Ethical Theory and Practice PHI 423 Ethical Theory and Practice

Egoism Psychological egoism – people always act to satisfy their own best interest. Plato, The Ring of Gyges

Egoism Ethical egoism – people ought to act to satisfy their own best interest. Vs. Altruism – acting for the benefit of others.

Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982)

Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982)

Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982) Virtue of Selfishness

[Concerning altruism] Any action taken for the benefit of others is good, and any action taken for one’s own benefit is evil. Thus the beneficiary of action is the only criterion of moral value—and so long as the beneficiary is anybody other than oneself, anything goes. Ayn Rand

If a man accepts the ethics of altruism, his first concern is not how to live his life, but how to sacrifice it….Altruism erodes men’s capacity to grasp the value of an individual life; it reveals a mind from which the reality of a human being has been wiped out….Altruism holds death as its ultimate goal and standard value—and it is logical that renunciation, resignation, self-denial and every other form of suffering, including self-destruction, are the virtues of its advocates. Ayn Rand

Positive? Egoism highlights the importance of caring for oneself. Egoism highlights the importance of personal responsibility. Egoism highlights the role of motives behind one’s actions.

Problems? Egoism is overly optimistic about human nature. Egoism is self-defeating. From a Christian standpoint, egoism is idolatry, for it makes self the center of the universe.