Deck 8: Ethical Egoism

Question 1

Write an essay on the relationship between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. Define each theory, and explain how they are similar and how they differ. Does accepting one theory commit you to accepting the other? Does rejecting one commit you to rejecting the other? Why or why not?

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

"Why be moral?" How does the ethical egoist answer this question? How might someone who denies egoism answer it? Is one of these answers more satisfactory than the other? Defend your answer.

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

In what ways does ethical egoism require actions that seem to be paradigmatic cases of immorality? How serious of a problem is this for the theory? What should the egoist say in response?

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

How does the theory of ethical egoism relate to the libertarian idea that all of our obligations derive from the sources of consent and reparation? Does either idea support the other? Why or why not?

Question 5

Describe the objection that ethical egoism requires us to arbitrarily elevate the interests of some individuals (namely, ourselves) over others. How do you think the egoist would respond to this objection? Do you find the egoist's response compelling?

Question 6

Explain the Best Argument for Ethical Egoism. Raise what you take to be the most serious objection to it. How would an egoist respond to your objection? Do you find this response satisfying? Why or why not?

Question 7

According to ethical egoism, conflicts between self-interest and morality

A) are widespread.
B) are rare but should always be resolved in favor of self-interest.
C) are impossible.
D) are rare but should always be resolved in favor of morality.

Question 8

The fact that ethical egoism requires actions that seem to be paradigm cases of immorality

A) proves that the theory is false.
B) proves that our conventional ideas about morality are mistaken.
C) shows that we should accept conventional morality only if there are very strong arguments in its favor.
D) shows that we should accept ethical egoism only if there are very strong arguments in its favor.

Question 9

In order to claim that murder, rape, and torture are always morally impermissible, the ethical egoist must maintain that

A) such actions fail to maximize preference satisfaction.
B) those who murder, rape, or torture never benefit from their crime.
C) such actions cannot be applied as universal law.
D) those who murder, rape, or torture are vicious.

Question 10

According to the text, what's wrong with the argument from paradigm cases?

A) It's invalid.
B) Premise 2 is definitely false-ethical egoism never requires killing, rape, or theft.
C) It begs the question against the ethical egoist.
D) None of the above-the argument is sound.

Question 11

Psychological egoism

A) must be true if ethical egoism is true.
B) is one, but not the only, possible source of support for ethical egoism.
C) is completely unrelated to ethical egoism.
D) implies that ethical egoism is false.

Question 12

If ethical egoism is true, then

A) it is never morally permissible for someone to murder you.
B) it is never morally permissible for someone to steal from you.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 13

Suppose the widespread acceptance of egoism would make everyone better off. This would

A) be a strong moral consideration in favor of ethical egoism.
B) not support ethical egoism.
C) be a strong consideration against ethical egoism.
D) decisively refute ethical egoism.

Question 14

According to libertarianism, all of our duties derive from

A) self-interest.
B) the categorical imperative.
C) consent and reparation.
D) God's commands.

Question 15

If libertarianism is true, then

A) ethical egoism is correct.
B) ethical egoism is false.
C) ethical egoism is probably true.
D) this provides some weak evidence against ethical egoism.

Question 16

The best argument for ethical egoism states that

A) if there is good reason to do something, then doing it must make you better off.
B) if doing something makes you better off, then there is good reason to do it.
C) no one is capable of behaving altruistically.
D) egoism makes everyone better off.

Question 17

According to the text, what's wrong with the best argument for ethical egoism?

A) It's invalid.
B) Sometimes we have reason to do things that will gain us nothing.
C) It begs the question against the opponent of ethical egoism.
D) None of the above-the argument is sound.

Question 18

If ethical egoism is true, then everyone

A) is allowed to pursue self-interest.
B) has the right to be free from the interference of others when pursuing self-interest.
C) is entitled to one's own property.
D) All of the above

Question 19

Ethical egoism

A) violates many widely shared moral beliefs.
B) cannot allow for the existence of genuine moral rights.
C) arbitrarily elevates the interests of some people over those of others.
D) All of the above

Question 20

If ethical egoism is true, then I should regard the interests of others as having

A) just as much moral importance as my own interests.
B) some moral importance but not as much as my own interests.
C) no moral importance.
D) more moral importance than my own interests.

Question 21

If ethical egoism is true, others are morally obliged

A) to promote our interests.
B) to refrain from frustrating our interests.
C) to frustrate our interests.
D) None of the above

Question 22

What would an ethical egoist say about a situation in which self-interest and morality conflict?

A) One should do what morality demands.
B) One should do what self-interest demands.
C) One should sometimes do what morality requires and sometimes pursue self-interest.
D) Such a situation is impossible, according to ethical egoism.

Question 23

Which of the following rights do we have, according to ethical egoism?

A) A right to not be physically assaulted
B) A right not to have our property taken from us
C) A right to pursue our own self-interest
D) All of the above

Question 24

According to the text, what is the best argument for ethical egoism?

A) Our moral obligations give us reasons, and all reasons come from self-interest.
B) Everyone would be better off if everyone were an ethical egoist.
C) Libertarianism is true, and libertarianism requires ethical egoism.
D) None of the above

Question 25

Which of the following is a problem for ethical egoism?

A) It falsely claims that altruism is impossible.
B) It violates core moral beliefs.
C) It cannot explain why we have reason to be moral.
D) All of the above

Question 26

According to ethical egoism, how should we regard the basic needs of others?

A) They are just as important as our needs.
B) They are important but less important than our needs.
C) We should completely discount them.
D) We should seek to thwart them whenever possible.

Question 27

Which of the following claims about ethical egoism is not true?

A) It cannot allow for the existence of moral rights.
B) It claims that everyone always behaves selfishly.
C) It arbitrarily makes one's own interests all-important.
D) It may require us to do things that seem like paradigmatic cases of immorality.