Ethical Egoism & Personality: A Study

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between ethical egoism and personality health, exploring whether ethical egoism necessitates a personality that is incompatible with being healthy. The scope includes theoretical considerations of ethical egoism and its implications for personal development and interpersonal relationships.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if ethical egoism requires a disposition that conflicts with having a healthy personality.
  • Another participant suggests that a sophisticated version of ethical egoism allows for the cultivation of virtues like honesty and compassion, which could lead to a healthy personality, as these virtues are seen as necessary for achieving self-interest.
  • A participant raises a question about the relationship between ethical egoism and the concept of "might makes right," seeking clarification on how they differ.
  • A subsequent response asserts that ethical egoism is not synonymous with "might makes right," emphasizing that ethical egoism advocates for actions that align with self-interest, which may not include the use of force if it does not serve one's self-interest.
  • The discussion includes a query about the existence of rational constraints on self-interest within the framework of ethical egoism.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of ethical egoism for personality health and the nature of self-interest, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the need for clarity on the definitions of ethical egoism and its variants, as well as the assumptions regarding personality health and the nature of self-interest.

ifyco10
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Does Ethical egoism requires we have the kind of disposition which is incompatible with our having a healthy personality.
 
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That depends on whether the version of Ethical Egoism you're talking about is sophisticated or naive. Suppose an ethical egoist realizes that he will be most happy if he has nourishing, intimate relationships, and is able to pursue his ends in cooperation with others. Suppose, further, that he thereby endeavors to cultivate within himself certain virtues, such as honesty and compassion (because they are necessary pre-conditions for achieving the goods above). This sophisticated egoist may indeed have a healthy personality, even though the ultimate reason he develops such a personality is to pursue his self-interest.
 
What part of ethical egoism is not the same as might makes right?
 
Chronos said:
What part of ethical egoism is not the same as might makes right?

None of it. Ethical egoism is not synonymous with the doctrine "whatever you can do is morally permissible to do." Ethical egoism is the doctrine that you ought to do what is in your self-interest. The use of force, even to gain something that you want, may not actually be in your self-interest, hence it may not be permissible according to ethical egoism. The question is: Are there any rational constraints on self-interest?
 

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