Ethical egoism

Question 1

Ego definition

Answer 1

a person’s self esteem/importance

Question 2

Kurt Baier’s view of egoists

Answer 2

‘pursuers of the good things in life whatever the cost to others’

Question 3

Altruism

Answer 3

selfless concern for the wellbeing of others

Question 4

Ethical Egoism

Answer 4

Moral agents ought to do what is in their own self interest, altruistic acts should be avoided unless they act in your favour

Question 5

What does the theory align with?

Answer 5

the moral agent’s psychological state

Question 6

Psychological Egoism

Answer 6

• we naturally act in our own self interest, there is no such thing as altruism, and we cannot act any other way

Question 7

Ayn Rand

Answer 7

selfless behaviour is short-sighted, long term interests mean you can focus on your own self interests

Question 8

Peter Cave

Answer 8

‘customer is always right’ serves the keeper’s own long term interest

Question 9

Max Stirner influences

Answer 9

Existentialism (we are free to act without guiding authority)

Nihilism (meaninglessness of life)

Anarchism (societal disorder from law

Question 10

Stirner’s quote

Answer 10

‘I am everything to myself and I do everything on my account

Question 11

How is love selfish (stirner)?

Answer 11

It makes YOU happy, other people are purely a means for self-enjoyment

Question 12

Einzige

Answer 12

self-interest

needs to be free from constraints

Question 13

society is a spook

Answer 13

(illusion or ghost)

‘individuals are its reality’

Question 14

Why does Stirner reject psychological egoism?

Answer 14

the self is obliged by duty and obligation

Question 15

Where is right (Stirner)

Answer 15

‘There is no right outside me’

Question 16

Stages to Stirner’s argument

Answer 16

1. Everyone is a slave to something other than ‘einzige’
2. religious and philosophical systems of moral behaviour just control us
3. True egoism is a recognition of one’s ‘own-ness’ (Eigenheit)
4. the self is truly unique when free from constraint
5. how to engage in uniqueness = union of egoists

Question 17

Union of egoists

Answer 17

Individuals interact with each other informally, cooperating with each other to advance both of their interests but without having a shared goal

Question 18

3 principles of a union of egoists

Answer 18

1. free engagement
2. equality of all its members
3. mutual self-interest

Question 19

Strengths of ethical egoism

Answer 19

-rejects material gain
-encourages long-term goals
-confidence in human ability
-can lead to moral good, love for any reason is still love

Question 20

Challenges to ethical egoism

Answer 20

-Destruction of community ethos
-Social injustices and conflict would occur
-Bigotry (intolerance of those with different ideas)