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The issue of ethical egoism analyzed by Ayn Rand and James Rachels is aimed at the disclosure of its role and influence on human behavior and choices. The conceptions offered by the authors are completely contradictory disclosing opposite sides of ethical egoism theory. It is necessary to note that the analysis of ethical egoism closely interacts with the concept of morality highlighting its place in the human mind and attitude to reality.
One of the principal conceptions of ethical egoism highlighted by Rand is devoted to the aspect of morality and its place in humanity. She supported the idea of ethical egoism underlining the fact that the only moral purpose of a person’s life is considered to be directed at happiness achievement. This conclusion accepted by the author was explained through the idea of volitional consciousness supporting the role of moral choice in human behavior. A code of morality can be expressed through the values code of choice. The author underlines the fact that people’s life is the process of rational thinking and choice making. Rand states that human life is morality standard though the life of everyone is the purpose of morality. The concept of ethical egoism is strived to show that people are to choose their actions aimed at survival and reaching one’s happiness. The issues of happiness and morality closely interact in the theory of Rand’s ethical egoism. Happiness being the successful condition of human life is presented as the state of unconsciousness that is the result of a person’s values achievements.
Rand discloses the idea that people are the creators of their life; only personal choice and behavior can lead to the achievement of morality and true happiness. The author calls people to reject the idea of morality breakage in modern society and strive for reaching harmony valuing oneself and supporting the principles of ethical egoism. (Rand, 1959)
In comparison with Rand, James Rachels rejected the issue of ethical egoism developing in society. He states that people are to aim their actions at mutual help to each other; while the idea of morality requires the domination of personal interests and ideas. Rachels provided the comparative analysis of ethical and psychological egoism underlining the fact that the psychological aspect discloses the idea that people follow their interests while ethical egoism theory shows the ways people are to behave to reach one’s purpose and live in accordance with own interests. Rachels expressed arguments aimed against the development of ethical egoism:
- The issue of ethical egoism is the basic threat to interests’ conflict;
- It is considered to be logically inconsistent;
- It is unacceptably arbitrary.
Certainly, the author assumed the idea of ethical egoism proving it by some conclusions expressed by Rand though the basic considerations were directed to its reject highlighting its destructive function through the domination of self-interest principle in the society. (Rachels, 2003)
The analysis of ethical egoism conceptions presented by Ayn Rand and James Rachels shows their contradictions. It is difficult to support or reject one of the author’s considerations but their positions are only partially right. The role of ethical egoism is an important one as it is expressed through human morality bringing up moral standards and values in the society while the only purpose of self-interests observation can destroy moral behavior in social relations.
References
Rachels, James. The Elements of Moral Philosophy: Ethical Egoism. Fourth Edition. McGraw-Hill. 2003.
Rand, Ayn. From the Moral Life. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. 1959.
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