoismIndividual Ethical Egoism Everyone ought to act in my own Everyone ought to act in my own

interest.interest. Universal Ethical EgoismUniversal Ethical Egoism

Everyone ought to act in their own Everyone ought to act in their own interest.interest.


Arguments for it Arguments for it


Arguments for it Arguments for it It’s the default guide to behaviour – altruists It’s the default guide to behaviour – altruists

should be made to defend should be made to defend their their positionposition



should be made to defend should be made to defend their their positionposition Putting others’ interests first is degrading to Putting others’ interests first is degrading to

one’s own dignity. Altruism is a Slave one’s own dignity. Altruism is a Slave Morality (Nietzsche.)Morality (Nietzsche.)



should be made to defend should be made to defend their their positionposition Putting others’ interests first is degrading to Putting others’ interests first is degrading to

one’s own dignity. Altruism is a Slave one’s own dignity. Altruism is a Slave Morality (Nietzsche)Morality (Nietzsche)

Things turn out better if people are made Things turn out better if people are made responsible for what they know best – responsible for what they know best – themselves; not what they know least – themselves; not what they know least – others others


Arguments against itArguments against it


Arguments against it Arguments against it It gives prescriptions that we intuitively It gives prescriptions that we intuitively

disagree withdisagree with


Arguments against it Arguments against it It gives prescriptions that we intuitively It gives prescriptions that we intuitively

disagree withdisagree with It fails to satisfy the necessary criteria to be It fails to satisfy the necessary criteria to be

a moral theory at alla moral theory at all It’s not universalizable – it leads inevitably to It’s not universalizable – it leads inevitably to

unresolvable conflictsunresolvable conflicts

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

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