Egoism: Igm Cases-Standard Argument Against EE
Ethical Egoism (Prescriptive Theory) * -Normative Theory * -EE Defined * -Difference from psychological egoism
-Why many philosophers reject EE * Argument from paradigm cases- standard argument against EE.
Ex: (1) If a moral theory requires you to do “x” where ”x” is a paradigm case of wrongness just because it benefits you, then that moral theory is false.(2) EE requires you to do “x” where ‘x’ is morally wrong, just because it benefits you.(3) EE is false. (I.e.: murder, rape, and theft)
* -EE responses
-Conventional morality is false
-Egoist could argue that the immoral things will never benefit you and therefore they just wont do it.
* -Plato and the disordered soul
-Plato not an egoist
-Theory-
bad people never benefit (Refer to Plato’s Republic)
Reason should be the most important factor in people-(as opposed to emotion , spirit/passion)
-EE Commitments * -Forbids ‘good” actions * -Requires “bad” actions * -Ignoring “duties”
-Arguments for EE * -Self reliance argument
(1) If everyone aimed toward promoting his or her own interests, then everyone would be better off.
(2) We ought to do what will make everyone better off.
(3) Everyone ought to promote his or her own interests. * -Assessment
1 and 2 are false. Egoists cannot even make the argument provided in “2”.
-Libertarian Argument (think political…) Duties /obligations -Consent (Simply because of your agreement or consent to them) -Reparation (If you have violated someone else’s rights. * Assessment) * Egoism cannot gain support form libertarianism
-Best Argument FOR EE
(1) If you are morally required to do something , then you have good reason to do it.
(2) If you have a good reason to do something , then it must make you better off.
(3) If you are morally required to do something , then it must make you better off.
* Assessment
Per author (2) is flawed. There are some cases where you do NOT benefit from it. This is a dubious claim.
(GR-GOOD REASON BO-BETTER OFF)
GR---- BO (NOT ALWAYS)
BO___> GR (YES)
-Ugly Consequences of EE * Common sense morality
-EE conflicts with common sense morality
* Rights
-EE cannot make sense of right (ex your property, your well being and other rights can be violated as long as its in YOUR best interest) * Arbitrariness
Think RACSISM
What is it about YOU that make your interests better or more worthwhile than anyone else?
This is hard to prove, as we are all one species.
There is no fundamental difference between us.
-Why many philosophers reject EE * Argument from paradigm cases- standard argument against EE.
Ex: (1) If a moral theory requires you to do “x” where ”x” is a paradigm case of wrongness just because it benefits you, then that moral theory is false.(2) EE requires you to do “x” where ‘x’ is morally wrong, just because it benefits you.(3) EE is false. (I.e.: murder, rape, and theft)
* -EE responses
-Conventional morality is false
-Egoist could argue that the immoral things will never benefit you and therefore they just wont do it.
* -Plato and the disordered soul
-Plato not an egoist
-Theory-
bad people never benefit (Refer to Plato’s Republic)
Reason should be the most important factor in people-(as opposed to emotion , spirit/passion)
-EE Commitments * -Forbids ‘good” actions * -Requires “bad” actions * -Ignoring “duties”
-Arguments for EE * -Self reliance argument
(1) If everyone aimed toward promoting his or her own interests, then everyone would be better off.
(2) We ought to do what will make everyone better off.
(3) Everyone ought to promote his or her own interests. * -Assessment
1 and 2 are false. Egoists cannot even make the argument provided in “2”.
-Libertarian Argument (think political…) Duties /obligations -Consent (Simply because of your agreement or consent to them) -Reparation (If you have violated someone else’s rights. * Assessment) * Egoism cannot gain support form libertarianism
-Best Argument FOR EE
(1) If you are morally required to do something , then you have good reason to do it.
(2) If you have a good reason to do something , then it must make you better off.
(3) If you are morally required to do something , then it must make you better off.
* Assessment
Per author (2) is flawed. There are some cases where you do NOT benefit from it. This is a dubious claim.
(GR-GOOD REASON BO-BETTER OFF)
GR---- BO (NOT ALWAYS)
BO___> GR (YES)
-Ugly Consequences of EE * Common sense morality
-EE conflicts with common sense morality
* Rights
-EE cannot make sense of right (ex your property, your well being and other rights can be violated as long as its in YOUR best interest) * Arbitrariness
Think RACSISM
What is it about YOU that make your interests better or more worthwhile than anyone else?
This is hard to prove, as we are all one species.
There is no fundamental difference between us.