CAS PH 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Counterexample, Begging The Question, Falsifiability
4 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Psychological egoism: theory that all human actions are aimed at avoiding some personal loss or gaining some personal benefit. Self-interest is the sole motivation behind every action. Psychological egoism is not an ethical theory about how we ought to behave. It is a descriptive theory about how we do (in fact, already) behave. Ethical egoism: the normative view that states that people should act in such a way as to promote self-interest. Normative = standard for evaluation, should always try to do the selfish thing. On altruism: an action is altruistic if it is done with a direct desire to benefit others for their own sake. Psychological egoist- says impossible because people are too selfish. Ethical egoist- says altruism is possible, just wrong. If psychological egoism is true, then altruism is impossible. If altruism is impossible, then it can"t be our duty to be altruistic because ought implies can. No, but that must always be the intention.
