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Egoism

 Egoism

The sixth in a series of slideshows for an ethics course.

GeorgeMatthews

June 11, 2016
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  1. Egoism
    ethics and selfishness
    George Matthews
    CC 2016
    Creative Commons, attribution
    CC Jim Matthews

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  2. The Ring of Gyges

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  3. The Ring of Gyges
    Gyges was a shepherd who found a golden ring in a cave
    which, he discovered, made him invisible when he wore
    it. So he put it on, went into the palace of the local
    king, seduced the queen and together they killed the
    king and took over the kingdom.
    From an ancient Persian tale, related by Plato in The Republic.

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  4. The Ring of Gyges
    Gyges was a shepherd who found a golden ring in a cave
    which, he discovered, made him invisible when he wore
    it. So he put it on, went into the palace of the local
    king, seduced the queen and together they killed the
    king and took over the kingdom.
    From an ancient Persian tale, related by Plato in The Republic.
    ! If you had such power, would you be able to resist the
    temptation to be completely selfish?

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  5. The Ring of Gyges
    Gyges was a shepherd who found a golden ring in a cave
    which, he discovered, made him invisible when he wore
    it. So he put it on, went into the palace of the local
    king, seduced the queen and together they killed the
    king and took over the kingdom.
    From an ancient Persian tale, related by Plato in The Republic.
    ! If you had such power, would you be able to resist the
    temptation to be completely selfish?
    ! Are people inherently selfish and only held in check by our fear
    of getting caught?

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  6. The Philosophy of Selfishness

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  7. The Philosophy of Selfishness
    Psychological Egoism

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  8. The Philosophy of Selfishness
    Psychological Egoism
    ! We cannot be unselfish – ethics places impossible
    demands on us.

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  9. The Philosophy of Selfishness
    Psychological Egoism
    ! We cannot be unselfish – ethics places impossible
    demands on us.
    ! This is a descriptive claim about the way we make
    decisions and act on them.

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  10. The Philosophy of Selfishness
    Psychological Egoism
    ! We cannot be unselfish – ethics places impossible
    demands on us.
    ! This is a descriptive claim about the way we make
    decisions and act on them.
    Ethical Egoism

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  11. The Philosophy of Selfishness
    Psychological Egoism
    ! We cannot be unselfish – ethics places impossible
    demands on us.
    ! This is a descriptive claim about the way we make
    decisions and act on them.
    Ethical Egoism
    ! We should not be unselfish – ethics places immoral
    demands on us.

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  12. The Philosophy of Selfishness
    Psychological Egoism
    ! We cannot be unselfish – ethics places impossible
    demands on us.
    ! This is a descriptive claim about the way we make
    decisions and act on them.
    Ethical Egoism
    ! We should not be unselfish – ethics places immoral
    demands on us.
    ! This is a normative claim about what we should or
    shouldn’t do.

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  13. Rational Animals

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  14. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .

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  15. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .
    ! To have consistent beliefs.

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  16. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .
    ! To have consistent beliefs.
    ! To base those beliefs on evidence and logic.

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  17. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .
    ! To have consistent beliefs.
    ! To base those beliefs on evidence and logic.
    ! To have clear and consistent goals.

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  18. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .
    ! To have consistent beliefs.
    ! To base those beliefs on evidence and logic.
    ! To have clear and consistent goals.
    ! To act in such a way as to effectively realize those
    goals.

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  19. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .
    ! To have consistent beliefs.
    ! To base those beliefs on evidence and logic.
    ! To have clear and consistent goals.
    ! To act in such a way as to effectively realize those
    goals.
    Does rationality entail selfishness?

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  20. Rational Animals
    To be rational is . . .
    ! To have consistent beliefs.
    ! To base those beliefs on evidence and logic.
    ! To have clear and consistent goals.
    ! To act in such a way as to effectively realize those
    goals.
    Does rationality entail selfishness?
    Psychological egoism says “yes.”

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  21. An Argument for Psychological Egoism

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  22. An Argument for Psychological Egoism
    My reasons are mine . . .

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  23. An Argument for Psychological Egoism
    My reasons are mine . . .
    p1 When I make a decision it can only be for my own
    reasons – since I make the decision.

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  24. An Argument for Psychological Egoism
    My reasons are mine . . .
    p1 When I make a decision it can only be for my own
    reasons – since I make the decision.
    p2 Since these reasons are my reasons they must serve
    my interests.

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  25. An Argument for Psychological Egoism
    My reasons are mine . . .
    p1 When I make a decision it can only be for my own
    reasons – since I make the decision.
    p2 Since these reasons are my reasons they must serve
    my interests.
    c So all of my decisions must be selfish decisions.

