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