Ethical egoism Flashcards
Ego definition
a person’s self esteem/importance
Kurt Baier’s view of egoists
‘pursuers of the good things in life whatever the cost to others’
Altruism
selfless concern for the wellbeing of others
Ethical Egoism
Moral agents ought to do what is in their own self interest, altruistic acts should be avoided unless they act in your favour
What does the theory align with?
the moral agent’s psychological state
Psychological Egoism
- we naturally act in our own self interest, there is no such thing as altruism, and we cannot act any other way
Ayn Rand
selfless behaviour is short-sighted, long term interests mean you can focus on your own self interests
Peter Cave
‘customer is always right’ serves the keeper’s own long term interest
Max Stirner influences
Existentialism (we are free to act without guiding authority)
Nihilism (meaninglessness of life)
Anarchism (societal disorder from law
Stirner’s quote
‘I am everything to myself and I do everything on my account
How is love selfish (stirner)?
It makes YOU happy, other people are purely a means for self-enjoyment
Einzige
self-interest
needs to be free from constraints
society is a spook
(illusion or ghost)
‘individuals are its reality’
Why does Stirner reject psychological egoism?
the self is obliged by duty and obligation
Where is right (Stirner)
‘There is no right outside me’
Stages to Stirner’s argument
- Everyone is a slave to something other than ‘einzige’
- religious and philosophical systems of moral behaviour just control us
- True egoism is a recognition of one’s ‘own-ness’ (Eigenheit)
- the self is truly unique when free from constraint
- how to engage in uniqueness = union of egoists
Union of egoists
Individuals interact with each other informally, cooperating with each other to advance both of their interests but without having a shared goal
3 principles of a union of egoists
- free engagement
- equality of all its members
- mutual self-interest
Strengths of ethical egoism
-rejects material gain
-encourages long-term goals
-confidence in human ability
-can lead to moral good, love for any reason is still love
Challenges to ethical egoism
-Destruction of community ethos
-Social injustices and conflict would occur
-Bigotry (intolerance of those with different ideas)
