Single Idea 9761

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / A. Egoism / 1. Ethical Egoism]

Full Idea

The personal concern which begins with one's life in a particular body finds its place in ever-widening spheres of agency and enterprise, developing finally into a personal concern for the impersonal.

Gist of Idea

Personal concern for one's own self widens out into concern for the impersonal

Source

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

Book Reference

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


A Reaction

I am very struck by this nice thought, which comes from a very committed Kantian. It seems to me to capture the modern orthodoxy in ethical thinking - that concern for one's self, rather than altruism, is central, but altruism should follow from it.