What is Psychological Egoism? Psychological Egoism Definition, Explanation, and Objections
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Ben explores psychological egoism, a theory stating that all human actions are motivated by self-interest, even in seemingly altruistic acts. He explains the origins of the theory, citing philosophers like Hobbes and Bentham, and contrasts it with psychological altruism. Ben reviews notable objections, such as arguments from Joseph Butler, David Hume, and Derek Parfit, who challenge the idea that all human behavior is selfish. The video ultimately questions the validity of psychological egoism and invites viewers to share their opinions in the comments.
Takeaways
- 📖 Psychological egoism is the theory that people are always motivated by self-interest, even in seemingly altruistic acts.
- 🧠 This theory is descriptive, explaining how things are, not prescribing how they ought to be, unlike normative philosophies.
- 📚 The philosophy is largely attributed to Thomas Hobbes and Jeremy Bentham, who argue that all voluntary actions are driven by self-interest.
- 💡 Bentham's version of psychological egoism, called psychological hedonism, claims that all human desires are ultimately rooted in seeking pleasure or avoiding pain.
- 🤔 Psychological egoism asserts that even acts like charity or volunteering are driven by selfish motives, such as gaining respect or feeling good about oneself.
- ❌ There are major objections to psychological egoism, including Joseph Butler's argument that people must desire things other than their own welfare to achieve it.
- 👩👧 David Hume argues that certain actions, like a mother's care for her child, cannot be explained by self-interest, as they often come at personal cost.
- 🔄 Derek Parfit critiques the theory for using the word 'want' in multiple senses, making its logic incoherent and equivocal.
- 🔁 Some critics argue that psychological egoism is circular in nature, claiming that all voluntary acts are self-interested simply because they are voluntary.
- 🧐 The video concludes by suggesting that psychological egoism is a flawed and illogical theory of human behavior, inviting viewers to share their thoughts in the comments.
Q & A
What is psychological egoism?
-Psychological egoism is the theory that people are always motivated by self-interest, even in cases that seem altruistic. It is a descriptive philosophy that claims to explain how things are, not how they should be.
How is psychological egoism different from normative philosophies?
-Psychological egoism is descriptive, meaning it only aims to explain how people act, not how they ought to act. In contrast, normative philosophies are concerned with how people should act based on moral or ethical standards.
Who are the key philosophers associated with psychological egoism?
-Thomas Hobbes and Jeremy Bentham are two key philosophers associated with psychological egoism. Hobbes argued that all voluntary actions are motivated by one's own good, and Bentham linked egoism to the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
What is psychological hedonism, and how does it relate to psychological egoism?
-Psychological hedonism is a form of psychological egoism that claims self-interest is always tied to the pursuit of pleasure or the avoidance of pain. It suggests that all actions, even seemingly altruistic ones, are motivated by a desire for personal satisfaction.
Can altruistic acts be explained by psychological egoism?
-According to psychological egoism, even altruistic acts are driven by self-interest. For example, volunteering at an animal shelter might seem selfless, but a psychological egoist would argue that the volunteer does it to feel good or gain some other form of satisfaction.
What are some arguments against psychological egoism?
-Key arguments against psychological egoism include Bishop Joseph Butler’s claim that people sometimes desire things other than their own welfare, David Hume’s argument about innate non-egoistic instincts, and Derek Parfit’s critique of the fallacy of equivocation within the theory.
How does Bishop Joseph Butler's argument challenge psychological egoism?
-Butler argues that the pleasure people derive from helping others is often a byproduct of their desire for the welfare of others, not for their own pleasure. This suggests that people can have desires that are not purely self-interested.
What is David Hume’s objection to psychological egoism?
-David Hume argues that people have innate, non-egoistic instincts, such as a mother’s instinct to protect her child. He suggests that these instincts cannot be explained by self-interest, particularly when a mother sacrifices her own well-being for her child.
What does Derek Parfit mean by the fallacy of equivocation in psychological egoism?
-Parfit claims that psychological egoism uses the word 'want' in two different senses—one meaning 'any state of being motivated' and the other meaning 'desire for pleasure.' He argues that this shift in meaning creates an illogical argument for egoism.
Why is psychological egoism considered to be based on circular logic?
-The argument for psychological egoism assumes that people only act in ways that bring them pleasure. This makes the conclusion (that people act out of self-interest) the same as the premise, which creates a circular and logically flawed argument.
Outlines
💭 Introduction to Psychological Egoism
In this paragraph, the speaker introduces the video, explaining that it will explore the concept of psychological egoism and whether people are always motivated by self-interest, even in seemingly altruistic acts. The video will cover the definition of psychological egoism, evaluate its rationality, and address major objections. The speaker encourages viewers to like, share, and subscribe to help with visibility and to receive notifications for future videos.
🤔 Defining Psychological Egoism and Its Origins
This section defines psychological egoism as a theory of egoism, which posits that all human actions are motivated by self-interest, even in cases that seem altruistic. Psychological egoism is a descriptive philosophy, explaining how things are rather than prescribing how they should be. Its origins are attributed to philosophers Thomas Hobbes and Jeremy Bentham. Hobbes argued that all voluntary actions, including acts of benevolence, are ultimately self-serving, while Bentham’s psychological hedonism suggests that humans are driven by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
🧐 Is Psychological Egoism True?
