Ethical Egoism

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

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

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

Psychological Egoism Problems The Existence of Altruism Mother Theresa

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

Psychological Egoism Problems The Existence of Altruism The good soldier

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ethical Egoism Arguments for it

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

Ethical Egoism Arguments for it 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 Arguments for it 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 Arguments against it

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

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