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Ethics and Values / Unit 3   Ethics 113 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Ethical Egoism

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The idea

Ethical egoism is the normative thesis that each person ought to pursue his or her own self-interest exclusively.

In practice

A retiring official asks what she owes the public going forward. Ethical egoism's answer: whatever serves her — and nothing else is owed.

Where people slip

Psychological egoism describes; ethical egoism prescribes. Keeping the names apart is half the unit.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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