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.
