Ethical Egoism Flashcards Preview

Importance of the Present Life and Afterlife - Secular > Ethical Egoism > Flashcards

Flashcards in Ethical Egoism Deck (8)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

How did Kurt Baier describe ethical egoists?

A

‘pursuers of the good things in life whatever the cost of others’

2
Q

What type of theory is ethical egoism? Why?

A

normative ethical theory - focus on individuals not groups

3
Q

Differences between psychological and ethical egoism?

A
psychological egoism:
how people behave
not an ethical theory
all human actions motivated by self-interest
ethical egoism:
how people should behave
ethical theory
moral actions benefit agent
4
Q

Argument of Reibuhr (quote)?

A

‘The new life in Christ…obscures…self-regard’ and so the ‘new life in Christ’ ‘is a moral ideal scarcely possible for the individual and certainly not relevant to the morality of self-regarding actions.’

5
Q

Max Stirner quotes?

A

‘Whoever will be free must make himself free.’
‘I am everything to myself and I do everything on my own account.’
‘Where the world comes in my way…I consume it to quiet the hunger of my egoism’
‘we have only one relation to each other, that of usableness’

6
Q

How can goals be achieved with others?

A

‘union of egoists’ - impermanent partnerships - help each individual in union achieve goals

7
Q

Weaknesses of ethical egoism?

A

destruction of community ethos
social injustices - put own interests first
a form of bigotry
immoral acts

8
Q

Strengths o ethical egoism?

A

help develop greater sense of identity
closest moral philosophy to natural psychological state
would not result in collapse of society - rational moral agents with long-term goals as well as short-term