The speaker questions whether psychological egoism accurately describes human behavior, proposing that even seemingly charitable acts are done out of selfish motives, such as seeking reciprocation, respect, or personal satisfaction. Psychological egoism contrasts with psychological altruism, which suggests that some actions are genuinely motivated by the welfare of others. An example is given of someone volunteering at an animal shelter without expecting recognition or personal gain, but the egoist argues that even this act is driven by a desire for self-satisfaction.
📖 Challenges to Psychological Egoism: Butler’s Critique
This paragraph presents the objections to psychological egoism. Bishop Joseph Butler's famous argument against it suggests that people often desire things other than their own welfare. For instance, the pleasure we derive from eating ice cream is a byproduct of a prior desire for the ice cream itself, not for the pleasure. Butler's argument aims to show that people can act based on desires unrelated to self-interest, thereby invalidating psychological egoism.
👩👧 Hume’s Rejection and Parental Instincts
Philosopher David Hume's counterargument is presented, where he claims that humans possess innate non-egoistic instincts, such as a mother’s instinct to care for her child. Hume argues that describing a mother’s self-sacrificing care for a sick child as self-interested is incoherent, especially when she grieves upon the child’s death. This instinctual behavior cannot be adequately explained by self-interest alone, providing further evidence against psychological egoism.
🔄 Parfit’s Critique of Equivocation in Psychological Egoism
Derek Parfit’s critique of psychological egoism focuses on the fallacy of equivocation. Parfit argues that the term 'want' is used inconsistently by egoists, leading to flawed reasoning. Egoists claim that when people act voluntarily, they are doing what they want and, therefore, act selfishly. However, Parfit distinguishes between wanting something in a general sense (wide sense) and selfish desires (narrow sense). This equivocation weakens the argument for psychological egoism.
🔁 Circular Reasoning in Psychological Egoism
In this section, the speaker highlights another flaw in psychological egoism: circular reasoning. The theory assumes that if someone derives enjoyment from an action, they must have performed it solely for that enjoyment, which leads to a logical fallacy. The conclusion of this reasoning mirrors its premise, making it an invalid argument. Volunteering, for instance, may bring enjoyment, but that doesn’t mean the action was undertaken for selfish reasons. The speaker concludes by expressing their skepticism of psychological egoism as a coherent explanation of human behavior.
🔔 Conclusion and Call to Action
The speaker wraps up the video by summarizing their personal view that psychological egoism is a flawed and illogical way of understanding human behavior. Viewers are invited to share their thoughts in the comments and ask any questions. The speaker reiterates the request to like, share, and subscribe to the channel, as well as to turn on notifications for future content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Psychological Egoism
💡Altruism
💡Self-Interest
💡Thomas Hobbes
💡Jeremy Bentham
💡Psychological Hedonism
💡Bishop Joseph Butler
💡David Hume
💡Fallacy of Equivocation
💡Circular Logic
Highlights
Introduction to psychological egoism and the central question: Are people only motivated by self-interest?
Explanation of the distinction between descriptive and normative philosophies, with psychological egoism being descriptive.
The origins of psychological egoism, with key contributions from philosophers Thomas Hobbes and Jeremy Bentham.
Hobbes' quote from Leviathan: 'No man giveth, but with intention of good to himself.'
Bentham's principle of psychological hedonism, where self-interest is tied to the pursuit of pleasure or avoidance of pain.
Psychological egoism claims that even seemingly altruistic acts are motivated by self-interest, such as the expectation of reciprocation or gaining respect.
Contrast between psychological egoism and psychological altruism, which asserts that some actions are genuinely motivated by altruistic desires.
Example of volunteering at an animal rescue shelter, which psychological egoism argues is still driven by a desire to feel good.
Bishop Joseph Butler's objection to psychological egoism, claiming that desires for things other than self-interest can lead to personal welfare.
David Hume's argument that certain instincts, like a mother's protective instinct, are non-egoistic and contradict psychological egoism.
Hume's example of a grieving mother who dies after caring for a sick child, showing that her actions cannot be seen as self-interested.
Derek Parfit's critique of psychological egoism, accusing it of the fallacy of equivocation in its use of the word 'want'.
Parfit's distinction between 'want' in the wide sense (any motivation) and 'want' in the narrow sense (desires for personal gain or pleasure).
The circular logic argument against psychological egoism, stating that assuming an act is selfish because it was performed willingly is a logical fallacy.
Final evaluation of psychological egoism as a simplistic and flawed theory for explaining human behavior.
