EGOISM

Psychology Ethical
Egoism Egoism
Claims that individuals Claims that everyone
always act selfishly ought to act selfishly

“We DO act in our own “We SHOULD act in

self-interest” our own self-interest”
2 Grounds of Ethical Egoism:
a) Human person by nature is not
purely egoistic
b) Ethical egoism tends to violate
objective moral principles
 ETHICAL EGOISM
“ The correct moral action is the one that meets
the self interest of an individual”
 “No man giveth but with intention of
good to himself, because gift is voluntary;
the object is to every man his own good ;
of which; if men see they shall be
frustrated, there will be no beginning of
benevolence or trust, nor consequently of
mutual help” - Thomas Hobbes
 “ The achievement of his own
happiness is man’s highest moral
purpose”
- Ayn Rand
 PSYCHOLOGICAL EGOISM
3 MAIN THEORIES
a) HEDONISTIC
b) Objective
c) Hybrid
Hedonistic
- accounts identify self-interest with
the satisfaction of one’s desires.
Often, and most plausibly, these
desires are restricted to self-
regarding desires.
Objective
- accounts identify self-interest with
the possession of states (such as
virtue or knowledge) that are
valuable independently of
whether they are desired.
Hybrid
- accounts give a role to both
desires (or pleasure) and states
that are valuable independently of
whether they are desired.
- Hedonism, which identifies self-interest with pleasure, is either a
preference or an objective account, according to whether what
counts as pleasure is determined by one’s desires.
Psychological egoism is supported by
our frequent observation of self-
interested behavior. Apparently
altruistic action is often revealed to be
self-interested. And we typically
motivate people by appealing to their
self-interest (through, for example,
punishments and rewards).
 EGOISM
theory that one's self is, or should be,
the motivation and the goal of one's
own action.
 Rational Egoism
People should do what they want
to do
- They should pursue the satisfaction
of their wants
 ANIMAL RIGHTS
Advocates:
The rights of animals, claimed on
ethical grounds, to the same humane
treatment and protection from
exploitation and abuse.
 Critics:
Animals do not have the capacity to
make moral choices
Animal Welfare
- A human responsibility that
encompasses all aspects of
animal well-being.
 ANIMAL RIGHTS IN LAW
- Rights against cruelty to animals
- Regulate the keeping of animals
- Regulate the transit of animals
internationally
- Offer no civil rights to animals
HISTORY
Pythagoras – the first animal
rights philosopher transmigration
of souls
Aristotle – non-human animals
rank far below humans
Theophrastus – against eating
meat
Rene Descartes – animals have no
souls or mind
ORGANIZATIONS
- 1824 Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals(BRITAIN)
- 1892 Henry Salt: Humanitarian
League
Republic Act No. 8485
AN ACT TO PROMOTE ANIMAL
WELFARE IN THE PHILIPPINES,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE
ANIMAL WELFARE ACT OF 1998"
 Section 1. Protect and promote the
welfare of all animals in the Philippines by
supervising and regulating all facilities
utilized for breeding, maintaining,
keeping, treating or training of all animals.
 Section 7. It shall be the duty of every
person to protect the natural habitat of
the wildlife. The destruction of said
habitat shall be considered as a form of
cruelty to animals and its preservation is a
way of protecting the animals.
 Section 4. It shall be the duty of any
owner or operator of any land, air or
water public utility transporting pet,
wildlife and all other animals to provide in
all cases adequate, clean and sanitary
facilities for the safe conveyance.
 Section 6. It shall be unlawful for any
person to torture any animal, to neglect
to provide adequate care, sustenance or
shelter, or maltreat any animal or to
subject any dog or horse to dogfights or
horsefights.
 Speciesism
- Discrimination against animals
- All pleasure or pain/preferences
should count equally whether
they are preferences of humans
or animals.
 How are animals viewed in
Industry?
Fashion
- Animals for fur
- Synthetic fibres
Medical/ Scientific Research
- Use of animals for the
development of vaccines and
cures for diseases
 DIRECT DUTY
- duties owed to the animals
themselves
INDIRECT DUTY
- duties to act in certain ways
towards animals for the sake of
ourselves
 INDIRECT DUTIES
TOWARDS ANIMALS
- DUTY TO RESPECT
- DUTY TO AVOID CRUELTY
- DUTY NOT TO HURT
- DUTY TO MAINTAIN THE
HEALTH
- DUTY TO PRESERVE
- DUTY TO PRESERVE
SPECIES