Morality! The theory of ethical egoism

‘THE THEORY OF UTILITARIANISM’.

This involves looking at the consequences of our actions and seeing if they cause others unhappiness or not. This theory has been expressed by Jon Stuart Mill as ‘The greatest happiness for the greatest number’. This theory doesn’t really focus on each individual in society like the theory of ethical egoism. The action with the greatest amount of happiness is the best one.

‘THE DISCOVERED OR INVENTED ARGUMENT’.

This is for those who believe that there is an absolute good way to live. The religious society may call it as ‘living in accordance to god’s will’. This means finding the correct principles in which one should live and then decide how to apply these principles.

If we don’t really believe in god then there would obviously be no absolute way to live. We could most likely say that the decisions we make are either right or wrong depending on our culture, circumstance and individual choice. Right and wrong are then invented and will vary.

THE IDEAS THAT WE ARE ‘FREE AGENTS’.

This idea that we are able to make our own decisions and have free will. For those who believe in God, this is fine because we have a soul and the essence of free will. For atheists this is problematic. Atheists believe that the world works according to physical laws that are deterministic…. in other words, free will should not exist. Some philosophers such as zeno have said that we react to the world in a predetermined way, but we THINK that we are free; this means that we can never be held responsible for our actions, since they are not really free.