2014-2-PHI110-06
__NOTITLE__ Studying 2014/2 PHI110: Philosophy, Morality and Society. Week 6. Undertaken Study Period 2, 2014. Content is quoted and/or summarised from the university website in fair dealing for purpose of research or study. See also: StudyWISE and AIMS.
Why be moral? Egoism and Self Interest Theories
This week, we begin with a challenge to morality posed by the character Glaucon in Plato's Republic. Glaucon argues that we only act morally because we fear the consequences of being caught acting immorally, so that if we could remain undetected (as Gyges could in the story) we would have no reason to act morally.
We will examine the question of whether we are in fact primarily motivated by self-interest, as Glaucon believes, and whether self interest can be reconciled with morality.
Links
Herewith a list of further reading:
Lectures
Lecturer for section 2: Dr Mianna Lotz.
Notes
Questions
Readings
Readings downloaded from e-Reserve.
- Plato. "The ring of Gyges" in Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life: Introductory Readings in Ethics, Sommers, Christina; Sommers, Fred, 1993, 445-450 (original)
- Rachels, James. "The idea of a social contract" in Elements of Moral Philosophy, Rachels, James, 1999, 143-161 (original)
- Feinberg, Joel. "Psychological egoism" in Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings, Pojman, Louis P., 1995, 62-73 (original)
- Hobbes, Thomas. "The Leviathan" in Ethical Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings, Pojman, Louis P., 1995, 53-61 (original)
- Nozick, Robert. "The experience machine" in Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Nozick, Robert, 1974, 42-45 (original)
Answers
TODO: answer the reading questions.
Activities
- Self Test Quiz - Week 06 Egoism and Self-Interest Theories
- Discussion forum for Week 6: Why be Moral? Egoism and Self-Interest Theories
- Week 6 review: What have you learnt? (original)
Work
TODO
Things to do, most important on top:
- Listen to the Lectures
- Read the Lecture notes
- Read the Questions
- Read the Readings
- Answer the Questions
- Do the Activities
Done
Things that are done, most recent on top:
Glossary
Herewith a list of new and/or interesting words and selected definitions: