Self Quiz Chapter 6: Egoism

. Psychological egoism

makes the same argument as ethical egoism.

is purely a moral theory.

is purely a psychological theory.

is both a moral and psychological theory.

. _______ is a normative moral theory.

Psychological egoism

Ethical egoism

Altruism

The prisoner's dilemma

. Everyday experience and common sense suggest that

psychological egoism is true, since people act very selfishly.

people sometimes act unselfishly.

selfishness is actually a virtue.

genuine altruism is possible.

. If psychological egoism is true and the only choices we can make are self-serving choices, then it _______ follow that such choices are morally right.

does not

must

can, in rare circumstances

can often

. Morality

is an entirely individual matter.

requires that we cooperate and value the interests of others as well as our own.

requires that we always act self-sacrificially for the sake of others.

requires that we love others, but also demands that we must not.

. The prisoner's dilemma shows how people focusing on self-interest may lose advantages they could gain by taking a riskier path of cooperation.

True

False

. Ethical egoism never requires that I sacrifice my immediate interests for the sake of my longer-term gain.

True

False

. On its objective interpretation, ethical egoism gives us a strong motivation for doing what is right, by its definition.

True

False

. When evaluated by the four criteria for moral theories, ethical egoism's most serious problems have to do with explanatory power and moral confirmation.

True

False

. A practical problem for ethical egoism is that it seems to preclude love and friendship, even though our having such relationships is very much in our interest.

True

False

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