according to the text, whats wrong with the best argument for ethical egoism?

Computers, Information Technology, the Net, Ethics, Society and Human Values

Philip Pecorino, Ph.D.

Queensborough Community College,  CUNY

Chapter iii Ethics

Egoism

At that place are several theories about the principle of the Expert that would serve human decision making in reaching a conclusion as to what is the morally correct thing to do.  I approach or group of theories is known as existence Teleological.

TELEOLOGICAL THEORIES

In this approach to ethics information technology is the consequence of the act that is the basis for determining its worth.

READ: Teleological Theories: Consequentialist Approach

http://www.mesacc.edu/~barsp59601/text/105/notes/consequentialism/intro.html

1 of the most basic of consequences is the impact on people and ane of the most basic of all values for determining whether something is skilful or not is the pleasure that it brings to someone. Some recall that emotional and physical Pleasance is the Merely basis for determining what is GOOD

 Theories of the GOOD based on pleasance are termed HEDONISM

 There are 2 popular theories of the GOOD based on pleasure. One is based on pleasure to one cocky. EGOISM

 The other is based on the pleasure that results for all humans in the world. UTILITARIANISM.

 This section  will focus on EGOISM.

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There are five types of Egoism the focus here is on the last:

ETHICAL EGOISM

1. Common-sense Egoism: According to this view, egoism is a vice. It involves putting one�s own concerns over those of others. I�s behavior is egoistic if it involves putting one�southward own interests over those of others to an immoderate degree.
2. Psychological Egoism
   1. Argument For: Homo agents always, at least on a deep-downward level, are all egoists insofar every bit our behavior, explainable in terms of our beliefs and desires, is ever aimed at what we believe is our greatest proficient (Baier, 1991, p. 203).
   2. Objection: The psychological egoist confuses egocentric desires with motivation. An amanuensis may human activity opposite to his desires and what is in his ain best interest. People often human action in ways that they know are detrimental to their well being. Moreover, what one virtually wants may non be in their ain self-interest (e.chiliad., giving coin to Amnesty International rather than buying a new CD). MacKinnon adds that, "Fifty-fifty if it were shown that we often deed for the sake of our ain interest, this is not enough to prove that psychological egoism is true. According to this theory, we must prove that people ever act to promote their ain interests" (p. 23). If nosotros tin find only i counterexample to psychological egoism, then it is not truthful.
3. Egoism as a Means to the Common Good
   1. Argument For: According to the economist, Adam Smith, when entrepreneurs are unimpeded by legal or self-imposed moral constraint to protect the good of others, they are able to promote their ain good and, equally a event, provide the most efficient ways of promoting the skillful of others (Baier, 1991, p. 201; meet MacKinnon, p. 24). Such a view leads to the doctrine that, "if each pursues her ain interest equally she conceives of information technology, then the interest of everyone is promoted" (Baier, 1991, p. 200).
   2. Objection: Autonomously from positing an "invisible hand" guiding the market place processes, the common-good egoist makes the fallacy, ascribed to J.S. Mill, that if each person promotes her own interest, then anybody else�s interests are thereby promoted. "Clearly, this is a fallacy, for the interests of different individuals or classes may, and nether certain conditions (of which the scarcity of necessities is the most obvious), practise disharmonize. Then the involvement of i is the detriment of the other" (Baier, 1991, p. 200).
4. Rational Egoism: Rational egoism is concerned with reasonable activity.
   1. Strong Rational Egoism: It is always rational to aim at one�s own greatest good, and never rational not to practise so (Baier, 1991, p. 201).
   2. Weak Rational Egoism: It is always rational to aim at one�south ain greatest good, but non necessarily never rational not to do and then (Baier, 1991, p. 201).
   3. Statement For: When doing something does not prima facie appear to exist in our interest, our doing said human activity requires that we justify our action by showing that information technology is in our interest, thereby justifying our action.
   4. Objection: Such an arroyo to justifying actions in our own interest may exist driveling if nosotros do non take criteria established to determine what the interests of agents amount to. If such criteria are established, such actions may exist reasonable and so long as they do non result in conflicts between agents. In such cases, artistic middle ways are called for.
5. Ethical Egoism: Coupled with upstanding rationalism�"the doctrine that if a moral requirement or recommendation is to be sound or acceptable, complying with it must exist in accordance with reason"�rational egoism implies ethical egoism (Baier, 1991, p. 201).
   1. Strong Ethical Egoism: It is always right to aim at one�s own greatest good, and never correct non to do so (Baier, 1991, p. 201).
   2. Weak Ethical Egoism: It is always right to aim at ane�s own greatest good, but non necessarily never right not to do so (Baier, 1991, p. 201).
   3. Argument For: If nosotros have rational egoism, and if nosotros accept upstanding rationalism, then we must have ethical egoism. This is the case because if acting in i�s own self-involvement is reasonable, then it is a moral requirement that i acts in one�s own self-interest.
   4. Objection: Ethical egoism is incompatible with upstanding conflict-regulation. Consider the following example from Kurt Baier, regarding the problem over whether it would be morally incorrect for me to kill my grandfather so that he will be unable to change his volition and disinherit me (1991, p. 202):