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  26. An Argument for Psychological Egoism
    My reasons are mine . . .
    p1 When I make a decision it can only be for my own
    reasons – since I make the decision.
    p2 Since these reasons are my reasons they must serve
    my interests.
    c So all of my decisions must be selfish decisions.
    This may seem like a reasonable argument.

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  27. An Argument for Psychological Egoism
    My reasons are mine . . .
    p1 When I make a decision it can only be for my own
    reasons – since I make the decision.
    p2 Since these reasons are my reasons they must serve
    my interests.
    c So all of my decisions must be selfish decisions.
    This may seem like a reasonable argument.
    But isn’t there some equivocation going on here?

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  28. Another Argument

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  29. Another Argument
    Reinterpreting motives

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  30. Another Argument
    Reinterpreting motives
    p1 If psychological egoism is true, we should be able to
    find a selfish motive behind every apparently unselfish
    act.

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  31. Another Argument
    Reinterpreting motives
    p1 If psychological egoism is true, we should be able to
    find a selfish motive behind every apparently unselfish
    act.
    p2 We can in fact find a selfish motive behind every
    apparently unselfish act.

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  32. Another Argument
    Reinterpreting motives
    p1 If psychological egoism is true, we should be able to
    find a selfish motive behind every apparently unselfish
    act.
    p2 We can in fact find a selfish motive behind every
    apparently unselfish act.
    c Thus psychological egoism is true.

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  33. Another Argument
    Reinterpreting motives
    p1 If psychological egoism is true, we should be able to
    find a selfish motive behind every apparently unselfish
    act.
    p2 We can in fact find a selfish motive behind every
    apparently unselfish act.
    c Thus psychological egoism is true.
    Egoism claims to unmask morality as mere sentimentality and
    offers instead a hard-nosed “realism” about our motives.

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  34. Another Argument
    Reinterpreting motives
    p1 If psychological egoism is true, we should be able to
    find a selfish motive behind every apparently unselfish
    act.
    p2 We can in fact find a selfish motive behind every
    apparently unselfish act.
    c Thus psychological egoism is true.
    Egoism claims to unmask morality as mere sentimentality and
    offers instead a hard-nosed “realism” about our motives.
    How does this work out as an argument though – is it even
    valid?

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  35. Hidden Motives?

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  36. Hidden Motives?
    ! Suppose we can find hidden motives behind any
    apparently altruistic act.

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  37. Hidden Motives?
    ! Suppose we can find hidden motives behind any
    apparently altruistic act.
    People give to charity for tax breaks . . .

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  38. Hidden Motives?
    ! Suppose we can find hidden motives behind any
    apparently altruistic act.
    People give to charity for tax breaks . . .
    Heros are after fame and thrills . . .

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  39. Hidden Motives?
    ! Suppose we can find hidden motives behind any
    apparently altruistic act.
    People give to charity for tax breaks . . .
    Heros are after fame and thrills . . .
    Volunteers are padding their resumes . . .

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  40. Hidden Motives?
    ! Suppose we can find hidden motives behind any
    apparently altruistic act.
    People give to charity for tax breaks . . .
    Heros are after fame and thrills . . .
    Volunteers are padding their resumes . . .
    ! Does it follow that these are the only motives?

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  41. Hidden Motives?
    ! Suppose we can find hidden motives behind any
    apparently altruistic act.
    People give to charity for tax breaks . . .
    Heros are after fame and thrills . . .
    Volunteers are padding their resumes . . .
    ! Does it follow that these are the only motives?
    ! Is the claim that there are always such motives
    falsifiable?

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  42. Falsifiability

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  43. Falsifiability
    ! Theories must be testable to be meaningful.

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  44. Falsifiability
    ! Theories must be testable to be meaningful.
    ! Testing a theory requires looking for disconfirming
    instances: trying to falsify it.

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  45. Falsifiability
    ! Theories must be testable to be meaningful.
    ! Testing a theory requires looking for disconfirming
    instances: trying to falsify it.
    ! If a theory can explain away any disconfirmation it
    is non-falsifiable, not testable and so meaningless.

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  46. Falsifiability
    ! Theories must be testable to be meaningful.
    ! Testing a theory requires looking for disconfirming
    instances: trying to falsify it.
    ! If a theory can explain away any disconfirmation it
    is non-falsifiable, not testable and so meaningless.
    ! Is psychological egoism thus non-falsifiable since an
    egoist can always come up with a hidden motive for
    any altruistic act?

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  47. Ethical Egoism

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  48. Ethical Egoism
    So what if we can act unselfishly,
    what if we have good reasons not to?

