Chapter 5: Egoism and Altruism
- 1. Chapter Five Egoism, Self-Interest, and Altruism Morality of Self-effacement: A condition where a person has self-hatred, a lack of self-confidence, masochism, and pervasive, irrational guilt.
- 2. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) Hobbes stated that human nature is basically self-interested. It makes no sense to expect people to be altruistic. All altruistic acts, when examined closely, are disguised acts of selfishness.
- 3. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) Nietzsche believed that we should all strive to satisfy our own will to power We should accomplish this even if we must exploit and dominate others. If we do not do this, others will do this to us.
- 4. Four Types of Ethical Egoism Psychological Egoism We always do that act which we perceive to be in our own best self-interest. Personal Egoism: The state of being selfish by choice.
- 5. Four Types of Ethical Egoism Individual Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought to serve my best interest only. Universal Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought always to do those acts that will serve his or her own best self-interest, even when it conflicts with the interests of others.
- 6. Paradox of Hedonism The best way to get happiness is to forget about it. Worthy goals will indirectly bring about happiness. Focus on the goals, not the happiness.
- 7. Three Forms of Ethical Egoism Personal Egoism: Describes a type of personality Individual Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought to serve my self-interest. What is good for everyone is what is good for me. Universal Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought to serve their own self-interests.
- 8. Ayn Rand’s Argument Selfishness is a virtue. Altruism is a vice. Altruism is a doctrine that leads to the undermining of individual worth.
- 9. Four Refutations of Egoism The Inconsistent Outcomes Argument: Ethical Egoism cannot be true because it fails to meet a necessary condition of morality – being a guide to action
- 10. Four Refutations of Egoism The Publicity Argument: Unless principles are put forth as universal prescriptions that are accessible to the public, they cannot serve as guides.
- 11. Four Refutations of Egoism The Paradox of Egoism: To reach the goal of egoism one must give up egoism and become (to some extent) an altruist, which is the very antithesis of egoism.
- 12. Four Refutations of Egoism The Argument from Counterintuitive Consequences: Absolute ethics not only permits egoistic behavior, but demands it.
- 13. Evolution and Altruism Sociobiology theorizes that social structures and human behavioral patterns, including morality, have a biological base, explained by evolutionary theory.
- 14. Egoism and the Problem of Posterity Egoism seems unable to deal with the problem of obligations to posterity. Why should one care about posterity? What has posterity ever done for me? Do we have obligations to a future people?