Rational egoism : a selective and critical history / Robert Shaver.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shaver, Robert, 1961-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sidgwick, Henry, 1838-1900.

Hobbes, Thomas, 1588-1679.

Egoism.

Hobbes, Thomas, 1588-1679--Ethics.

Hobbes, Thomas.

Sidgwick, Henry, 1838-1900--Ethics.

Sidgwick, Henry.

Ethics.

Physical Description:

xii, 162 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, U.K. ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Summary:

It is often thought that the rational thing to do must always be to pursue ones own self-interest, to pursue, in philosophical terms, rational egoism. This book is the first full-length treatment of rational egoism, and it provides both a selective history of the subject as well as a philosophical analysis of the arguments that have been deployed in its defense. Robert Shaver's conclusion from this survey is that none of the arguments for rational egoism or the instrumental theory of rationality are cogent. This is an important book not just for historians of philosophy but for all readers in philosophy or branches of the social sciences interested in theories of morality and rationality.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0521632536

OCLC:

38924512