Discussion Question 1: Ethical egoism...

    This week we will be discussing ethical egoism in our section. As part of your participation grade, please write a brief, maybe 150 words, response doing one of the following: 1) either arguing in favor or against of ethical egoism (remember, we want an argument, not just assertions) or 2) a civil response or extension of someone's else's argument.

This is due by Friday at 11 am.

Comments

[Brian Long]

In my opinion, taking an ethical egoistic approach is not a moral choice. The definition of moral is "behaving in a good way", and as far as I am concerned, doing things that are only in your own self interest do not support this definition. For example, it is not moral if two employees are in competition for a promotion and one employee does something to make the other look bad in order to get a leg up. However, if one were an ethical egoist, he/she would consider this behavior to be moral. I simply do not agree with this approach. If I was in this situation, I would do everything I could to make myself a better candidate for the promotion as long as I did not harm someone else's reputation. I feel it's acceptable to make yourself look good, as long as it is not at another's expense.

[Sara Hendrix]

I think that the whole premise of ethical egoism comes off as very greedy. Acting always in one’s self-interest is not the best way to live. I am not saying by any means that you should always try to act in a way that benefits only those around you, but only pursuing things that will benefit yourself is a selfish way to live. The main fact about ethical egoism that I disagree with is that you are supposed to do what is best for you regardless of the consequences on others. The potential of others to be harmed in you seeking out your own self-interest makes, in my opinion, the whole idea of ethical egoism completely immoral.

[Maura Kramer]

Even if it is against our self interest, we should be moral. Socrates says it best when he states that justice is key and improtant to life; those that are ujust are damaging themselves. Rachels further empasizes Socrates' point with his example of forgoing our own luxuries to give to the poor. To whom much is given much is expected. We should all give of our time, talent, and treasure to those around us who need it the most. We must be stewards to each other. When we act in the interest of others rather than our own self interest, we are benifitting others first and ourselves by extension. We help others and act morally, we are making our families, towns, and worlds more moral, civil, and better in general. This is one way we benefit by not acting in our own self interest. Furthermore, when we help others, they will help us in reurn. When we act just for the sake of acting just, not just because we want someting in return, we receive true rewards: happiness, a clear conscience, and as Socrates says a harmony of the soul.

[Claire Tinley]

Many of my peers have made very valid points on ethical egoism. As one student mentioned, people in our Western society are much too social to really be able to practice ethical egoism successfully. However, I think that ethical egoism natural process for humans and one that we are most inclined to practice. You can tell that we are inclined to be ethical egoists because our criminal justice system, laws, and government are in place to prevent us from committing severe acts in our own self-interest. If everyone were to act in his or her own self-interest, it would create chaos and disorder, yet I think it definitely does happen. For example, criminal acts that are considered pre-meditated usually involve a person acting only in his or her self-interest. I think that the reason that everyone doesn’t run around acting entirely selfish is because our moral selves combine with our tendency to be egoists, creating rational humans (most of the time).

[Tim Collins]

Ethical egoism is the idea that people act out of their own self-interest. If everyone was to act out of their own self-interest few productive things would be accomplished. Everyone would look out for themselves and do what they need to satisfy their needs. I believe ethical egoism to be wrong in that it leads to serious problems amongst society. Is it right for a person to murderer someone and then say it was in my best self-interest. Better yet, is alright for person on any crime to say it was in self-interest. “Sorry officer, I needed to speed it was in my own interest,” probably would not and nor should it work. Ethical egoism in my opinion is a very selfish way to look at things. There are plenty of times where I would be better suited to do things that met my needs, but it felt unethical to do so. Self-interest is selfish. I have no problem with looking out for oneself, but when the line is crossed into affecting others I have a problem.

[Yohei Sugiyama]

What you believe and what you want is important for life. I do believe that you should think about yourself before others. However, you still can not forget that in your lifetime some people will help you. I sure agree to that because I totally got help from people I know. I think giving back the favor won't still hurt you. By thinkning about just yourself and would not care of other is pretty sad in my view. After helping them I have some happiness left in me. This thought would be moral view for me. In different opinion though, it is right to have your own thoughts. There is cultural views and moral views around in the world but your own thought will be the number one opinion you must have. If you do not have your opinion, then you will just be like people just agreeing to everyone. This will make moral and cultural thoughts to not exist. Concluding, I believe that you must have your thought and you should care abiout yourself first. On the other hand, trust people and help out each other. I partially believe egoism but on some parts I am against it.

[Jon Pustilnik]

The concept of ethical egoism, to act in ones own self interest seems to go against the morals of today's society. With hundreds of thousands of charities and millions of people volunteering their time to help others on a daily basis, a large part of today's world is helping other people. If everyone acted in their own self interest then a majority of people would disregard laws. Naturally, humans are inclined to be greedy and always want more, but they are taught other things that are less selfish. A person will usually still think of themself first but there are social boundaries that are in place today that stop people from being egoists. People not always thinking of themselves first is what makes the society we live in today function properly. I am against ethical egoism because there would be a more chaotic, less productive world if everyone practiced it.

[Lacey]

The ethical egoist does not believe in simply acting selfishly as most of the posting above read. The ethical egoist does believe in promoting self interest, but this is not and shouldn't be confused with selfishness. As defined selfishness is or are the act or acts that promote self interest but at the expense of or in a way that is indifferent to others. However, self interest is the promotion of our own benefit, but in the consideration of the role that others fulfill in our lives. That being said, acting selfishly would not be in the best interest of the ethical egoist, and therefore we can conclude that a true ethical egoist does not simply believe in acting selfishly and that this thought is both overly and hastily generalized.