Ethical Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Agent-focused ethic based on self-interest as opposed to altruism.

Quote From Thomas Hobbes

"No man gives but with intention of good to himself."

Normative Ethical Egoism

A theory saying an individual ought to pursue his or her own interest. A lot of people all maximising their own self interest is the best way to guarantee the interests of everyone are served.

Friedrich Nietzche quote

"What is strong wins. That is the universal law."

But Hobbes did not support simply

living in this 'state of nature' as life will be 'nasty, brutish and short'.

Hobbes said that rational self-interest

requires some code of rules and a state to enforce them. He argues for an absolute ruler - an enlightened despot like Napoleon Buonaparte.

Psychological Egoism

The view that i always promote my own self-interest because it is a common feature of human psychology.

Why does Psychological Egoism make Altruism psychologically impossible?

Because even the act of doing things for others is self-satisfying. Helping people makes us feel better about ourselves.

Example given by Louis Pojman concluding that we can act in the interest of others

The surgeon who saves a drowning stranger off a Cornish beach in 2013, but tragically drowns himself.

In what publishing does David Hume offer criticisms of the Psychological Egoism hypothesis?

The Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (Appendix II - Of Self Love)

Hume refers the the argument of Pyschological Egoism as

"The Selfish Hypothesis"

Hume's first criticism of Psychological Egoism

Self-interest opposes moral feelings which cause us to be altruistic and show concern for others - sentiments such as love, friendship, compassion and gratitude.

Hume's second criticism of Psychological Egoism

It attempts to reduce human motivation to a single cause, which is a 'fruitless' task.

Hume's quote regarding the Second criticism of Psychological Egoism

"Love of simplicity... has been the source of much false reasoning in philosophy"

Hume's third criticism of Psychological Egoism

Animals act benevolently towards one another, and if we accept animals can act altruistically - how can we deny it as a feature of human behaviour also?

Hume's fourth criticism of Psychological Egoism

The concepts we use to describe benevolent behaviour cannot be meaningless; we may not have a personal interest in the fortune of another, yet we wish them well.

Hume's fifth criticism of Psychological Egoism

Hume asserts that we have prior motivations to self-interest; we may have, for example, a predisposition towards vanity, fame or vengeance that transcends any benefit to myself.

Max Stirner

19th Century German philosopher who published "The Ego and Its Own"

Quote from Max Stirner

"God and mankind have concerned themselves for nothing, for nothing but themselves. Let me then likewise concern myself for myself"

The first stage of Stirner's Egoism

The Realistic Stage [of childhood] - in which our behaviour is controlled by our parents.

The second stage of Stirner's Egoism

The Idealistic Stage [of youth] - contains a new internal source of constraint, as individuals once more become enslaved, this time to the forces of conscience and reason.

The third stage of Stirner's Egoism

The Egoistic Stage [of adulthood] - Only with egoism do individuals escape both material and spiritual constraints, learning to value their personal satisfaction above all else.

Stirner's 'Ownness'

A state of autonomy which he claims to be the only moral good.

Material constraints Stirner speaks of

External constraints such as our parents or the church.

Spiritual constraints Stirner speaks of

Internal constraints such as conscience and guilt.

Analogy made about the relationship between the individual and society

The relationship between a mother and child. As the individual ( the child) develops a mature preference for freedom and autonomy, so we must throw off the claims of society (the mother) which seeks to maintain us in a position of subordination.

Why does Stirner say the self cannot be 'good' or 'bad'?

Because these are universal concepts. The self cannot be categorised under any universal

My concern is only what pertains to me, I do not care about any universals such as

truth, justice and freedom - except insofar as they pertain to me.

Radical anti-universalism

The concept at the heart of Stirner's thought. If we lose sight of it, we run the risk of reducing him to just another egoist, such as have existed throughout history.

Which type of egoism is a form of meta-ethics?

Psychological Egoism - as it does not prescribe actions but merely analyse the nature of ethical thought.

Which type of egoism is a normative ethical theory?

Ethical Egoism - This prescribes a course of action towards an ethical goal.

Which philosopher argued that duty is often done out of self-interest rather than simply for the sake of duty?

H.A. Pritchard

Why is Stirner's Egoism not said to be anti-social?

He advocates a union of egoists, a special community that was unprincipled other than having the common principle that the uniqueness of the individual is realised. Individuals unite, but remain independent and self-determining.

What are the three challenges to Ethical Egoism?

Destruction of a Community Ethos, Danger of Bigotry and Danger of Social Injustice

Destruction of a Community Ethos

The state and laws are there to benefit the majority and stop one individual exploiting another. As egoism grows, the state would collapse. It's up to each individual to agree to the state's demands - this could lead to anarchy.

Danger of Bigotry

Many feel that egoism could lead to intolerance and narrow-mindedness. By pursuing one's own interests, the belief may be held that one's own interests are more important than others.

Stirner's quote which supports the bigotry challenge

"Now am i, who am competent for much, perchance to have no advantage over the less competent?"

Danger of Social Injustice

If some people are held to be better than others, this could easily lead to racist or sexist views and mistreatment of oppressed groups in society could become much worse.