EGOISM AND CRITIQUE 8.5 Forensic Philosophy December 16, 2013

Objectives: SWBAT  Identify egoism  Identify egoistic theories and philosophers  Analyze applied egoism and criticism

Cultural Relativism: Critique  After reading the Ethics of Jim Crowe, what is the flaw of cultural relativism?

Cultural Relativism: Critique  It advocates the morality of conformity  The Social reformer Dilemma  Consider Jim Crowe, the culture was an accepted culture by virtually the entire American south, at least a majority  Black Americans were a minority in society, so even if they did not accept the morals of the society they are still wrong.

Subjective Relativism  Morality varies from person to person  To each his own  Different People have different values, goals, and ideas  If different people have different values, etc. then there is no objective basis for morality  If there is no objective basis for morality, then subjective relativism is true  Therefore, subjective relativism is true

Multiculturalism and Tolerance  Consider a utilitarian approach  Respect will make people happy  Intolerance will make lots of people unhappy  Therefore, respect is better than intolerance

Egoism  The right thing for person P to do is whatever brings about the best consequences for P  What is meant by “best consequences”?  Think in terms of “happiness” and “unhappiness”  And act that increases my happiness is the better choice

Psychological Egoism  The theory that IN FACT people ALWAYS act in their own best interest, no one ever acts unselfishly  This is a science about how people DO behave  This is different from Ethical Egoism (EEg) We ask how people should behave

EGOISM AND CRITIQUE 8.5 Forensic Philosophy April 22, 2014

Objectives: SWBAT  Analyze criticisms of egoism  Identify key fallacies in logical theory

When you get into an argument….  Philosophical or otherwise, it is all about making your position as unassailable as possible  Here are ways to structure your arguments and fallacies to avoid when making those arguments.

Employing the Principle of Charity  When dealing with your opponent’s argument, don’t get caught up in the exact wording.  The Principle of Charity  Assume your opponent’s argument is taking place in its ideal world  Assume that it is logical, even if they do not put it in a logical form

Fallacies for you to avoid  The Strawman Fallacy  Oversimplifying or distorting the position, argument, or belief someone has in a way that makes it easier to argue against  All proponents of abortion are in favor of cold blooded murder  If the right to bear arms is absolute, then I am going to buy a tank!  Begging the Question  An argument that makes use of a premise that no one who didn’t already accept the conclusion would believe. Circular logic God exists, because it says so it the Bible

Fallacies to avoid  Appealing to ignorance  Concluding something is true simply because it hasn’t been proven false, or vice-versa This is invalid reasoning, something can be true even if no one has yet to actually prove it to be true. You can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, therefore he does!  Ad Hominem Fallacy  Rejecting a position or argument not on its virtue, logic, or merits but because of the person that is giving it A position can be true, and an argument sound no matter how deplorable you may think the person is

Egoism: forumlation  An act-token X performed by P at T is morally right if and only if there is no other act that P could perform at T that would produce a greater balance of happiness vs. unhappiness for P over the remainder of P’s life  In case of a tie: the decision then does not matter, P gets the same out of it.

The philosophers  Thomas Hobbes  The source of morality is the need for humans to live together in a civilized society  Without law and morality we are in a “state of nature” In competition for food shelter, resources  Everyone is better off when we agree to abide by certain principles of respect and cooperation  This is the reason to act morally

 Adam Smith  Everyone acts in their own “enlightened self-interest”  Everyone acting that way creates the “invisible hand” of the market that creates the best results for everyone  I am in a better position than others to know:  What will make me happy  Take actions that will make me happy  The best way to increase my total sum happiness The philosophers

Criticizing Egoism  Looking at the friend vs Foe Dilemma  As an egoist, what should you always pick?  Why?  Is this choice get the best possible outcome for the community? This is a criticism of the Egoist theory as it comes from Hobbes and Smith

Arguments for Ethical Egoism (Eeg)  The community as a whole is best off when each person works to bring about his or her own exclusive self- interest  If the community as a whole is better off because of this, then EEg is true  Therefore EEg is true  P2 assumes that whatever brings about the best outcome for the community as a whole is morally right  This leads into another theory – Utilitarianism

Egoism Critique  This game is just one of many similar examples  The prisoner’s dilemma  The Tragedy of the Commons  The Voter Paradox  The community is not always better off when everyone acts in their own self interest  The community may all get something, but it is not the optimal world

Arguments against Egoism  Egoism involves a unique form of discrimination  It is agreed that everyone is at the same moral status regardless of:  Class  Gender  Race  Age  Etc  It is ARBITRARY and UNFAIR to treat yourself as a higher moral being than the others!