What is Ethical Egoism?
Ethical Egoism is the view that an act is morally right if it brings about the best consequences. Principles of self interest account for all of someone's obligations. Ethical Egoism states that each person ought to pursue their own interests, this makes the claim of about morality and the way things should be in the world. Psychological Egoism is a little different. It makes the claim that each person should give into human nature (being self-centered) and pursue their own goals without regard for others. Ethical Egoism focuses on self concern for others known as altruism. Arguments for Psychological Egoism include the claims we always do what we want, we do want we ought to, we act on our strongest desires, we always do what makes us feel good and we may have had benevolent motives but we were just doing it for ourselves.
Example of Ethical Egoism
There is a boy drowning in a lake, should you save him or not? Many, obviously, would shout yes but an Ethical Egoist would do it purely for an ease of mind. They would feel guilty for letting him drown so they save him. Not out of pure or benevolent intentions but out of selfishness.
Arguments against it
Altruism is self-defeating. Many people feel that altruism is charity and they feel that others feel bad for them so they get offended. Morality demands absolute respect for your neighbors that Ethical Egoism does not allow for the individual. Ordinary morality only works if a person obeys the certain rules that a society has put into place. If everyone just looks out for them there would be no rules and absolutely no caring for others. The world would be a lonely place.
What we think!
I think that Ethical Egoism has a few bad aspects because people should care for their neighbors instead of purely for themselves. Common sense practically commands us to balance our wants, needs/desires, and actions against those of others to see who is right or wrong. It is pointless to not care for other people because we can feel sympathy, sadness, happiness, and anger for others.
Ethical Egoism is the view that an act is morally right if it brings about the best consequences. Principles of self interest account for all of someone's obligations. Ethical Egoism states that each person ought to pursue their own interests, this makes the claim of about morality and the way things should be in the world. Psychological Egoism is a little different. It makes the claim that each person should give into human nature (being self-centered) and pursue their own goals without regard for others. Ethical Egoism focuses on self concern for others known as altruism. Arguments for Psychological Egoism include the claims we always do what we want, we do want we ought to, we act on our strongest desires, we always do what makes us feel good and we may have had benevolent motives but we were just doing it for ourselves.
Example of Ethical Egoism
There is a boy drowning in a lake, should you save him or not? Many, obviously, would shout yes but an Ethical Egoist would do it purely for an ease of mind. They would feel guilty for letting him drown so they save him. Not out of pure or benevolent intentions but out of selfishness.
Arguments against it
Altruism is self-defeating. Many people feel that altruism is charity and they feel that others feel bad for them so they get offended. Morality demands absolute respect for your neighbors that Ethical Egoism does not allow for the individual. Ordinary morality only works if a person obeys the certain rules that a society has put into place. If everyone just looks out for them there would be no rules and absolutely no caring for others. The world would be a lonely place.
What we think!
I think that Ethical Egoism has a few bad aspects because people should care for their neighbors instead of purely for themselves. Common sense practically commands us to balance our wants, needs/desires, and actions against those of others to see who is right or wrong. It is pointless to not care for other people because we can feel sympathy, sadness, happiness, and anger for others.