Ethical Egoism? Flashcards
What is Ethical Egoism?
Ethical egoism advocates acting in one’s self-interest rather than altruism, aiming to achieve personal goals.
It aligns with psychological egoism, which suggests all actions, even altruistic ones, are driven by self-interest.
The theory focuses on long-term self-interest rather than short-term gratification.
Even seemingly selfless acts can have self-interested motives, such as businesses providing free products for positive publicity.
Ayn Rand argued selflessness is shortsighted and creates a society that exploits individuals.
Egoism suggests actions that appear altruistic are rooted in self-interest (e.g., the Golden Rule: treat others well to receive kindness).
Max Stirner critiqued egoism, claiming actions may seem self-interested, but are actually driven by obligations like duty or guilt, which deceive us into thinking we’re acting out of self-interest.
Stirner argued?
Stirner’s Argument:
Stirner argued that the ego is enslaved by obligations and external influences.
True freedom comes from recognizing personal authority and ownership over oneself.
This “owness” is realized by embracing our uniqueness and the power to make independent decisions.
Stirner’s View on Egoism and Freedom:
Stirner critiques the stages of life where individuals are constrained by external (parents, religion) and internal (conscience, reason) forces.
Stage 1: Childhood, where behavior is controlled by parents, but self-discovery and rebellion lead to freedom.
Stage 2: Youth, where internal moral constraints (reason, conscience) enslave individuals.
Stage 3: Adulthood, where true freedom is found in egoism, prioritizing personal satisfaction over external and internal constraints.
“Ownness” (autonomy) is the key to freedom, where individuals break free from societal and moral restrictions, valuing personal satisfaction.
Stirner’s view challenges societal subordination, advocating for self-realization and self-mastery, similar to a child seeking independence from society (the “mother”).
Egoism, as Stirner defines it, is about embracing personal autonomy rather than being limited by fears, doubts, or societal pressures.
Comparison to Other Thinkers:
Hobbes: Argued human nature is self-interested and that societal order is necessary to prevent chaos.
Adam Smith: Advocated for individual self-interest, believing that maximizing personal interests leads to the collective good.
Nietzsche: Emphasized the strength of individual will, suggesting that “strong winds” (self-interest) are a universal law.
Pojman: Critiqued psychological egoism by stating that people sometimes act for others’ benefit, countering the idea that humans are always motivated by self-interest.
In conclusion, Stirner promotes egoism as self-realization and autonomy, challenging societal expectations and traditional moral codes.
David Hume critiques psychological egoism (selfish hypothesis) with several points:
Moral Sentiments: He argues that self-interest contradicts moral feelings like love, compassion, and gratitude, which motivate altruistic behavior.
Oversimplification: Psychological egoism oversimplifies human motivation by reducing it to a single cause.
Benevolent Animals: Hume points out that animals also display altruism, implying that benevolent behavior is possible in humans.
Meaning of Benevolent Actions: We can wish well for others without personal interest, showing that benevolence is meaningful beyond self-interest.
Prior Motivations: Hume asserts that altruism exists independently of self-interest and can be learned.
He critiques ethical egoism for potentially leading to social conflict, as everyone acting solely in self-interest may result in a breakdown of community. Ethical egoism lacks a normative structure and may ultimately justify power-based morality, where the powerful dominate.
