Egoism and Hobbes' State of Nature

Vocabulary flashcards based on Dr. Dale Murray's lecture outline on Psychological Egoism, Ethical Egoism, Hobbesian motion, appetites, aversions, and the State of Nature.

Psychological (Descriptive) Egoism

The view that human acts are motivated by self-interest.

Ethical (Normative) Egoism

The normative form of egoism asserting that humans OUGHT to act in self-interest, rather than merely describing how humans currently act.

Vital Motion

One of Hobbes' two types of motion, which includes automatic biological functions such as respiration.

Voluntary Motion

One of Hobbes' two types of motion, which includes actions like speaking and self-ambulation, always motivated by the self-interest of the performing individual.

Appetites

In Hobbes' theory of voluntary motion, motions towards things.

Aversions

In Hobbes' theory of voluntary motion, motions away from things.

State of Nature

The actual or hypothetical condition or place defined by the complete absence of any centralized political power to control individuals.