Writing Homework Help

Grossmont Each Individual Always Seeks to Maximize Ones Self Interest Discussion

 

In this written response I would like you to analyzed one of the arguments below for soundness. Decide if any of the premises are possibly false, and if you can find counter examples, to show that they could be false, then create the argument for that position. Copy the argument you choose. Under the premises, evaluate their soundness. Evaluate the truth of the conclusion.

The assumption is our goal is self-satisfaction.

Premises:

  • Each individual always seeks to maximize one’s own self-interest.
  • If one can’t do an act, one has no obligation to do that act.
  • Altruistic acts involve putting other people’s interests ahead of our own.
  • But altruism contradicts human nature (by Premise 1) and so is impossible.
  • Therefore, (by Premises 2, and 4) altruistic acts are never morally obligatory.