Quiz 2 - Egoism Flashcards
define ethical egoism
one ought, morally, always to act so as to maximize one’s own (net) good
define psychological egoism versus ethical egoism
psychological egoism is empirical, descriptive theory of human motivation
ethical egoism is normative theory of ethics
how is PE different from EE
people may be motivated by what is good for them (PE) even though they OUGHT not to be (~EE)
conversely, people may not be motivated to do what will maximize their own good (~PE) even though they OUGHT to be (PE)
what are some value theories typical for EEgoists?
- hedonism: pleasure (avoiding pain, physiological experience)
- eudaimonism: flourishing (happiness, life well lived, fulfilling whatever criteria it is for being a happy, content person)
- desire satisfaction:
what is intrinsic value
when something has goodness in and of itself (for its own sake) apart from any other considerations, including its effects.
what is extrinsic value
when something is derivatively good. it is good for the sake of something else. it has value in virtue of its capactiy to produce something of value.
what is hedonism
pleasure and only pleasure is intrinsically good. pain and only pain is intrinsically bad.
pleasure: sensors going off during eating donut, endorphins from exercise
eudaimonism
happiness (or well-being) and only happiness is intrinsically good.
happiness/wellbeing: what is good FOR a person. working out instead of donut.
desire satisfaction theory
only those things that satisfy intrinsic desires are intrinsically good. (doing what you desire, not what gives you most pleasure. so going on ascetic diet instead of being serotonin filled. if serotonin influx is what you DESIRE, fine. hedonism will say that pleasure over pain, even if pain is what you desire. but desire sat theory says what you want being fulfilled is intrinsically good).
what does “ought implies can” mean
you can only have an obligation to do something if it is actually possible to DO so
Ayn Rand & ought implies can
- if ought implies can, then you must actually be able to do something for it to be morally compulsory
- if PE is true, than a person can only be motivated by selfish desire to do that which will benefit herself
- Religious moral requirement that you be selfless is impossible and DANGEROUS
EE arguments and weaknesses
- you can only be morally obligated to do that which is possible
- PE is true
- since PE is true, you can only act from selfish motive.
- you can’t have obligation to be selfless or act from non-selfish motives, EE is true
- PROBLEM: truth of second premise. PE is immune to criticism. it cannot be falsified by observation, it can be consistent from anything we observe. also, psycho-sadistic-torture proves some of us willing to take less selfish option instead of a more s, thus EXTREME PE is falsified even if PE isn’t .
- now that 2nd premise out, argument for EE dismantled.
problems for EE & enlightened EEgoists replies
- criterion of adequacy: adequate NET must provide means for resolving conflicts of interests between individuals.
- counter-intuitive consequences: may lead to every1 stabbing every1 to promote own interests, because EE says it’s what you OUGHT to do.
- enlightened egoist: NO, wider net. we don’t stab cuz we dont wanna get stabbed,
why is EE still a contender?
Well, extreme PE is false so argument that it’s the only way to deal with our psychological selfishness is off the table.
instead, we can say that it motivates us to live in harmony, have good moral ends since we know that what is beneficial to us can be beneficial to others.
