Ethics-1 6

ETHICS 1.
6
READING MATERIAL
Standards of Moral Valuation Based on the Self
Bulaong Jr. et al. (2018) discussed the three senses of the self as these are presented below.
1. Subjectivism
It suggests that the individual thinking person is at the heart of all moral valuations.
The person is the one confronted with the situation and is burdened with the need to make
decision or judgment. From this point of view, subjectivism leaps to the more radical claim that
the individual is the sole determinant of what is morally good or bad, right or wrong. Bulaong Jr.
et al. suggest some clichés expressive of this mentality:
• “No one can tell me what is right and wrong.”
• “No one knows my situation better than myself.”
• “I am entitled to my own opinion.”
• “It is good, if I say that it is good.”
2. Criticism: There is something appealing about these statements because they seem to
express personal independence. But a closer look at these statements, reveal real
problems of subjectivism. It is probable that out of extreme situation and profound
disappointment, people may possibly console themselves with these clichés. But
objectively; however, we may ask ourselves how many times did we make decisions and
found out that we were wrong. Or, we failed to recognize that our experience is practically
just a speck in comparison to the profoundness of the experience of others. Or, if only we
can be honest and humble enough, then we would admit that our opinions are not as
founded as the opinions of more mature people and less wiser than the opinion of the
most foolish among us. And that finally, we realize that the initial good/decision is not as
good as we thought it was.
3. Psychological Egoism
It is a theory that describes the underlying dynamic behind all human actions. As a descriptive
theory, it does not direct one to act in a particular way. Instead, it points out that by nature,
humans are self-interested and are after their own satisfaction and therefore in all their
undertakings they are ultimately looking for self-fulfillment and satisfaction, aware or unaware.
As such, the ego or self has its desires and interests and all actions are geared toward the
satisfaction of these interests. It would seem that there is no problem with this position if we
consider actions done on a daily basis: watch a movie, read books, entertain visitors, etc. It is
acknowledged that we do things in pursuit of some interests all the time. The question; however,
is do we try to consider actions that normally are directed toward others?
Consider for instance the act of generosity. The position of the psychological egoist is that he or
she would maintain that underlying such apparently other-oriented behavior is a self- interested
desire, even when it is not being acknowledged or that the doer is not conscious of it. Helping
another might seem an act of altruism. But the psychological egoist has inherent self-interest in
ETHICS 1.6
READING MATERIAL
expressing an act of service. In the end, the act no matter how it appears to be other-oriented, it
is by nature an act that is self-serving.
4. Ethical Egoism
Ethical egoism differs from psychological egoism in that the latter does not suppose that all
actions undertaken are self-serving. But ethical egoism is a position that self-interest and
personal ends are the single overriding concern. Ethical egoism is totally driven by selfish motive
with no interest or concern for another. Actions are taken with the sole concern that the ultimate
benefit will be for the self. One considers oneself as the sole priority and does not allow any other
concern benefiting another. Ethical egoism is totally motivated by self- satisfaction and nothing
more.
There are certainly individuals who are influenced or work with the three senses of the self –
subjectivism, psychological egoism and ethical egoism. They work from the perspective of the
self. The self is their only point of reference in terms of their logic, choices, and decisions. There
can be no problem with this since it is normal that individuals think and plan according to their
needs, desires, their feelings or emotions and according to what they think is the right thing to
do. They plan according to what is pleasurable or what makes sense for them. However, the
problem with this is when people absolutize the self as their sole point of reference preventing
them to see things from others’ point of views.
The world is not only about our world. The world is also a “we-world” according to the
existentialist philosopher, Heidegger. He further explains that this “we-world” is to be
understood in the sense of “being-with-others-in-the-world.” It means that we are not alone in
this world but that we share the world with others. By so doing we transform it and as a
consequence of that collaboration, I am also transformed as well as the other. Mutual recognition
and sharing makes our existence more meaningful. More so, we include others now in our moral
valuations, that is, we become more considerate of the situation and more generous of the
advantages and interests of others.
The challenge therefore for people who view things only from their own perspective would be to
learn to accept others in their life and view things from this new perspective shared with others.
It would be something totally different if one could see and feel the world from another’s point
of view. Psychologists call this empathy, the ability of an individual to feel what others
subjectively feel. When one is capable of this, we become more understanding of the person
because we have understood him or her the way one understands oneself. With this, our judging
will no longer only be based from the perspective of the self but it will include the other’s
perspective.

Ethics-1 6

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics-1 6

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics-1 6

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ETHICS 1.

Standards of Moral Valuation Based on the Self

You might also like