Psychological Egoism
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
1
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we
care about it?
Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid
Arguments against psychological egoism
Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
2
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why
should we care about it?
Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid
Arguments against psychological egoism
Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
3
Introduction
Psychological Egoism: Definition
Psychological Egoism:
Psychological Egoism is the view that the only thing that anyone
does in fact pursue is his or her own self-interest.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
4
Introduction
Why should we care about Psy. Ego.?
Psychological Egoism is not a view on morality but a theory of
psychology.
Psychological Egoism
Ethical Egoism
Psychology
Ethics
Theory about what human Theory about what human
behavior ACTUALLY IS
behavior
OUGHT TO BE
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
5
Introduction
Why should we care about Psy. Ego.?
Psychological Egoism threatens the relevance of ANY theory of
morality:
If it is indeed the case that humans in fact always pursue their
sole own interests, then there is no point in discussing what
the right thing to do is!
 If Psychological Egoism is true, then ethics is pointless
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
6
Introduction
Why should we care about Psy. Ego.?
Psychological Egoism seems to be supported by some common
human behavior:
1. Good behavior only under the threat of sanction
Glaucon and the ring of Gyges
2. Self-deceptive behavior is common
Volunteering with the pretty girl
 There is no doubt that egoistic behavior exists; the
question is whether it is all there is to human
behavior…
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
7
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we
care about it?
Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid
Arguments against psychological egoism
Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
8
Arguments in favor of Psychological
Egoism
Argument 1: “people always do what they want to do”
P1 Every voluntary action is prompted by a motive of the
agent’s own
CC Every voluntary action is selfish
 Is this a valid argument?
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
9
Arguments in favor of Psychological
Egoism
Argument 1 is not valid:
Confusion between:
- Motive coming from an agent
- Motive advantageous to the agent
Missing assumption:
Any motive coming from an agent is advantageous to the agent
 Argument 1 ends up being simply circular
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
10
Arguments in favor of Psychological
Egoism
Argument 2: “people always take pleasure when they get what
they want”
P1 When people get what they wants, they feel pleasure
CC The only thing that people pursue is their own pleasure
 Is this a valid argument?
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
11
Arguments in favor of Psychological
Egoism
Argument 2 is not valid:
Confusion between
By-product of an action
Motive of the action
Example: you, your little girl and the ER
Missing assumption:
If an action always has for consequence X, then X is the sole
object of the action.
 Obviously false!
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
12
Conclusion
Two arguments supposed to support Psychological
Egoism:
- “people always do what they want to do”
- “people always take pleasure when they get what they
want”
 Both assertions are true – almost trivial
 But none entails Psychological Egoism!
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
13
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we
care about it?
Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid
Arguments against psychological egoism
Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
14
Arguments against Psychological Egoism
Counter-Evidence
Humans are capable of:
- Genuine benevolence – altruism
Ex: helping grandma
- Genuine malevolence
Ex: murdering Dr. George Tiller
 There is strong evidence that Psychological Egoism is
false
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
15
Arguments against Psychological Egoism
The problem of universal deception
The theory of universal deception is untestable, and as such,
unacceptable as a scientific theory:
Theory
Psychological
Egoism
Mental Hospital
Theory
Moussaka Theory
CounterEvidence
Saint / Murderer
John and his healthy
lifestyle
Microscopic
observation of matter
Answer A
Concealing
motives
Concealing mental
illness
Concealed
moussaka
Answer B
Theory Revision!
Theory revision!
Theory revision!
 Psychological Egoism is untestable
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
16
Arguments against Psychological Egoism
The Paradox of Hedonism
Feinberg: “The way to achieve happiness is to pursue something
else”
- We almost never pursue pleasure for itself
Ex: eating / being hungry / pleasure
- It is necessary to desire something in order to get satisfaction
Ex: Jones
 Psychological Egoism misses an essential aspect of
the pursuit of happiness
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
17
Conclusion
Three arguments against Psychological Egoism:
1. Existence of counter-evidence
2. Untestable Theory
3. The “paradox of hedonism”
 Psychological Egoism is untenable
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
18
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we
care about it?
Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid
Arguments against psychological egoism
Conclusion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
19
Conclusion
Psychological Egoism: the view that the only thing that
anyone does in fact pursue is his or her own selfinterest
Why should we care about it? If Psychological Egoism is
true, then ethics is pointless
Two arguments in favor of Psychological Egoism: both are
invalid
Three arguments against Psychological Egoism:
Psychological Egoism is untenable
 There is no question that egoistic behavior exists, but it
is not the whole story
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of
Montana
20