SELF-INTEREST AND ETHICAL EGOISM

 

 

Psychological Egoism

 

 

 

All of our actions can be reduced to self-interest

•   We always do what we most want to do. e.g., a man who helps others has chosen to do so, so he sees doing it, is in his self-interest

•   We do what makes us feel good. e.g., a man who helps others must get pleasure

From doing it hence it is in his self-interest

 

 

 

The Problem of Counter Examples

 

 

 

What about charity and pity?

 

These  require  the  egoist  to  distinguish  selfish  and  unselfish  acts  from  selfish  and unselfish motives

•    Charity I enjoy showing my power

 

•    Pity I worry that it might happen to me

 

So again, doing these, we act from self-interest

 

 

Confusion over self-interest and selfishness

 

 

 

•     Not all actions are done from selfishness

 

    Brushing my teeth (self-interested but not selfish) Also confusion over self-interest and pleasure

•    Not all actions are done from self-interest

 

   Smoking cigarettes (pleasurable but not self-interested)

 

•    Self-interest = any interest the self has

 

 

 

What do all major Ethical Theories say about this?

 

 

 

All major theories acknowledge the importance of Self Interest.

 

•   Utilitarian’s take into account ones own good as well as others.

 

•   Duty ethics emphasizes duties to ourselves.

 

  Right ethicists talk about our rights to pursue our own good.

 

•   Virtue ethicists emphasize the importance of self-respect.

 

But all these theories also emphasize that the pursuit of self-interest must be balanced with our moral responsibilities to others.