Lect4 PsyEgo

Psychological Egoism
1
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we

care about it?
Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid
Arguments against psychological egoism
Conclusion
2
Outline
Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should
we care about it?
Conclusion
3
Introduction
Psychological Egoism: Definition
Psychological Egoism:
Psychological Egoism is the view that the only thing that anyone
does in fact pursue is his or her own self-interest.
4
Introduction
Why should we care about Psy. Ego.?
Psychological Egoism is not a view on morality but a theory of

psychology.
Psychological Egoism Ethical Egoism

Psychology Ethics
Theory about what human Theory about what human
behavior ACTUALLY IS behavior
OUGHT TO BE
5
Introduction
Psychological Egoism threatens the relevance of ANY theory of
morality:
If it is indeed the case that humans in fact always pursue their

sole own interests, then there is no point in discussing what
the right thing to do is!
 If Psychological Egoism is true, then ethics is pointless
6
Introduction
Psychological Egoism seems to be supported by some common

human behavior:
1. Good behavior only under the threat of sanction

Glaucon and the ring of Gyges
2. Self-deceptive behavior is common
Volunteering with the pretty girl
 There is no doubt that egoistic behavior exists; the

question is whether it is all there is to human
behavior…
7
Outline

care about it?
Conclusion
8
Arguments in favor of Psychological Egoism
Argument 1: “people always do what they want to do”
P1 Every voluntary action is prompted by a motive of the

agent’s own
CC Every voluntary action is selfish
 Is this a valid argument?
9
Argument 1 is not valid:
Confusion between:
- Motive coming from an agent
- Motive advantageous to the agent
Missing assumption:
Any motive coming from an agent is advantageous to the agent
 Argument 1 ends up being simply circular
10
Argument 2: “people always take pleasure when they get what

they want”
P1 When people get what they wants, they feel pleasure
CC The only thing that people pursue is their own pleasure
 Is this a valid argument?
11
Argument 2 is not valid:
Confusion between
- By-product of an action
- Motive of the action
Example: you, your little girl and the ER
Missing assumption:
If an action always has for consequence X, then X is the sole
object of the action.
 Obviously false!
12
Conclusion
Two arguments supposed to support Psychological

Egoism:
- “people always do what they want to do”
- “people always take pleasure when they get what they
want”
 Both assertions are true – almost trivial

 But none entails Psychological Egoism!
13
Outline

care about it?
Conclusion
14
Arguments against Psychological Egoism
Counter-Evidence
Humans are capable of:

- Genuine benevolence – altruism
Ex: helping grandma
- Genuine malevolence
Ex: murdering Dr. George Tiller
 There is strong evidence that Psychological Egoism is

false
15
The problem of universal deception
The theory of universal deception is untestable, and as such,
unacceptable as a scientific theory:
Theory Psychological Mental Hospital Moussaka Theory

Egoism Theory
Counter- Saint / Murderer John and his healthy Microscopic
Evidence lifestyle observation of matter
Answer A Concealing Concealing mental Concealed
motives illness moussaka
Answer B Theory Revision! Theory revision! Theory revision!
 Psychological Egoism is untestable

16
The Paradox of Hedonism
Feinberg: “The way to achieve happiness is to pursue something

else”
- We almost never pursue pleasure for itself
Ex: eating / being hungry / pleasure
- It is necessary to desire something in order to get satisfaction
Ex: Jones
 Psychological Egoism misses an essential aspect of

the pursuit of happiness
17
Conclusion
Three arguments against Psychological Egoism:

1. Existence of counter-evidence
2. Untestable Theory
3. The “paradox of hedonism”
 Psychological Egoism is untenable
18
Outline

care about it?
Conclusion
19
Conclusion
Psychological Egoism: the view that the only thing that

anyone does in fact pursue is his or her own self-
interest
Why should we care about it? If Psychological Egoism is
true, then ethics is pointless
Two arguments in favor of Psychological Egoism: both are
invalid
Three arguments against Psychological Egoism:
Psychological Egoism is untenable
 There is no question that egoistic behavior exists, but it

is not the whole story
20

Lect4 PsyEgo

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lect4 PsyEgo

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lect4 PsyEgo

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Psychological Egoism

Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we

Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid

Arguments against psychological egoism

Arguments against psychological egoism

Psychological Egoism is not a view on morality but a theory of

Psychological Egoism Ethical Egoism

If it is indeed the case that humans in fact always pursue their

 If Psychological Egoism is true, then ethics is pointless

Psychological Egoism seems to be supported by some common

1. Good behavior only under the threat of sanction

 There is no doubt that egoistic behavior exists; the

Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we

Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid

Arguments against psychological egoism

Argument 1: “people always do what they want to do”

P1 Every voluntary action is prompted by a motive of the

 Is this a valid argument?

Argument 1 is not valid:

 Argument 1 ends up being simply circular

Argument 2: “people always take pleasure when they get what

 Is this a valid argument?

Argument 2 is not valid:

Two arguments supposed to support Psychological

 Both assertions are true – almost trivial

Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we

Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid

Arguments against psychological egoism

Humans are capable of:

 There is strong evidence that Psychological Egoism is

Theory Psychological Mental Hospital Moussaka Theory

 Psychological Egoism is untestable

Feinberg: “The way to achieve happiness is to pursue something

 Psychological Egoism misses an essential aspect of

Three arguments against Psychological Egoism:

 Psychological Egoism is untenable

Introduction: What is psychological egoism and why should we

Arguments in support of psychological egoism: not valid

Arguments against psychological egoism

Psychological Egoism: the view that the only thing that

 There is no question that egoistic behavior exists, but it

You might also like