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  49. Ethical Egoism

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  50. Ethical Egoism
    Rand’s Argument

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  51. Ethical Egoism
    Rand’s Argument
    p1 Individuality is the source of all value in human life – it
    is what distinguishes us from animals.

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  52. Ethical Egoism
    Rand’s Argument
    p1 Individuality is the source of all value in human life – it
    is what distinguishes us from animals.
    p2 When you put others first you deny your own value.

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  53. Ethical Egoism
    Rand’s Argument
    p1 Individuality is the source of all value in human life – it
    is what distinguishes us from animals.
    p2 When you put others first you deny your own value.
    c This makes ethics inherently wrong, and shows why
    selfish action is alone valuable.

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  54. Ethical Egoism
    Rand’s Argument
    p1 Individuality is the source of all value in human life – it
    is what distinguishes us from animals.
    p2 When you put others first you deny your own value.
    c This makes ethics inherently wrong, and shows why
    selfish action is alone valuable.
    This argument was offered by the advocate of “the virtue of
    selfishness” Ayn Rand (1905–1982).

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  55. Ethical Egoism
    Rand’s Argument
    p1 Individuality is the source of all value in human life – it
    is what distinguishes us from animals.
    p2 When you put others first you deny your own value.
    c This makes ethics inherently wrong, and shows why
    selfish action is alone valuable.
    This argument was offered by the advocate of “the virtue of
    selfishness” Ayn Rand (1905–1982).
    Is there no value in cooperation – is life really a zero sum
    game?

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  56. Ethical Egoism

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  57. Ethical Egoism
    the capitalist’s argument

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  58. Ethical Egoism
    the capitalist’s argument
    p1 Competition leads to the best social outcome: greater
    wealth, innovation, etc.

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  59. Ethical Egoism
    the capitalist’s argument
    p1 Competition leads to the best social outcome: greater
    wealth, innovation, etc.
    p2 The best way to encourage competition is to pursue
    selfish gain, ignoring the losers.

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  60. Ethical Egoism
    the capitalist’s argument
    p1 Competition leads to the best social outcome: greater
    wealth, innovation, etc.
    p2 The best way to encourage competition is to pursue
    selfish gain, ignoring the losers.
    c So we are justified in pursuing exclusively private,
    selfish goals.

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  61. Ethical Egoism
    the capitalist’s argument
    p1 Competition leads to the best social outcome: greater
    wealth, innovation, etc.
    p2 The best way to encourage competition is to pursue
    selfish gain, ignoring the losers.
    c So we are justified in pursuing exclusively private,
    selfish goals.
    But without some intervention in competitive arenas, early
    winners dominate and undermine competition.

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  62. Ethical Egoism
    the capitalist’s argument
    p1 Competition leads to the best social outcome: greater
    wealth, innovation, etc.
    p2 The best way to encourage competition is to pursue
    selfish gain, ignoring the losers.
    c So we are justified in pursuing exclusively private,
    selfish goals.
    But without some intervention in competitive arenas, early
    winners dominate and undermine competition.
    How can an argument for selfishness be based on concern for
    all of us?!

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  63. summary: egoism

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  64. summary: egoism
    claims
    ! Psychological: we are all
    inherently selfish.
    ! Ethical: we should all be
    selfish and should never put
    others first.

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  65. summary: egoism
    claims
    ! Psychological: we are all
    inherently selfish.
    ! Ethical: we should all be
    selfish and should never put
    others first.
    consequences
    " Psychological: ethics is
    impossible.
    " Ethical: ethics is wrong.
    " Both: selfishness is
    rational.

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  66. summary: egoism
    claims
    ! Psychological: we are all
    inherently selfish.
    ! Ethical: we should all be
    selfish and should never put
    others first.
    consequences
    " Psychological: ethics is
    impossible.
    " Ethical: ethics is wrong.
    " Both: selfishness is
    rational.
    arguments
    O My reasons are mine.
    O Reinterpreting motives.
    O Rand’s argument.
    O Capitalist’s argument.

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  67. summary: egoism
    claims
    ! Psychological: we are all
    inherently selfish.
    ! Ethical: we should all be
    selfish and should never put
    others first.
    consequences
    " Psychological: ethics is
    impossible.
    " Ethical: ethics is wrong.
    " Both: selfishness is
    rational.
    arguments
    O My reasons are mine.
    O Reinterpreting motives.
    O Rand’s argument.
    O Capitalist’s argument.
    evaluation
    Weak arguments.
    Psychological egoism fails
    as explanation of behavior.
    Ethical egoism misses
    value of helping others.

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