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 one’s 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.