Philosophy 2200C
Matthew Ferrer
Paper #4
Rachels’ Third Argument against Ethical Egoism In this paper I will discuss the main idea of Ethical Egoism. I will begin by clearly defining Ethical Egoism and how Ethical Egoism defines morally right actions. Next I will discuss how Ethical Egoism differs from Psychological Egoism. After I will confer why Ethical Egoism concludes why we should help others and I will examine why the notion of “self-interest” engaged by Ethical Egoism does and does not mean the same as “whatever one wants.” Furthermore, I will discuss the general principle concerning why we are justified in treating some people differently from others and then address why this general principle leads to Ethical Egoism being arbitrary and how being arbitrary is a moral problem. Finally, I will review how the role of reason is related to the previously stated problem.…show more content… More specifically, people must do only what is in their own selfish interest. Ethical egoism defines morally right actions as the necessity and ample for an action to be morality right only If that action best promotes the individuals own interests. In addition, Ethical Egoism differs from Psychological Egoism because Ethical Egoism is the normative theory that each person must pursue his or her own self-interest. Regardless of how we behave, Ethical Egoism says that our only duty is to do what is best for ourselves. Psychological Egoism is an empirical theory of human nature concerned with how people do behave. In other words, people are in fact motivated only by