01 Ethical Thought: C Ethical Egoism

Question 1

What is altruism?

Answer 1

Selfless concern for others.

Question 2

What type of theory is ethical egoism?

Answer 2

normative and prescriptive

Question 3

What does ethical egoism contrast with?

Answer 3

Altruism

Question 4

What is ethical egoism?

Answer 4

We ought to act only according to our own concerns and to further our own cause.

Question 5

Explain why there is no such thing as a good deed?

Answer 5

Even if you do something good you likely only did it in your own self interest. Eg: giving to charity to make yourself feel good.

Question 6

What does prescriptive mean?

Answer 6

Enforcing a rule or method.

Question 7

What is psychological egoism?

Answer 7

We do act sin our own self interest, motivated by our own concerns.

Question 8

What does psychological egoism say about altruism?

Answer 8

There is no such thing.

Question 9

What does ethical egoism say about ethical egoism?

Answer 9

We should avoid it unless it is in our own interest.

Question 10

According to ethical egoism, when do we act wrongly?

Answer 10

When we act against our own interest.

Question 11

In ethical egoism, why are some self-interest actions not always concerned with immediate gratification?

Answer 11

Because you could be aiming towards a long term goal.

Question 12

Give an example of long term ethical egoism.

Answer 12

Doing my homework may not make me happy at the time but when i get to exams the knowledge i gained from my homework might make my exam easier.

Question 13

What did Andy Rand argue about ethical egoism?

Answer 13

That selfless behaviour is short-sighted, creating a society that treats individuals as disposable, by ‘honouring’ their self sacrifice for the benefit of manipulative rulers.

Question 14

What does long term self interest lead to?

Answer 14

We can create a society where individuals satisfy their own self interest while still being able to help others if they want to.

Question 15

What is existentialism?

Answer 15

A philosophical position that says we are free to act without guiding authority.

Question 16

What is nihilism?

Answer 16

Rejection of moral principles, emphasis on meaninglessness of life.

Question 17

What is anarchism?

Answer 17

Societal disorder without guidance from law.

Question 18

What does egoism claim about actions that seem altruistic?

Answer 18

They are done out of self interest .

Question 19

What is a good example that actions that seem altruistic are done out of self interest?

Answer 19

The golden rule of Christianity.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
You only treat others well as you want them to treat you.

Question 20

Who is max stirnir?

Answer 20

A German philosopher

Question 21

What does phsychological egoism say that self-interest is the root cause of?

Answer 21

Human action even when it appears to be altruistic.

Question 22

What did max stirnir claim in contrast to physiological egoism?

Answer 22

-we think we are acting out of self interest, but we are not
- we are slaves to other interests like duty, guilt or conscience.
-we are deceived into thinking it is in our self interest to obey those interests.

Question 23

What does max stirnir claim our actions are controlled by?

Answer 23

A sense of duty and obligation.

Question 24

What did stirnir argue?

Answer 24

1. The ego is a slave to obligations
2. Freedoms comes when i recognise my owners or authority over myself
3. Owners is realised by understanding that our uniqueness gives us power to make our own decisions.

Question 25

What does Max Stirnir say we need to free ourselfs from?

Answer 25

Duty and obligation.

Question 26

What is the union of egoists?

Answer 26

People would unite in unions based on free agreement, equality of all members. The union exists purely to help each other to achieve their goals.

Question 27

Why do unions of egoists exist?

Answer 27

To ensure they maximise an individuals self-enjoyment, pleasure, freedom and individuality as well as ensuring that those involved don’t sacrifice anything while belonging to them.