Greg Detre
27/4/01
amoralist as egoism
2 conceptions of morality
behaviour
values
morality as system of behaviour
psychological egoist � it�s in his interest to obey the rules of morality
or at leaset the laws of the states
what about moral dictates???
depends on belief
yes, for Christian
esteem/status within society, friends
�justice� within Republic � inward motivations
self-interest is enlarged to include morality
list of goods (e.g. friendship, accomplishment) necessary for a good life
some of those require positive inward motivations
need to come up with list of goods
depends on the system of morality � philanthropists
what is it to care about friendship?
not just beneficial acts
not just the importance of friendship
but because you car
because they are ends in themselves
find out agent�s priorities
add friendship etc. to that list
specify what those objectives are
can try and define in terms of self-interest but �
Plato � being just =� one of the objective end goods
optimal balance in soul � in terms of self-interest
Nagel � tVfN � response to amoralism on �Ethics�
amoralism = irrational
rationality isn't self-centred
but that�s too dry + coldly rational
why don't we ask �why should I be amoral?�
persuading someone to be agent-centred is just as hard
do we want morality to have integrity???
Adam Smith � not an ethical egoist
multi-level utilitarianism � shouldn't think impartially, should be egoist, which �/span> utility
ethical egoist � the right act promotes the agents� interests as much as possible
rival to utilitarianism as criterion of right action
psychological egoist � don't have free will??? tie-break
does altruism add free will???
not really/necessarily
alter values/priorities on the fly
philosophy argument
nature of man is best-adjusted to moral inward motivations
guilt-reducing drive = an end