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"Is Moral Egoism Correct?" - College Essays

"Is Moral Egoism Correct?"

Moral Egoism states that "one never does wrong if one does what's in one's own self-interest; it's always morally acceptable to just look out for number one" (Barcalow, 295). I feel that I should do what is in my own self-interest for the most part, but not for everything, thus making moral egoism incorrect.
When many people take a look at the definition of moral egoism, they may first think it is correct. People say, "of course I am going to do something if it benefits me." That, of course, is true. People should not smoke or do drugs because it is in their best interest not to. They also know they should wear their seatbelts, not drink bleach and never walk alone late at night. ...

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of the time it is correct for us to do what is in our own best interest, sometimes it is not. For example, say I am poor and I am living in an alleyway in New York City. I have no money, no job, and nothing to eat. One day, a nicely dressed businessman comes up to me and offers to give me food, shelter and everything I ever wanted, but there was something I would have to do in turn. I would have to go to the local middle school and to the local high school and push cocaine to the students. Although it is in my best interest to have food, shelter and whatever else I ever wanted, it is not morally correct to push drugs to children. Therefore, Moral Egoism is false because it states that anything I do in my best interest is correct, although this obviously is not correct.
Another aspect of Moral Egoism states that it is in one's self interest to get pleasure. This is obviously true. It is in fact in my best interest to be happy, and to do whatever I can do to be happy. If ...

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 8/27/2004 01:13:06 PM
Category: Social Issues
Type: Free Paper
Words: 1039
Pages: 4

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