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EgoismEgoism

Plato: The Myth of Gyges fromPlato: The Myth of Gyges from TheThe

RepublicRepublic

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GlauconGlaucon the case against beingthe case against being

just.just. Morality is a necessary evil. If we had theMorality is a necessary evil. If we had the

power to do whatever we liked withoutpower to do whatever we liked without

fear of punishment, we would not actfear of punishment, we would not actmorally.morally.

The just man is not essentially differentThe just man is not essentially different

than the unjust man. Both the just andthan the unjust man. Both the just and

the unjust man would act the same giventhe unjust man would act the same given

the chance.the chance.

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Glaucon Argument(continued)Glaucon Argument(continued)

Being just is not as important as appearingBeing just is not as important as appearing

just.just.

Attaining justice is fraught with difficulty. ItAttaining justice is fraught with difficulty. Itis easy and rewarding to be unjust.is easy and rewarding to be unjust.

Challenge presented to Socrates in theChallenge presented to Socrates in the

dialoguedialogue isnt it better to be an unjustisnt it better to be an unjust

man rather than a just one.man rather than a just one.

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Psychological EgoismPsychological Egoism

Psychological egoism is as much a theoryPsychological egoism is as much a theory

about who we are as human beings as it isabout who we are as human beings as it is

a theory of how we ought to act. It is ana theory of how we ought to act. It is anattempt to give one simple explanation ofattempt to give one simple explanation of

human motivation and behavior.human motivation and behavior.

Psychological Egoism: the theory thatPsychological Egoism: the theory that

every human action is motivated by selfevery human action is motivated by self--

interest.interest.

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Psych. Egoism (continued)Psych. Egoism (continued)

To state that individuals are driven by selfTo state that individuals are driven by self--

interest is not to prove it to be the case.interest is not to prove it to be the case.

Basic Test: take any virtue or apparentlyBasic Test: take any virtue or apparentlyselfless act, and see if it is possible toselfless act, and see if it is possible to

reinterpret in terms of selfreinterpret in terms of self--interest.interest.

Problem: that fact that such aProblem: that fact that such a

reinterpretation is possible does not makereinterpretation is possible does not make

it true.it true.

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The Case for PsychologicalThe Case for Psychological

EgoismEgoism Argument 1: We always do what we mostArgument 1: We always do what we most

want to do.want to do.

Response 1: It is clearly false that we onlyResponse 1: It is clearly false that we onlydo things that we want to do.do things that we want to do.

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Argument 2: We do only that which makesArgument 2: We do only that which makes

us feel good. All sous feel good. All so--called uncalled un--selfish actsselfish acts

produce a feeling of selfproduce a feeling of self--satisfaction, andsatisfaction, andthis is the actual reason why we engage inthis is the actual reason why we engage in

the unselfish act.the unselfish act.

Response 1: Deriving satisfaction actingResponse 1: Deriving satisfaction actingselfishly.selfishly.

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Response 2: Why would someone deriveResponse 2: Why would someone derive

satisfaction from helping others?satisfaction from helping others?

Answer: You are the kind of person whoAnswer: You are the kind of person who

cares about what happens to others. If youcares about what happens to others. If you

were doing action for personal prestige,were doing action for personal prestige,you would not derive satisfaction from theyou would not derive satisfaction from the

actionaction but it is already assumed that youbut it is already assumed that you

are deriving satisfaction from the action.are deriving satisfaction from the action.

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Attraction of PsychologicalAttraction of Psychological

EgoismEgoism Theoretical simplicity (note: common inTheoretical simplicity (note: common in

economic theory)economic theory)

Psychological egoism is irrefutable.Psychological egoism is irrefutable.

Problem: Its strength is also its weakness.Problem: Its strength is also its weakness.It lacks the general principle of beingIt lacks the general principle of beingfalsifiable (unfalsifiable (un--testable). Once it istestable). Once it is

accepted that everyone acts from selfaccepted that everyone acts from self--interest, every action can be interpreted asinterest, every action can be interpreted asselfself--interested.interested.

