Ethical egoism is the usual ethical position that moral people ought to do what is in their own self-interest. `Under the consistency of logic, the argument states that under similar circumstances there is no way a person would lie to another and yet complain once the same is done against them. The author further states it would not be alright if he drank my beer and yet he would not allow me to drink his. This basically means we should be altruists; being fair and mindful of what other people feel with regard to our own action and the impact it makes on them. This is to ensure that once the same action is done on us we will not be in a position to feel bad. Therefore when we call for the same action to be taken in by other people, all we …show more content…
This is by having to interpret an egoist’s position from a different view i.e. a sympathetic way. Here we say that the egoist has a world that he sees in his mind in which only his interests are maximized without regarding the other people’s welfare. So an egoist’s effort and main policy would be to act in a way that would ensure this kind of world that exists in his mind is implemented in one way or another. Once the person decided to adopt this idea as his ideal, then he wouldn’t advocate for universal egoism as this definitely calls for other people to be concerned about others welfare, something which they are against. As we may all view it as being irregular, quite contrary it would be perfectly appropriate for them considering that their goal of creating the world in which his own interests have been enhanced. To ensure this worked for him, he ends up being deceitful so as to achieve the goodwill of the others. Furthermore, he has to pretend that he was also willing to accept altruistic principles. But then again remember in the egoist’s world, this is acceptable as it is only a matter of adopting the necessary means towards the achievement of his
As a result, it is immoral even though we want to protect our own is a natural behavior. Only concern on our own interest is very selfish. Egoism may suggest a way for us to protect our own interest but it is not the best way for people to behave.
Most people agree with the quote “sometimes you have to do what’s best for you
The descriptive claim made by Psychological Egoists is that humans, by nature, are motivated only by self-interest. Any act, no matter how altruistic it may seem on the outside is actually only a disguise for a selfish desire such as recognition, avoiding guilt, reward or sense of personal ‘goodness’ or morality. For example, Mother Teresa is just using the poor for her own long-term spiritual gain. Being a universal claim, it could falter with a single counterexample. And being that I believe this claim to be bunk I will tell you why!
The view of an Ethical Egoist, henceforth to be referred as the egoist, is quite simple in a way. The way to determine WWTED (What would the egoist do?), can be easily done if one refers back to the principles of an egoist. The view of an egoist depends on the following: 1. We ought always to do what is in our long term best interest, 2. The right act, or duty, is the act that maximizes our long term intrinsic good, and 3. Our duty is to do that which benefits us the most in the long term. In other words, an egoist’s actions and decisions depend on whether the act will benefit himself in the long run.
“The meaning of a man's ego” is literally the word “I.” Equality 7-2521 does not learn what ego is until he learns about “I.” He can live his life to the fullest once he realizes that he is an individual, and can do what he wants for himself. Equality is no longer forced to do what the World Council thinks is best. Back in the City, no “brother” has energy or creativity. They have never looked in a mirror and have never been told what they look like. They do not know what “ego” is. Therefore, the meaning of the ego is described and defined when Equality discovers the house from the Unmentionable Times, reads books with the word “I,” and begins to use it.
