Egoism: A Different Strategy

Recall: How is it that objective moral truths come into the world?

Moral Skeptic/Relativist: They don’t.

Divine Command/Natural Law Theorist: God’s Commands.

The Humanist Option: They arise from human nature (or the nature of
persons).

Factual Premise:
All humans (persons) are naturally _______________.

Moral Conclusion:
As a matter of objective moral obligation, humans (persons) ought to
act as follows __________________.

Challenge: What can we use to complete the premise so that it is both

true and supports the conclusion?

The Egoist Answer

The achievement of his own happiness is man’s highest moral purpose.

-Ayn Rand

The guiding principle for ethical decisions is self-interest.

An act is morally right if and only if no other alternative act would produce more
net intrinsic good for the agent.

An act is morally wrong if and only if some other alternative act would produce
more net intrinsic good for the agent.

All right acts are morally obligatory.

What is an intrinsic good?

X is intrinsically good = X is good in and of itself, for its own sake.

X is intrinsically evil = X is evil in and of itself, for its own sake.

 X is extrinsically good = X is good at getting intrinsic good (alternatively:
X produces more intrinsic good that intrinsic evil.)

X is extrinsically evil = X is tends to produce intrinsic evil (alternatively: X

produces more intrinsic evil than intrinsic good.)

Example: Hedonism as a theory of value

Pleasure is the only intrinsic good.
Pain is the only intrinsic evil.

Psychological Egoism vs. Ethical Egoism

Psychological Egoism: Agents act only in what they see as their own self-interest.

Ethical Egoism: Actions are right and wrong in relation to how well they promote
the agents self-interest.

Question: What is the difference?

Misconceptions of Ethical Egoism

Ethical egoism tells us to always be selfish (to always ignore the interests of
others).

Ethical egoism tells us to “live for today.”

Ethical egoism, especially when paired with a hedonistic theory of value,

tells us to devote our lives to sensual gratification.

Arguments in Favor

The “Why be moral?” argument

1. Every adequate ethical theory must provide an answer to the question: “why
be moral?”
2. Ethical egoism provides an answer: Being moral is in one’s self-interest.
3. Therefore, ethical egoism satisfies one of the necessary criteria for being an
adequate moral theory.

The Argument from Psychological Egoism

1. Whenever anyone acts, his or her ultimate motivation is self-interest
(psychological egoism).
 2. We are morally obligated to adopt an end only if we can adopt it (i.e., ought
implies can).
3. The only end we can adopt is self-interest. (from 1)
4. The only end we are morally obligated to adopt is self-interest. (from 2 and
3)
5. It’s always right to take the most efficient means to an end that we are
morally obligated to adopt.
6. Therefore, it is always right to do an act that is the most efficient means to
our self-interest.

Why accept P1? Psychological Egoism?

a. People always perform those actions that they most want to do.
b. If an agent is doing what they most want to do, then their action is not
altruistic.
c. If an agent’s actions are never altruistic, then they are acting from
self-interest.
d. Therefore, agents always act from self-interest.

a. People always do what makes them feel good.

b. Acting in such a way that it makes you feel good is not acting
altruistically.
c. Therefore, altruistic acts are never performed, people act egoistically.

Should we accept P2? Does ought imply can?

Ayn Rand’s Argument

1. If an agent has only one life to live, then that life must be treated with
utmost respect and supreme importance.
2. Agents have only one life to live.
3. Altruistic ethics do not show the proper respect for the individual.
4. Ethical egoism does show the proper respect for the individual.
5. Therefore, ethical egoism is the ethical theory that we ought to follow.

Could ethical egoism be understood as a single underlying principle that explains

all moral rules?

Arguments Against

Argument From Obligations

1. If ethical egoism is correct, then it is always morally right to maximize one’s
own intrinsic good, even in cases where one has other obligations that would
prevent it if followed (e.g., keeping promises, not violating moral rights).
 2. It is not always morally right to maximize one’s intrinsic good in such cases.
3. Therefore, ethical egoism is false.

Principle of Equitable Treatment: People may be treated differently only when

there is some factual difference between them that justifies the difference in
treatment. (Otherwise treatment is unacceptably arbitrary).

Argument From Equitable Treatment (or From Unacceptable Arbitrariness)

1. A theory that assigns more importance to the interests of one group than to
those of another without a reason for doing so is unacceptably arbitrary.
2. Ethical egoism assigns more importance to the interests of the agent than to
the interests of others.
3. No factual difference justifies this difference in assigning importance.
4. Therefore, ethical egoism is unacceptably arbitrary (violates principle of
equitable treatment and should be rejected.

Basic objection to Psychological Egoism

We sometimes opt for the interests of others, especially when others are our friends
and family. –Rachels (72)

1. No matter how our actions can be interpreted, some of our acts are not in
fact motivated by self-interest.
2. Therefore, psychological egoism is false.

Example:
Consider Parents sacrificing to send their child to college.

Psychological Egoism Interpretation:

Parents getting pleasure is the desired end.
The child attending college is a by-product.

Alternative Explanation:
Child attending college is the desired end.
The parents getting pleasure is a by-product.

Which is the best explanation of why the parents get pleasure from the sacrifice?