Egoism Homework Worksheet
Preparation Homework Questions: Egoism
1). Is Kim Jong- Il Irrational?
2). Suppose your friend had found a magic ring that made them invisible. Suppose that she got frightened of its power and destroyed it. Was this the right thing to do, do you think?
3). Is driving a hot- rod or powerful motorcycle irrational, do you think?
4). Is there anything wrong with this argument?
P1. to aid others, we must know exactly what they want and need, otherwise we will
bungle the job and cause unhappiness.
P2. We do not know what others want and need
∴ we will bungle the job and cause unhappiness.
5). Consider the following argument:
P1). Altruistic theories of morality demand from the individual total self sacrifice, their money and lives wasted on supporting unproductive people.
P2). A doctrine that demands of the individual total self sacrifice is a violation of individual rights (in particular property rights)
P3). A doctrine that violates individual rights is immoral
P4). One must choose a moral theory that is not immoral
P5). One must choose between Altruistic theories of morality and Ethical Egoism.
∴ One must choose Ethical Egoism
Is Premise 1 true, do you think? (By ‘altruistic theories’ we mean Utilitarianism, Kant, Social Contract, and any other theory that requires considerations for other people). If not, does the argument convince?
6). Consider the following argument:
P1. Every living thing tries to stay alive, for its own sake. [for the sake of being alive].
P2. Therefore, for any living thing, its own life, and nothing else, is valuable for its
own sake.
P3. Because all people are living things, it follows that everyone should do what keeps them alive. (for this is what they should value).
P4. A person can only live if they are rational. (corollary: Irrational behavior leads to death).
P5. [‘Rational’ means “do only what is good for me.”] (implied premise)
P6 [‘Rational’ means ‘do productive work’]
P6 [‘Rational’ means ‘do not hurt or exploit other people or live off their labors’] (implied premise)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
∴ We should only do what is good for ourselves, but should not exploit other people
Is Premise 5 true, do you think?
7). Is this a good argument, do you think?
Tokyo is full of air pollution
∴Tokyo should be full of air pollution
8). Is this a good argument, do you think?
There is war
∴There should be war
9). Do you think this is a good argument?
Morality and society are myths, because they have their origins in religion, which is itself a fiction.
1). Is Kim Jong- Il Irrational?
2). Suppose your friend had found a magic ring that made them invisible. Suppose that she got frightened of its power and destroyed it. Was this the right thing to do, do you think?
3). Is driving a hot- rod or powerful motorcycle irrational, do you think?
4). Is there anything wrong with this argument?
P1. to aid others, we must know exactly what they want and need, otherwise we will
bungle the job and cause unhappiness.
P2. We do not know what others want and need
∴ we will bungle the job and cause unhappiness.
5). Consider the following argument:
P1). Altruistic theories of morality demand from the individual total self sacrifice, their money and lives wasted on supporting unproductive people.
P2). A doctrine that demands of the individual total self sacrifice is a violation of individual rights (in particular property rights)
P3). A doctrine that violates individual rights is immoral
P4). One must choose a moral theory that is not immoral
P5). One must choose between Altruistic theories of morality and Ethical Egoism.
∴ One must choose Ethical Egoism
Is Premise 1 true, do you think? (By ‘altruistic theories’ we mean Utilitarianism, Kant, Social Contract, and any other theory that requires considerations for other people). If not, does the argument convince?
6). Consider the following argument:
P1. Every living thing tries to stay alive, for its own sake. [for the sake of being alive].
P2. Therefore, for any living thing, its own life, and nothing else, is valuable for its
own sake.
P3. Because all people are living things, it follows that everyone should do what keeps them alive. (for this is what they should value).
P4. A person can only live if they are rational. (corollary: Irrational behavior leads to death).
P5. [‘Rational’ means “do only what is good for me.”] (implied premise)
P6 [‘Rational’ means ‘do productive work’]
P6 [‘Rational’ means ‘do not hurt or exploit other people or live off their labors’] (implied premise)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
∴ We should only do what is good for ourselves, but should not exploit other people
Is Premise 5 true, do you think?
7). Is this a good argument, do you think?
Tokyo is full of air pollution
∴Tokyo should be full of air pollution
8). Is this a good argument, do you think?
There is war
∴There should be war
9). Do you think this is a good argument?
Morality and society are myths, because they have their origins in religion, which is itself a fiction.
posted by G. Roche at 4:35 PM
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