Chapter FiveChapter Five

Egoism, Self-Interest, and AltruismEgoism, Self-Interest, and Altruism

Morality of Self-effacement: A Morality of Self-effacement: A condition where a person has self-condition where a person has self-hatred, a lack of self-confidence, hatred, a lack of self-confidence, masochism, and pervasive, irrational masochism, and pervasive, irrational guilt.guilt.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

Hobbes stated that human nature is Hobbes stated that human nature is basically self-interested.basically self-interested.

It makes no sense to expect people It makes no sense to expect people to be altruistic.to be altruistic.

All altruistic acts, when examined All altruistic acts, when examined closely, are disguised acts of closely, are disguised acts of selfishness.selfishness.

Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche(1844-1900)(1844-1900)

Nietzsche believed that we should all Nietzsche believed that we should all strive to satisfy our own will to powerstrive to satisfy our own will to power

We should accomplish this even if we We should accomplish this even if we must exploit and dominate others.must exploit and dominate others.

If we do not do this, others will do If we do not do this, others will do this to us.this to us.

Four Types of Ethical EgoismFour Types of Ethical Egoism

Psychological EgoismPsychological Egoism

We always do that act which we We always do that act which we perceive to be in our own best self-perceive to be in our own best self-interest.interest.

Personal Egoism: The state of being Personal Egoism: The state of being selfish by choice.selfish by choice.

Four Types of Ethical EgoismFour Types of Ethical Egoism

Individual Ethical Egoism: Everyone Individual Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought to serve my best interest only.ought to serve my best interest only.

Universal Ethical Egoism: Everyone Universal Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought always to do those acts that ought always to do those acts that will serve his or her own best self-will serve his or her own best self-interest, even when it conflicts with interest, even when it conflicts with the interests of others.the interests of others.

Paradox of HedonismParadox of Hedonism

The best way to get happiness is to The best way to get happiness is to forget about it.forget about it.

Worthy goals will indirectly bring Worthy goals will indirectly bring about happiness.about happiness.

Focus on the goals, not the Focus on the goals, not the happiness.happiness.

Three Forms Three Forms of Ethical Egoismof Ethical Egoism

Personal Egoism: Describes a type of Personal Egoism: Describes a type of personalitypersonality

Individual Ethical Egoism: Everyone Individual Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought to serve my self-interest. ought to serve my self-interest. What is good for everyone is what is What is good for everyone is what is good for me.good for me.

Universal Ethical Egoism: Everyone Universal Ethical Egoism: Everyone ought to serve their own self-ought to serve their own self-interests.interests.

Ayn Rand’s ArgumentAyn Rand’s Argument

Selfishness is a virtue.Selfishness is a virtue. Altruism is a vice.Altruism is a vice. Altruism is a doctrine that leads to Altruism is a doctrine that leads to

the undermining of individual worth.the undermining of individual worth.

Four Refutations of EgoismFour Refutations of Egoism

1.1. The Inconsistent Outcomes The Inconsistent Outcomes

Argument: Argument:

Ethical Egoism cannot be true Ethical Egoism cannot be true because it fails to meet a necessarybecause it fails to meet a necessary

condition of morality – being a condition of morality – being a guide to actionguide to action

Four Refutations of EgoismFour Refutations of Egoism

2.2. The Publicity Argument:The Publicity Argument:

Unless principles are put forth as Unless principles are put forth as universal prescriptions that are universal prescriptions that are accessible to the public, they accessible to the public, they cannot serve as guides.cannot serve as guides.

Four Refutations of EgoismFour Refutations of Egoism

3.3. The Paradox of Egoism:The Paradox of Egoism:

To reach the goal of egoism one To reach the goal of egoism one must give up egoism and become must give up egoism and become (to some extent) an altruist, which (to some extent) an altruist, which is the very antithesis of egoism.is the very antithesis of egoism.

Four Refutations of EgoismFour Refutations of Egoism

4.4. The Argument from Counterintuitive The Argument from Counterintuitive Consequences:Consequences:

Absolute ethics not only permits Absolute ethics not only permits egoistic behavior, but demands it.egoistic behavior, but demands it.

Evolution and AltruismEvolution and Altruism

Sociobiology theorizes that social Sociobiology theorizes that social structures and human behavioral structures and human behavioral patterns, including morality, have a patterns, including morality, have a biological base, explained by biological base, explained by evolutionary theory.evolutionary theory.

Egoism and the Problem of Egoism and the Problem of PosterityPosterity

Egoism seems unable to deal with the Egoism seems unable to deal with the problem of obligations to posterity.problem of obligations to posterity.

Why should one care about posterity?Why should one care about posterity? What has posterity ever done for me?What has posterity ever done for me? Do we have obligations to a future Do we have obligations to a future

people?people?