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Full Idea
Man's three fundamental ethical incentives, egoism, malice and compassion, are present in everyone in different and incredibly unequal proportions. In accordance with them, motives will operate on man and actions will ensue.
Gist of Idea
Man's three basic ethical incentives are egoism, malice and compassion
Source
Arthur Schopenhauer (On the Basis of Morality [1841], p.192), quoted by Christopher Janaway - Schopenhauer 7 'Egoism'
Book Ref
Janaway,Christopher: 'Schopenhauer' [OUP 2002], p.98
A Reaction
A well chosen trio. Kant would be shocked that he has left out duty, which is supposed to rise above such feelings.
| 21379 | Man's three basic ethical incentives are egoism, malice and compassion [Schopenhauer] |
| 21375 | Reason can be vicious, and great crimes have to be rational [Schopenhauer] |
| 21376 | Philosophy treats animals as exploitable things, ignoring the significance of their lives [Schopenhauer] |