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According to lecture, what is one of the problems with Ethical Egoism (EE)?

User Ponytech
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Final answer:

The primary problem with Ethical Egoism is its inability to resolve moral conflicts due to its lack of universal ethical standards, leading to power struggles and potential violence.

Step-by-step explanation:

One of the problems with Ethical Egoism (EE) as a moral theory is its inability to resolve moral conflicts due to the lack of a universally accepted principle of the good. Ethical Egoism suggests that individuals should act in their own self-interest, which leads to a failure in ethical conflict-regulation. This becomes especially problematic when the interests of individuals clash, resulting in no agreed-upon ethical standard to resolve disputes. Instead, such scenarios often lead to power struggles and potential violence, as EE lacks the tool for consistency or universalizability in its approach.

In contrast to Ethical Egoism, the United Nations, for example, operates with the Principle of Utility, seeking to resolve conflicts by considering what is best for the greatest number of people. EE's focus on self-interest is counterproductive to this more communal approach to ethics. Strong Ethical Egoism, which suggests it is always right to aim at one's own greatest good, exacerbates these issues and stands in stark contrast to altruistic approaches that prioritize the well-being of others.

User Eric Ahn
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