   Assuming that my killing him volition be in my best interest but detrimental to my grandfather, while refraining from killing him will be to my detriment but in my grandfather�southward interest, and so if upstanding conflict-regulation is sound, there tin can be a audio moral guideline regulating this conflict (presumably past forbidding this killing). Merely and then ethical egoism cannot be audio, for information technology precludes the interpersonally authoritative regulation of interpersonal conflicts of interest, since such a regulation implies that conduct contrary to one�s interest is sometimes morally required of i, and carry in 1�s best interest is sometimes morally forbidden to one. Thus, ethical egoism is incompatible with ethical conflict-regulation.

References:  Baier, Kurt. 1991 "Egoism" in a Companion to Ethics.  (ed. P. Vocalizer) Oxford: Blackwell, 197-204.

Net Encyclopedia     READ: http://www.utm.edu/enquiry/iep/e/egoism.htm

A famous Egoist was Thomas Hobbes

 Ethical Egoism and EGOISTS  READ: http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part2/sect7.html

http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part2/Routledge/R_Egoism.html

Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05328a.htm

Ethical EGOISM  Powerpoint presentation   http://ideals.sandiego.edu/presentations/Theory/EthicalEgoism/index_files/frame.html

Literature on Egoism-links to sites http://ethics.sandiego.edu/theories/Egoism/index.asp

ETHICAL EGOISM

An action is morally correct if and only if it is to the reward of the person doing it.

View: Dr. Richard Brown on Upstanding Egoism

ARGUMENTS FOR ETHICAL EGOISM

1. An altruistic moral theory that demands total self-sacrifice is degrading to the moral agent.

Objection: This is a false dilemma: there are many non-egocentric moral theories that do not demand full self-sacrifice.

2. Anybody is better off if each pursues his or her self-interest.

Objection: (a) This probably is not true in exercise; and (b) True egoism isn't concerned with what will make everyone better off.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST Upstanding EGOISM

1. Provides no moral basis for solving conflicts betwixt people.

two. Obligates each person to prevent others from doing the right matter.

iii. Has the same logical basis equally racism.

4. The egoist cannot advise others to be egoists because information technology works against the starting time egoists interest.

v. No one person tin can expect the entire earth�s population to act in such a style as to produce the nearly do good (pleasance) for that ane person.

The Truth in Psychological Egosim by Hugh LaFollette

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/hhl/papers/egoism.htm

And then although we all know people who endeavour to live their lives as egoists, they are non generally well liked. Being so totally focused on the self is not likely to make someone many friends. Egoists can simply friends simply most people avoid egoists as they are thought to exist untrustworthy.

EGOISM is not the basis for the moral foundation needed for social life.

In that location are other options.

plough to next department

Web Surfer's Caveat: These are class notes, intended to comment on readings and dilate course discussion. They should exist read as such. They are not intended for publication or general distribution. ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu                @copyright 2006 Philip A. Pecorino

Concluding updated 8-2006                                                              Return to Table of Contents

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Source: https://www.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/ppecorino/CISESHV_TEXT/Chapter-3-Ethics/ch-3-Egoism.html

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