James Rachels: Egoism and Moral Scepticism
Name of the Book:
Contemporary Moral Problems
Library Reference: N/A
Amazon Link:http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1243048065/ref=sr_pg_2?ie=UTF8&rs=&keywords=james%20rachels&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ajames%20rachels&page=2 Quote:
“
Genuine egoist are rare, and that it is fundamental fact of human psychology that humans care about others and not just about themselves. “
Learning Expectations:
1. Expects to learn about Egoism.2. Expects to learn about Moral Scepticism.3. Expects to learn what is being argued in this chapter of this book.4. Expects to learn more about morality.5. Expects to learn what’s the difference of the authors’ point of view and my point of view.
Book Review:
In this chapter it is discussed here what is egoism all about. There are two types ofegoism one is psychological egoism and the other one is ethical egoism. So psychologicalegoism is an act that they would be motivated because of their self-interest, they help otherpeople because they are being motivated by their self-interest. While ethical egoism is an act thateverything that they “ must “ do is for their self-interest. So it is also argued here that is egoism is just an act of selfishness? Egoist people do things just for their own consciousness not becausethey really want to help people. But I think that being egoist is not really bad because even if youhelp other people just because of your selfishness then it is all right because people would notknow either, you would not tell them that you just help them because of your own conscience oryou won’t tell them that you are an egoist, but instead your just going to keep it to yourself and goon and try to help other people again because of your egoism. So you still help other people butnot because you really want to help them for there own sake, but it is just because you want tohave peace with you conscience.
Things I have learned:
Reading this whole chapter one of this book gives me enough knowledge on whategoism is really about. I have understand that egoism is good in the looks of other people thatthey don’t know that you are an egoist, but when people doesn’t know that you are an egoist thenit would be a good look for them. But would you tell them that you are an egoist? No right? Sobeing an egoist is also good because you already help other people and you also help yourself.
Integrative Questions:
1. What is Egoism?2. What is Moral Skepticism all about?3. Is Egoism really good or bad?4. What is the difference of psychological egoism and ethical egoism?5. Is Egoism really selfishness?
Review Questions:
1. Explain the legend of Gyges. What questions about morality are raised by the story?
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Gyges is a sheperd who found a magic ring and used it so that he would rule theplace. He used it for evil. He used it to kill the king seduce the queen and rule theplace.2. Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism
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Psychological egoism is an act that something that you want to do because youare being motivated of your self-interest. While ethical egoism is an act that you“ must “ do because of your self-interest.3. Rachels discusses two arguments for psychological egoism. What are these arguments,and how does he reply to them?
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The first argument is all about being selfish and not being selfish. He reacts thatif he just think of himself then it is being selfish but if he thinks of others then it isnot being selfish
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The second argument is the unselfish actions that always produce a sense ofsatisfaction. He said that Abraham Lincoln once expressed this argument.4. What 3 commonplace confusions does Rachels detect in the thesis psychologicalegoism?
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That it could be common but it would always be a false assumption.5. State the argument for saying the ethical egoism is inconsistent. Why doesn’t Rachelsaccept this argument?
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The argument is “To say that any action or policy of action is right (or that it oughtto be adopted) entails that it is right for anyone in the same sort ofcircumstances.” Rachels doesn’t accept this argument because he can contradictthis argument and show how ethical egoism be maintained consistently.
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