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 of egoism one is psychological egoism and the other one is ethical egoism. So psychological egoism is an act that they would be motivated because of their self-interest, they help other people because they are being motivated by their self-interest. While ethical egoism is an act that everything 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 because they really want to help people. But I think that being egoist is not really bad because even if you help other people just because of your selfishness then it is all right because people would not know either, you would not tell them that you just help them because of your own conscience or you won’t tell them that you are an egoist, but instead your just going to keep it to yourself and go on and try to help other people again because of your egoism. So you still help other people but not because you really want to help them for there own sake, but it is just because you want to have peace with you conscience.

Things I have learned:

Reading this whole chapter one of this book gives me enough knowledge on what egoism is really about. I have understand that egoism is good in the looks of other people that they don’t know that you are an egoist, but when people doesn’t know that you are an egoist then it would be a good look for them. But would you tell them that you are an egoist? No right? So being 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?

• Gyges is a sheperd who found a magic ring and used it so that he would rule the place. He used it for evil. He used it to kill the king seduce the queen and rule the place.

2. Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism

• Psychological egoism is an act that something that you want to do because you are 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?

• The first argument is all about being selfish and not being selfish. He reacts that if he just think of himself then it is being selfish but if he thinks of others then it is not being selfish

• The second argument is the unselfish actions that always produce a sense of satisfaction. He said that Abraham Lincoln once expressed this argument.

4. What 3 commonplace confusions does Rachels detect in the thesis psychological egoism?

• 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 Rachels accept this argument?

• The argument is “To say that any action or policy of action is right (or that it ought to be adopted) entails that it is right for anyone in the same sort of circumstances.” Rachels doesn’t accept this argument because he can contradict this argument and show how ethical egoism be maintained consistently.

6. According to Rachels, why shouldn’t we hurt others, and why should we help others? How can the egoist reply?

• The reason that we should not hurt others is that maybe because if we hurt others then a lot of people would be mad at you and it is your reputation that would be ruined and we should help others because sometimes it would be our conscience that let us help others because if you don’t then your conscience could not be in peace and it is good to help others because you would have a lot of friends or companion if you help them.

Discussion Questions:

1. Has Rachels answered the question raised by Glaucon, namely “ Why be moral?” If so, what exactly is his answer?

• We need to be moral because our actions can greatly affect other people and

our community.

2. Are genuine egoists rare, as Rachels claims? Is it a fact that most people care about others, even people they don’t know?

• Genuine egoist are rare, and that it is fundamental fact of human psychology that humans care about others and not just about themselves.

3. Suppose we define ethical altruism as the view that one should always act for the benefit of others and never in one’s self- interest. Is such a view immoral or not?

• No, it is not immoral because being immoral is when you don’t think when you’re going to act. You don’t care if people would be hurt or not, then that is immoral.