This document discusses the concepts of egoism and altruism from both a psychological and ethical perspective. Psychologically, egoism suggests humans only act in self-interest while altruism means acting for others. Ethically, ethical egoism means one should act selfishly while ethical altruism means one should act for others' sake. The document explores views from Ayn Rand, who argued for ethical egoism, and Joseph Butler, who critiqued ethical egoism. It asks whether people can act selflessly from a psychological perspective and whether we can create moral principles for egoism or altruism from an ethical perspective.

1. Egoism vs. Altruism
The study of Morality requires that one
addresses the dilemma of Psychological
Egoism & Altruism as well as focus on
Ethical Egoism & Altruism.

2. What are Egoism & Altruism?
 Altruism: Acting for the sake of others.
 One may be altruistic to recognize obligations
to other people.
 One may be altruistic by making one’s
interests as important as one’s own.
 Egoism: Acting out of self-interest.
 People act respectfully or kindly for their own
advantage

3. What is the Psychological
Perspective?
The Psychological perspective refers whether
we are can only act primarily for our own self-
interest or whether it is possible to act for the
sake of others.
 Based more on the question of what is in
our natures
 Do we naturally act for ourselves or for
others?
 Is it possible to act for others’ interests?

4. Ethical Perspective
Ethical Egoism: One ought to act selfishly
 Ayn Rand’s “Virtue of Selfishness”
Ethical Altruism: One ought to act for others’ sake
 Joseph Butler’s “Critique of Ethical Egoism”

5. Ayn Rand
 Virtue of Selfishness: “Altruism permits no
concept of a self-respecting, self-
supporting man…altruism permits no view
of men except as sacrificial animals.”
 If an act is not in one’s interests, it denies self-
respect
 One must act for one’s self-interest

6. Story of Lincoln &
the Sow
 Lincoln argues he saves the piglets after
hearing the mother squealing.
 Was his act one of egoism or altruism?
 Lincoln claims he was acting to avoid feeling guilty
 Goes back to the question of Psychological
Egoism (is it possible to not act in self-interest)

7. Should we be Egoists or Altruists?
Psychology
 Is it possible to act selflessly? If so, provide an example.
 If it is not possible, respond to the 3 arguments of Joseph Butler
in the textbook (pg. 254-255).
Ethics
 Can we create a principle (a moral obligation) to be Altruistic?
 i.e.: One ought to act for others’ interest rather than self-interest
because…
 Can we create a principle (a moral obligation) to be Egocentric?
 i.e.: One ought to act for self-interest rather than the interests of others
because...