Philosophy 2074F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Business Ethics, Amartya Sen, Consumerism

• School: Western University
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: Philosophy 2074F/G
• Professor: Dean Proessel

Document Summary

Psychological egoism: the thesis that everyone is always motivated to act in his/her perceived self interest. Ethical egoism: the thesis that one ought to pursue acts which promote one"s self interest or well-being. Self interest in adam smith"s wealth of nations: pg. It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner but regard to their self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages . Did smith think that the result would be just as good if the businesses involved, driven by self interest, were to defraud consumers, or the consumers in questions were to attempt to swindle the sellers. Absolutely not: smith"s point concerning the motivation of exchange does not establish anything about the redundancy of business ethics. Self interest doesn"t have to amount to greed, bad view.