PP110 Lecture Notes - Dont, Ethical Egoism, Glaucon
Document Summary
Moral rules are the rules that establish a system of trust. Ethical egoism: the view that it is best to perform only these actions that are aimed at fulfilling our own desires and interests, regardless of the effects such actions have on others (being selfish). There are two scenarios as to why people behave justly: (best) to do injustice and not be punished, (worst) to suffer injustice without being able to retaliate. Glaucon believes we long for scenario 1, but fear scenario 2. He believes justice not chosen simply for its own sake, but instead chosen as the lesser evil. We only choose justice to avoid being victims of injustice. He also believes that law is a tool of the weak (and those who use it, use it only so they can avoid being victims). 3 options surrounding justice: forego rules of justice.
