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Single Idea 9760

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / i. Self-interest ]

Full Idea

For utilitarians, self-concern causes needless pain; for Kantians, it evinces a lack of respect for one's own humanity; for the religious moralist, it is a failure of responsibility for what has been placed in one's special care.

Gist of Idea

Self-concern may be a source of pain, or a lack of self-respect, or a failure of responsibility

Source

Christine M. Korsgaard (Intro to 'Creating the Kingdom of Ends' [1996], §5)

Book Ref

Korsgaard,Christine M.: 'Creating the Kingdom of Ends' [CUP 1996], p.382


A Reaction

Worryingly, given my heathenish views, I find the third one the most congenial. If we don't take responsibility for our own selves (e.g. for having a great talent), then no one (even parents) will take responsibility for anything.


The 11 ideas from Christine M. Korsgaard

Contemplation is final because it is an activity which is not a process [Korsgaard]
For Aristotle, contemplation consists purely of understanding [Korsgaard]
An end can't be an ultimate value just because it is useless! [Korsgaard]
If we can't reason about value, we can reason about the unconditional source of value [Korsgaard]
Goodness is given either by a psychological state, or the attribution of a property [Korsgaard]
Maybe final value rests on the extrinsic property of being valued by a rational agent [Korsgaard, by Orsi]
To make sense of personal identity, focus on agency rather than experience [Korsgaard]
A person viewed as an agent makes no sense without its own future [Korsgaard]
Theory of action focuses on explanation and prediction; practical action on justification and choice [Korsgaard]
Personal concern for one's own self widens out into concern for the impersonal [Korsgaard]
Self-concern may be a source of pain, or a lack of self-respect, or a failure of responsibility [Korsgaard]