Is it possible to be self-interested and also to form moral judgements?

Pietercircus10 May 05, 2021 at 08:57 1150 views 2 comments

Drawing on from the work of Adam Smith, how do the two co-exist together? Is it possible to have self-interest while also being able to form our own moral judgements? Don't they cancel each other out?

What sort of mechanisms underpin these two combinations?

Please let me know your thoughts!

Comments (2)

counterpunch May 05, 2021 at 09:19 #531678 0 likes

Quoting Pietercircus10

Is it possible to have self-interest while also being able to form our own moral judgements?

If drawing on the work of Adam Smith, surely you refer to rational self interest - and not to immoral/amoral selfishness?

Quoting Pietercircus10

[s][/s] Don't they cancel each other out?

No. Economic decision making driven by rational self interest is, overwhelmingly, a moral good.

"It is not by the generosity of the butcher and baker that I have my supper, but by their regard to their own rational self interests."

Adam Hilstad May 08, 2021 at 12:33 #533180 0 likes

I probably agree with the previous answer, at least in large part. But I’d also add that what we often call self-interest, our fundamental motivations, are not self-interest at all—they are simply teleonomic. We just act as though we are self-interested, when in fact on that level it’s nothing but instinct.