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Chapter 3: Egoism
Are people basically selfish or
unselfish?
 Egoism – two kinds
- Descriptive (psychological)
- Normative (ethical)
• Psychological Egoism
- People are basically selfish
- People act in their own interest

Chapter 3 continued

Ethical Egoism
- What we ought to do – how we ought
to act
- Individual ethical egoism
- Universal ethical egotism
Chapter 3 continued

Evaluating Ethical Egoism
- Its grounding in psychological egoism
- Its consistency or coherence
- Its derivation from economic theory
- Its conformity to commonsense moral
views
Chapter 3 continued

The Moral Point of View
◦ Does one have to take a particular point
of view to see things morally
◦ An example of moral education by W. D.
Falk

Why be moral?
◦ An individual choice
◦ Self interested reasons to be moral
◦ The sacrifice for morality
Chapter 3 continued

Reading: The Ring of Gyges
◦ The nature and origin of justice
◦ The example of Gyges’ Ring
◦ The judgment of the lives of the just and
unjust
◦ Adeimantus presents his views
◦ Are Glaucon and Adeimantus correct?
Chapter 3 continued

Reading: Self-Love
◦ Two types of bodily motion
◦ - Vital
◦ - Voluntary
 Key words
o Appetite (desire)
o Aversion
o Love and hate
o Contempt
Chapter 3 continued
◦ Reading: Self-Love
◦ The three causes of quarrel
1. Competition
2. Diffidence
3. Glory
◦ War and peace
Chapter 3 continued
◦ Reading: Upon the Social Nature of Man
◦ The natural principle of benevolence in
man
◦ Several passions and affections lead to
public and private good
◦ The reflections of man affects his
decisions