Ethics

1
Ethics Psychology

• Weber State University
• Spring 2007
• PHIL 1000-008

2
Ethics and Psychology

• Moral theories tend to presume certain principles
  about human motivation
• Motivation an account of why we do what we do

3
Why be moral?

• Gyges Ring Suppose we found a ring that could
  make us invisible to those around us.
• If we had the power to become invisible to those
  around us, why would we act morally?
• Is there any reason to restrict our behavior,
  given that there will be no material penalty for
  us?

4
Egoism

• Psychological Egoism the view about human
  motivation that states people always act for the
  sake of their own self-interest.
• Ethical Egoism the belief that identifies the
  good with the self-interest of individuals.

5
Argument for Psychological Egoism

• Empirical experience shows that at least most
  human acts are self-interested. (premise)
• Those acts that seem unselfish, e.g., charity,
  really arent a self-interested motive can be
  ascribed to them. (premise)
• Therefore, all human acts are motivated by
  self-interest. (1,2)

6
Objections to Psychological Egoism

• Look, Mr. Psychological Egoist, youre distorting
  the motives of each actor. That is the only way
  you can get your theory to work.
• Also, the object of some desires is the
  well-being of someone else. So, not all desires
  are self-interested (ditto for acts).

7
Altruism the opponent

• Theres approximately 6 billion people on Earth.
  (premise)
• The altruist tries to consider every one of the
  5.99 billion people, except himself, when he
  wants to perform some action. (premise)
• The altruists consideration will have 6 billion
  1 of the scope it should have. (premise)
• So, it is very likely that the altruist will
  perform a morally correct act. (1-3)

8
Argument for Ethical Egoism

• The only reason for treating others justly is to
  avoid harm to oneself. (premise)
• A sufficiently strong and self-reliant person
  would not need to worry about being harmed by
  others. (premise)
• Thus, such a person would not be concerned about
  the interest of others, and ordinary persons
  should be concerned by others only when necessary
  to avoid harm to oneself. (1,2)

9
Objections to Ethical Egoism

• An ideal person has concern for others.
• Should the ethical egoists raise their children
  to be egoists?

10
Differences Between PE and EE

• PE is concerned with the motivation of the act.
• EE identifies the good with the self-interested.
  By identified, we mean identity or equality.
  For e.g., the morning star is Venus. The morning
  star and Venus are identical.