Ethical egoism is a normative ethical position that focuses morally right action that promotes the individual own self interest. It states that actions whose consequences will benefit the doer can be considered as ethical. It differs from psychological egoism in that because ethical egoism says we ought to be selfish while psychological states we should be selfish (Frankena, 1973. 18). The theory in itself says we are hard-wired to be selfish and focus on what type of actions promote use and is self serving. The moral appraisal of things assumes our curiosity, necessitates and even contentment of others should factor in a stability of what we perceive morally and what is in our self-interest. What is morally right and
Ethical egoism is arbitrary and puts ourselves above everybody else for no apparent reason. Ethical egoism splits everybody into two groups, ourselves and everyone else, and says that we are the morally superior. This brings up the question, why are we, ourselves, morally superior to everyone else? Failing to answer this question, means that the ethical egoist has no rational reason to choose ourselves over anybody else. So, with similar rational, it could just have been that everyone else is morally superior to ourselves. The ethical egoist seems to be completely arbitrary in this decision. This theory doesn’t even know why it is putting us, ourselves, above everybody else. One can compare this to a racist who says white people are more superior to blacks (Rachels). Several decades ago they would rationally argue that blacks are intellectually inferior and a threat to the world peace but today there is substantial amount of evidence to refute these claims. Now the racist has no reasons for the racial discriminations and white people and black people are equal, meaning that being racially against black people is arbitrary and has no rational reasoning. Indeed, ethical egoism is just as arbitrary as racism is, but once again, utilitarianism
The idea of each person ought to pursue his or her own self -interest exclusively to do in his life time for others is known as Ethical Egoism.
• Once more, the ordinary science’ proves itself as the master of classification, inventing and defining the various categories of Egoism. Per example, psychological egoism, which defines doctrine that an individual is always motivated by self-interest, then rational egoism which unquestionably advocates acting in self-interest. Ethical egoism as diametrically opposite of ethical altruism which obliges a moral agent to assist the other first, even if sacrifices own interest. Also, ethical egoism differs from both rational and psychological egoism in ‘defending’ doctrine which considers all actions with contributive beneficial effects for an acting individual
With the development of modern society, many people say that the society has become miserable, and people only care their own profit. The self-interest is becoming the object of attacking. Thereupon, when we mention self- interest, people always mix up the concept of self-interest with selfishness. As we all known, the idea of selfishness is, “Abusing others, exploiting others, using others for their own advantage – doing something to others.” (Hospers, 59) Selfish people have no ethics, morals and standards when they do anything. At the same time, what is self – interest? Self- interest can be defined as egoism, which means a person is, “looking out for your own welfare.” (Hospers, 39) The welfare people talk about is nothing more than
The moral theory that most closely resembles my own moral philosophy is the theory of ethical egoism which is the belief that people should act in accordance to what would most likely result in the best outcomes and consequences for their own lives. First, a famous moral dilemma that the theory of ethical egoism can be applied to is the case of The Queen vs. Dudley and Stevens. In this example, an ethical egoist would determine that since the sailor should act with regard to his own self interest (the preservation of his life) but also consider the consequences (the legal implications) of his actions the sailor should not kill one of the other sailors, because that would be murder and result in negative consequences that would impact their life. Assuming that cannibalism was the only means for the
As mentioned in the readings, an act of lying “is sometimes self-interest and sometimes the interest of others” (Ch. 1, p. 18). Especially in regard to situational factors, we often try to “consider the welfare of everyone
Psychological egoism, a descriptive claim about human nature, states that humans by nature are motivated only by self-interest. To act in one's self-interest is to act mainly for one's own good and loving what is one's own (i.e. ego, body, family, house, belongings in general). It means to give one's own interests higher priority then others'. "It (psychological egoism) claims that we cannot do other than act from self-interest motivation, so that altruism-the theory that we can and should sometimes act in favor of others' interests-is simply invalid because it's impossible" (Pojman 85). According to psychological egoists, any act no matter how altruistic it might seem, is actually motivated by some selfish desire of the agent (i.e., desire for reward, avoidance of guilt, personal happiness).
Ethical egoism can be a well-debated topic about the true intention of an individual when he or she makes an ethical decision. Max Stirner brings up a very intriguing perspective in writing, The Ego and its Own, regarding ethical egoism. After reading his writing some questions are posed. For example, are human beings at the bottom? Following Wiggins and Putnam, can we rise above our egoism and truly be altruistic? And finally, if we are something, do we have the capacity to rise to a level that we can criticize and transcend our nature? These questions try to establish whether or not we are simple humans, bound to our intrinsic nature, or far more intellectually advanced than we allow ourselves to be.
Egoism is the act of pursuing a particular course of action that is driven by 'sel...