The Ethics of Self Interest
Chapter 2
Classical Ideals of Life
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ARISTOTLE:
Egoism is not egotism: man is a social animal.
Happiness as an end in itself, the final end.
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Eudaemonia – loosely translated as happy and healthy and
prosperous.
Teleology is the study of ends, purposes, and goals (telos
means "end" or "purpose").
Happiness as harmonious exercise of faculties
Virtues, vices, and the golden mean
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Four cardinal virtues: temperance, courage, wisdom, justice
Vices of excess and vices of deficiency
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Cowardliness and foolhardiness and Courage is the mean
Over-indulgence and
Being cheap and generosity is the mean
Classical Ideals of Life
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Epicureanism
• Epicurus was an egoistic hedonist: hedonism
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from the Greek hedone (pleasure) and
egoistic because one should achieve it for
oneself.
Epicurus believed that the good life was the
pleasant life. For him, this meant avoiding
pain and desires for things beyond one’s
basic needs.
Epicurus looked at long term goals; not short
term goals.
Epicureanism Continued
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Is it really that bad to occasionally
indulge in good food and drink?
Stoicism
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Do not seek to have everything that
happens as you wish, but wish for
everything to happen as it actually does
happen, and your life will be serene.
• ~ Epictetus
Serenity prayer
Don’t rely on external things.
See page 55
Psychological Egoism
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Psychological egoism is different from
ethical egoism.
Ethical Egoism is about we should do,
what is in our own self-interest.
Psychological Egoism is not about
what people should do but about what
they actually do.
Psychological Egoism Continued
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If people can’t help doing what is in their
best interest then there is no point in
saying what they ought to do.
Psychological egoism agrees that there
are unselfish acts but the motives
underlying the action never are.
What about “natural sympathy?” See
page 61.
Ethical Egoism
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Ethical egoism proper states that all people
should do what is in their own interest.
Formulations of ethical egoism:
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We should do what we believe with good reason will
benefit us the most,
We should do what is in our own interest.
We should do what gives us the most pleasure or
happiness.
We should do whatever we prefer the most.
Ethical egoism continued
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Virtue of Selfishness. –Ayn Rand
Objections to ethical egoism
• Everyone would be at war
• Inconsistent advice
• Inconsistency of belief
• Interpersonal disputes
Rule Egoism
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According to rule egoism, it may not be
in your interest as an individual to do
certain things, but it might be in your
overall interest for everyone to follow the
same rule.
Ethical Egoism Conclusion
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Hereditary diseases and the ethical
egoist. Would the ethical egoist support
research for a disease that they don’t
have?
Why should I treat myself better than I
treat other people?
• Should my needs be met by me?