Transcripts
hey ben here and today's video will
answer the question can i discuss what
psychological egoism
is and are people only motivated by
self-interest even in the case of
seemingly altruistic acts
so as usual i'll go over the definition
and explain what psychological egoism is
then i'll discuss if the philosophy is
rational or not and include what some of
the major objections against it are
after watching this video you thought it
was helpful at any point please consider
liking it and sharing it with others as
this helps my channel get seen in the
algorithm better
and feel free to subscribe for more
videos like it using the link in the
description and turn on the notification
bell
to receive updates when new videos are
out so psychological egoism is a theory
of egoism
egoism being a philosophy concerned with
the self's role or
ego as the motivation and goal for one's
own action
specifically psychological ecoism
believes that people are always
motivated by self-interest
even in what seems to be acts of
altruism this is a descriptive
philosophy meaning that it only claims
how things
are not how they ought to be as opposed
to a normative philosophy which is about
how things
should be now the formation of the
philosophy is credited to thomas hobbs
and jeremy bentham
hobbs writes in his famous book
leviathan no man giveth
but with intention of good to himself
because gift is voluntary
and all of voluntary acts the object is
to every man his own good
of which if men see they shall be
frustrated there will be no beginning of
benevolence or trust
nor consequently of mutual help and
bentham wrote in his introduction to the
principles of morals and legislation
nature has placed mankind under the
governance of two sovereign masters
pain and pleasure it is for them alone
to point out what we ought to do
as well as to determine what we shall do
on one hand
the standard of right and wrong on the
other the chain of causes and effects
here fastened to their throne and here
bentham argues for a type of
psychological egoism
called psychological hedonism which
restricts the kind of self-interest we
can ultimately desire to pleasure or the
avoidance of pain
now suppose psychological egoism is a
true description of reality
in that case every act we take in life
is out of selfishness
and self-interest no matter how
charitable the act seems to be
every act that seems selfless is really
done for reasons like the expectation of
reciprocation desire to gain respect
the desire for reward or some other
satisfaction like feeling like a good
person
psychological egoism is contrasted with
psychological altruism
which says that some acts we can have
are ultimately
for altruistic motives for example
someone may argue that volunteering to
work for an animal rescue shelter
without pay
uh the ability without the ability to
adopt an animal or any sort of
recognition
is a pretty selfless act but the
psychological egoist will claim that
this is actually a selfish act because
it's fulfilling a desire to feel good
from acting altruistically
egoists aren't narcissists who only care
about themselves
it includes people who may dedicate
their lives for what seems to be purely
altruistic acts
now hobbes and bentham don't offer a ton
of proof for psychological egoism
and there are little in the way of
scientific studies fully confirming this
however some people buy into the concept
because it offers a simplistic and
seemingly logical explanation
for something complicated human behavior
einstein spoke about how the best
theories and descriptions of reality
should offer a clear
explanation of being as simple as
possible so does it exist
what are the arguments against it one of
the most famous arguments against
psychological egoism
comes from bishop joseph butler stating
that psychological egoism
is false because one must desire things
other than one's own welfare
in order to get welfare basically the
experience of pleasure
we get upon attaining something
presupposes a desire for the
thing attained not for the pleasure
itself the pleasure we get from eating
ice cream is often a byproduct of a
prior desire for the thing that gave us
pleasure
butler's argument can be simplified into
the following steps number one sometimes
people benefit from helping
others number two sometimes such benefit
presupposes a desire for what it gener
for what generated it not for the
resulting benefit
number three so sometimes people desire
things other than self-interest
therefore psychological egoism is false
also the philosopher david hume argued
that people have certain innate
non-egoist
instincts like the instinct of a mother
to protect and care for a child
hume wrote what interest can a fond
mother have in view
who loses her health by assidious
attendance on her sick child and
afterwards
languishes and dies of grief when freed
by its death
from the slavery of that attendance it
seems incoherent to describe such a
mother's goal as self-interested
especially when she dies in grief
another argument comes from philosopher
derek parfit who wrote about how
psychological egoism suffers from the
fallacy of equivocation
in his book on what matters equivocation
calling two things by the same name
is an informal fallacy resulting from
the use of a particular word or
expression
in multiple senses within an argument in
this case the word
want is being used illogically so
psychological egoist state
whenever people act voluntarily they are
doing what they want to do
doing what we want is selfish so
everyone acts selfishly
parfit writes that psychological egoism
fails because it uses the word
want first in the wide sense and then
later in a narrow sense
wider sense meaning any state of being
motivated while a narrow sense refers to
desires like wanting pleasure
if you gave up your time to help
homeless animals your act would not be
selfish
though you would be doing what you want
in the wide sense
and perhaps the best argument against it
is that the theory is based in
circular logic the position put forth by
william hackslick and thomas mccauley
take the statement if a person willingly
performs an act that means he derives
personal enjoyment from it
therefore people only perform acts that
give them personal enjoyment
the conclusion of this statement is the
same as its hypothesis
making it a fallacy if you willingly
volunteered an animal clinic that means
you got pleasure from it according to
egoism
therefore you only volunteered animal
clinics to get enjoyment from it
overall i think psychological egoism is
a poor and frankly a logical way of
describing human behavior
but what do you think let me know in the
comments below and let me know any uh
questions you want answered
and if you thought this video was
helpful at any point again please
consider
uh consider liking it and sharing it
with others as this helps my channel get
seen in the uh youtube algorithm and
feel free to subscribe for more videos
like it using the link in the
description
and turn on the notification bell to
receive updates when new videos are
out thanks for watching and i'll see you
again
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