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Ethical EgoismEthical Egoism

Underlying assumption of most morality: weUnderlying assumption of most morality: wehave natural duties to help others simplyhave natural duties to help others simplybecause they are people who could be helped orbecause they are people who could be helped or

harmed by what we do.harmed by what we do. Ethical egoism holds that we have no naturalEthical egoism holds that we have no natural

duties to others.duties to others.

Ethical egoism: the normative ethical theory thatEthical egoism: the normative ethical theory that

holds that each person ought to pursue his orholds that each person ought to pursue his orher own selfher own self--interest. Our only duty is our duty tointerest. Our only duty is our duty toourselves.ourselves.

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What ethical egoism does not claimWhat ethical egoism does not claim

Does not require that we consider ourDoes not require that we consider our

interests and the interests of others.interests and the interests of others.

Does not say that we should avoid helpingDoes not say that we should avoid helping

others.others.

Does not imply that pursuing our interestsDoes not imply that pursuing our interests

is always what we want to do.is always what we want to do.

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Egoism vs. AltruismEgoism vs. Altruism

Altruism is selfAltruism is self--defeatingdefeating

We know our own needs well, but we onlyWe know our own needs well, but we only

know the needs of others imperfectly.know the needs of others imperfectly.

Looking out for others is an intrusion ofLooking out for others is an intrusion of

peoples privacy.peoples privacy.

Charity is degrading to others.Charity is degrading to others.

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Egoism vs. Altruism (2)Egoism vs. Altruism (2)

Argument against altruism:Argument against altruism:

1)We ought to do what promotes everyones1)We ought to do what promotes everyones

interestsinterests

2) Best way to promote everyones interests is to act2) Best way to promote everyones interests is to actas an egoistas an egoist

3)Therefore, We should each pursue our interests3)Therefore, We should each pursue our interests

exclusivelyexclusively

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Ayn Rands Argument (3)Ayn Rands Argument (3)

To value the individual, we cannot expect them toTo value the individual, we cannot expect them tosacrifice it for others.sacrifice it for others.

1) A persons life is of supreme importance1) A persons life is of supreme importance

2) Altruism regards the life of the individual as something one must2) Altruism regards the life of the individual as something one mustbe ready to sacrifice for others.be ready to sacrifice for others.

3) Therefore, altruism does not take seriously the value of the3) Therefore, altruism does not take seriously the value of thehuman individual.human individual.

4) Ethical egoism allows each person to value his or her own life as4) Ethical egoism allows each person to value his or her own life asbeing of ultimate value.being of ultimate value.

5) Therefore, ethical egoism is the philosophy we ought to accept.5) Therefore, ethical egoism is the philosophy we ought to accept.

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Positive Argument for EgoismPositive Argument for Egoism

Ethical Egoism is compatible withEthical Egoism is compatible with

commoncommon--sense morality: ethical egoism issense morality: ethical egoism is

a way of organizing a number of morala way of organizing a number of moral

principles (simplifying principle akin to aprinciples (simplifying principle akin to a

scientific theory e=mcscientific theory e=mc22 ..

Response: 1) At best E.E. proves that it isResponse: 1) At best E.E. proves that it is

usually or mostly to ones advantage tousually or mostly to ones advantage tofollow certain moral principles, 2) Does notfollow certain moral principles, 2) Does not

really prove that the only or most basicreally prove that the only or most basic

reason for doing something is egoismreason for doing something is egoism

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External Criticism of EthicalExternal Criticism of Ethical

EgoismEgoism Egoism justifies what we take to be wickedEgoism justifies what we take to be wicked

acts.acts.

--Not an objection the egoist will find compelling.Not an objection the egoist will find compelling.--Egoist is not concerned with justifying ourEgoist is not concerned with justifying our

current moral intuitions.current moral intuitions.

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Internal Criticism of the TheoryInternal Criticism of the Theory

Cannot handle conflicts of interestCannot handle conflicts of interest--Egoist Response: Only troubling if we believe thatEgoist Response: Only troubling if we believe that

ethics must resolve conflicts such that all can liveethics must resolve conflicts such that all can live

together harmoniously.together harmoniously.

Ethical egoism is unacceptably arbitrary.Ethical egoism is unacceptably arbitrary.

Me vs. everyone else.Me vs. everyone else.