Psychological Egoism
After reviewing in your textbook and watching "Virtue Ethics," find a contemporary article showing how the theory of psychological egoism in a corporation resulted in an ethical dilemma.
- Is there a way that the decision-making process within a large corporation can overcome this fact of human selfishness?
- What would be a solution in this scenario?
- How does the theory of psychological egoism fit within your personal body of ethics and values?
- How does the theory of psychological egoism fit within the ethical structure of the company or organization you work for now or have worked for in the past?
Self-Interest or Community Interest
As read in the course text, Adam Smith argued that self-interest is a critical element in a society's economic development. Karl Marx, by contrast, argued that society functions better when each of us is more community oriented.
- Pretend you are either Adam Smith or Karl Marx, and explain economic recession from these perspectives.
- Discuss when greed and selfishness in businesses go too far and become a hazard to society.
- Stepping back into your shoes again, contrast your system of values and ethics concerning greed and self-interest with the system of values of Smith or Marx.
- Discuss if the ethical perspective of a particular group to which you currently belong, or previously belonged resembles the perspective of Adam Smith or Karl Marx?