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Ethics based on an enlightened human self-interest) denies any responsibility
for the effects of our behaviour on the millions of other species and many
millions of living individuals with whom we share the Earth : not exactly an
ethically impressive position.
Taken from Patrick Currys excellent Ecological Ethics (2nd edition 2011).
He is arguing for the replacement of ‘human-centred ethics with an ethics
centred on nature – Ecocentrism.
This is an example of why I don't like Patrick Curry....There is NO ethical system based on so called "enlightened human self-interest". In fact all ethical system are either based in God, Nature or Reason but never "enlightened human self-interest". The fact that everyone has universally rejected ethics does not make "enlightened human self-interest" an ethical principal.
ReplyDeleteThe term comes from Adam Smith who, In the wealth of nations, argued that people who are motivated only by "enlightened self-interest and greed" would act morally if it was in their own personal interest . He argued that a good consequence can come from the vice of self-interest (philautos) if we had a system in which it was in ones own self-interests to act for the public good i.e. “private vices are public benefits,”.
"It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.’ (Wealth Of Nations, I.ii.2: pp 26-27)
If a Butcher sold you rotten meat, you would not be stupid enough to go back to him for repeat custom and therefore the Butcher has no choice but to supply good quality meat...Alas in modern times he would simply stuff it with chemicals, etc.
Or to use a biological example the 'Common Cold Virus' operates by "enlightened self-interest" as it would die out if it was fatal and killed its host before it could spread.
The term Enlightened Self-Interests has thus been used to justify greed and this the commonly accepted interpretation by everyone, including Patrick Curry, who has not actually read the book or his other book 'The Moral Sentiments'. He, like all moral philosophers, actually rejects "enlightened human self-interest" as being the possible foundation of ANY ethical system.