Chapter 5

Question 1

Ethical egoism is the view that

Answer 1

every person should pursue his or her own self interest exclusively.

Question 2

Ethical altruism

Answer 2

every person should pursue his or her own self interest exclusively.

Question 3

Psychological egoism asserts that

Answer 3

each person does in fact pursue his or her own self interest.

Question 4

Psychological egoism

Answer 4

is not a theory of ethics, is a theory of human psychology.

Question 5

Ethical altruism

Answer 5

every person ought at time’s to pursue the interest’s of others.

Question 6

If we describe one person’s action as altruistic and another person’s action as self interested

Answer 6

we overlook the fact that in both cases a person is doing what they want to do.

Question 7

According to Rachel’s there are things we do

Answer 7

not because we want to, but because we ought to.

Question 8

According to Rachel’s the mere fact that we act on our own desires

Answer 8

does not mean that you are looking out for yourself, it depends on your desires.

Question 9

Psychological egoism appeals to the fact that so called altruistic actions

Answer 9

produce a sense of self satisfaction in the person who performs them.

Question 10

Psychological egoism appeals to the fact that so called altruistic actions

Answer 10

acting unselfishly makes people feel good about themselves and that is the point of it.

Question 11

According to Rachels (self interested motives)

Answer 11

in some circumstances we may not have self interested motives.

Question 12

If psychological egoism is so implausible, why are so many people attracted to it?

Answer 12

1) Psychological egoism provides a response to human vanity.
2) People may like its simplicity
3) it would be pleasing to find a single formula that explains all human behavior.
4) self regard is a tremendously important factor in motivation.
5) it is natural to use it to account for all human action.

Question 13

According to Rachels psychological egoism

Answer 13

is not a credible theory.

Question 14

According to Rachel’s ethical egoism is the radical idea that

Answer 14

the principle of self-interest accounts for all of one’s obligations.

Question 15

According to Rachel’s what are the main arguments for ethical egoism (4)

Answer 15

a. altruism is self defeating.
b. according to Ayn Rand it is the only system that takes seriously the reality of the individual person.
c. it is compatible with commonsense morality.
d. it systemizes commonsense morality.

Question 16

According to Rachel’s what are the main arguments against ethical egoism? (3)

Answer 16

a. ethical egoism endorses wickedness.
b. ethical egoism is logically inconsistent.
c. ethical egoism is unacceptably arbitrary.

Question 17

According to Rachel’s advocates that

Answer 17

we divide the world into 2 groups, ourselves and everyone else.