EgoismEgoism

Plato: “The Myth of Gyges” from Plato: “The Myth of Gyges” from The The RepublicRepublic

Glaucon – the case against being Glaucon – the case against being just.just.

Morality is a necessary evil. If we had the Morality is a necessary evil. If we had the power to do whatever we liked without power to do whatever we liked without fear of punishment, we would not act fear of punishment, we would not act morally.morally.

The just man is not essentially different The just man is not essentially different than the unjust man. Both the just and than the unjust man. Both the just and the unjust man would act the same given the unjust man would act the same given the chance.the chance.

Glaucon Argument(continued)Glaucon Argument(continued)

Being just is not as important as appearing Being just is not as important as appearing just.just.

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

Challenge presented to Socrates in the Challenge presented to Socrates in the dialogue – isn’t it better to be an unjust dialogue – isn’t it better to be an unjust man rather than a just one.man rather than a just one.

Psychological EgoismPsychological Egoism

Psychological egoism is as much a theory Psychological egoism is as much a theory about who we are as human beings as it is about who we are as human beings as it is a theory of how we ought to act. It is an a theory of how we ought to act. It is an attempt to give one simple explanation of attempt to give one simple explanation of human motivation and behavior.human motivation and behavior.

Psychological Egoism: the theory that Psychological Egoism: the theory that every human action is motivated by self-every human action is motivated by self-interest.interest.

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

To state that individuals are driven by self-To 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 apparently Basic Test: take any virtue or apparently selfless act, and see if it is possible to selfless act, and see if it is possible to reinterpret in terms of self-interest. reinterpret in terms of self-interest.

Problem: that fact that such a Problem: that fact that such a reinterpretation is possible does not make reinterpretation is possible does not make it true.it true.

The Case for Psychological The Case for Psychological EgoismEgoism

Argument 1: We always do what we most Argument 1: We always do what we most want to do. want to do.

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

Argument 2: We do only that which makes Argument 2: We do only that which makes us feel good. All so-called un-selfish acts us feel good. All so-called un-selfish acts produce a feeling of self-satisfaction, and produce a feeling of self-satisfaction, and this is the actual reason why we engage in this is the actual reason why we engage in the unselfish act.the unselfish act.

Response 1: Deriving satisfaction ≠ acting Response 1: Deriving satisfaction ≠ acting selfishly. selfishly.

Response 2: Why would someone derive Response 2: Why would someone derive satisfaction from helping others? satisfaction from helping others?

Answer: You are the kind of person who Answer: You are the kind of person who cares about what happens to others. If you cares 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 the you would not derive satisfaction from the action – but it is already assumed that you action – but it is already assumed that you are deriving satisfaction from the action.are deriving satisfaction from the action.

General confusions by advocate General confusions by advocate of psychological egoism.of psychological egoism.

As has been mentioned self-interest ≠ As has been mentioned self-interest ≠ selfishselfish

Self-interested behavior ≠ pleasurable Self-interested behavior ≠ pleasurable behaviorbehavior

Concern for ones well-being is Concern for ones well-being is incompatible with a concern for others.incompatible with a concern for others.

Attraction of Psychological Attraction of Psychological EgoismEgoism

Theoretical simplicity (note: common in Theoretical 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 being It lacks the general principle of being falsifiable (un-testable). Once it is falsifiable (un-testable). Once it is accepted that everyone acts from self-accepted that everyone acts from self-interest, every action can be interpreted as interest, every action can be interpreted as self-interested. self-interested.

Ethical EgoismEthical Egoism

Underlying assumption of most morality: we Underlying assumption of most morality: we have “natural” duties to help others simply have “natural” duties to help others simply because they are people who could be helped or because 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 natural Ethical egoism holds that we have no natural duties to others.duties to others.

Ethical egoism: the normative ethical theory that Ethical egoism: the normative ethical theory that holds that each person ought to pursue his or holds that each person ought to pursue his or her own self-interest. Our only duty is our duty to her own self-interest. Our only duty is our duty to ourselves.ourselves.

What ethical egoism does not claimWhat ethical egoism does not claim

Does not require that we consider our Does 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 helping Does not say that we should avoid helping others.others.

Does not imply that pursuing our interests Does not imply that pursuing our interests is always what we want to do.is always what we want to do.

Egoism vs. AltruismEgoism vs. Altruism

Altruism is self-defeatingAltruism is self-defeatingWe know our own needs well, but we only We 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 of Looking out for others is an intrusion of

people’s privacy.people’s privacy. ““Charity” is degrading to others.Charity” is degrading to others.

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

Argument against altruism:Argument against altruism:1)We ought to do what promotes everyone’s 1)We ought to do what promotes everyone’s

interestsinterests

2) Best way to promote everyone’s interests is to act 2) Best way to promote everyone’s interests is to act as an egoistas an egoist

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

Ayn Rand’s Argument (3)Ayn Rand’s Argument (3) To value the individual, we cannot expect them to To value the individual, we cannot expect them to

sacrifice it for others.sacrifice it for others.

1) A person’s life is of supreme importance1) A person’s life is of supreme importance

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

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

4) Ethical egoism allows each person to value his or her own life as 4) Ethical egoism allows each person to value his or her own life as being 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.

Response to Rand’s ArgumentResponse to Rand’s Argument

False dichotomy – individual life has all False dichotomy – individual life has all value (egoism) or individual life has no value (egoism) or individual life has no value (altruism).value (altruism).

We do not have to hold exclusively to one We do not have to hold exclusively to one extreme or the other-can hold a position extreme or the other-can hold a position in-between.in-between.

Positive Argument for EgoismPositive Argument for Egoism

Ethical Egoism is compatible with common-Ethical Egoism is compatible with common-sense morality: ethical egoism is a way of sense morality: ethical egoism is a way of organizing a number of moral principles organizing a number of moral principles (simplifying principle akin to a scientific theory (simplifying principle akin to a scientific theory e=mce=mc2 2 . .

Response: 1) At best E.E. proves that it is Response: 1) At best E.E. proves that it is usually or mostly to one’s advantage to follow usually or mostly to one’s advantage to follow certain moral principles, 2) Does not really certain moral principles, 2) Does not really prove that the only or most basic reason for prove that the only or most basic reason for doing something is egoismdoing something is egoism

External Criticism of Ethical External Criticism of Ethical EgoismEgoism

Egoism justifies what we take to be wicked Egoism 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 our -Egoist is not concerned with justifying our current moral intuitions.current moral intuitions.

Internal Criticism of the TheoryInternal Criticism of the Theory

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

ethics must resolve conflicts such that all can live ethics 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.