Ethical Egoism
Ethical Egoism—the theory of right and wrong that says that everyone ought
always to maximize his/her long-term personal good
“personal good”: What is it?—several views:
 hedonism—Only pleasure is (intrinsically) good.
 Eudaemonism—Only happiness is (intrinsically) good.
 pluralism—A variety of things (pleasure, knowledge, beauty, etc.) are
(intrinsically) good.
An Argument for Ethical Egoism
1. The sole motive governing all voluntary human conduct is self-love.
(psychological egoism)
2. If the sole motive governing all voluntary human conduct is self-love, then
human beings are incapable of not acting in their own individual interests.
3. If human beings are incapable of not acting in their own individual interests,
then they ought always to act in their own interests.
4. If human beings ought always to act in their own interests, then ethical egoism
is true.
Therefore,
Ethical egoism is true.
Key question—Is psychological egoism true?
Psychological Egoism
Argument for Psychological Egoism
1. In order for a human being to act (voluntarily), he/she must be motivated by
one or more desires.
2. Pleasure comes about as a result of satisfying one’s desires.
3. Therefore, each person’s actions are always directed at achieving pleasure for
himself/herself.
4. If each person’s actions are always directed at achieving pleasure for
himself/herself, then the sole motive governing all voluntary human conduct
is self-love.
Therefore,
Psychological egoism is true.
Butler’s Objections to the Preceding Argument—
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Even if human beings never act contrary to their own good, it does not
follow from this that we are motivated by the desire to promote our own
good.
Even if human beings always receive pleasure when they satisfy their
desires (and this is debatable), it does not follow from this that they acted
out of a desire for personal pleasure.
Therefore, statement 3 is not adequately supported by statements 1 and 2.
Argument against Psychological Egoism
1. We sometimes knowingly act in a way other than to promote our own good on
balance. (e.g., acting from motives such as greed, envy, jealousy, love,
compassion)
2. Therefore, we sometimes knowingly act contrary to our own good, on
balance.
Therefore,
Psychological egoism is false.
More Arguments For and Against Ethical Egoism
Argument for Ethical Egoism
1. In any situation, the reasonable thing for a person to do is to act in his/her
long-term self-interest.
2. It cannot be unreasonable to do what is morally right.
3. Therefore, the morally right thing to do is always to act in his/her long-term
self-interests.
4. If the morally right thing to do is always to act in his/her long-term self
interest, then ethical egoism is true.
Therefore,
Ethical egoism is true.
Arguments against Ethical Egoism
Argument 1
1. If people tried to follow ethical egoism, they would often misinterpret the
principle and act selfishly or greedily.
2. If people often acted selfishly or greedily, then they would often not be acting
in their long-term personal interest.
3. When someone does not act in his/her long-term personal interest, he/she is
not following ethical egoism.
4. Therefore, to advocate that people follow ethical egoism would lead to people
violating ethical egoism.
Therefore,
Ethical egoism should not be advocated.
Argument 2
1. In order to follow ethical egoism, one must be able to predict the long-term
consequences of his/her actions.
2. It is often impossible to predict the long-term consequences of one’s actions.
3. Therefore, it is often impossible to follow ethical egoism.
4. If premise 3 is true, then ethical egoism is not a satisfactory theory of moral
obligation.
Therefore,
Ethical egoism is not a satisfactory theory of moral obligation.
Argument 3
1. In any situation in which two persons’ long-term interests are in conflict, it is
impossible for both of them to maximize their long-term personal good.
2. Whenever it is impossible for two people both to maximize their long-term
personal good, it is impossible for both to follow ethical egoism.
3. In some situations, two (or more) persons’ long-term interests are in conflict.
4. Therefore, in some situations, it is impossible for everyone to follow ethical
egoism.
5. If there are situations in which it is impossible for everyone to follow ethical
egoism, then ethical egoism is not a satisfactory theory of obligation.
Therefore,
Ethical egoism is not a satisfactory theory of obligation.