PHIL 2120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Psychological Egoism, Egotism, Homo Economicus
29 Mar 2021
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Purpose: the purpose of this lecture is to introduce students to thomas hobbes" social contract theory of politics and morality. Objective: after attending this lecture the student should have a general understanding of how hobbes grounds or justifies morality and government. General outline of lecture: hobbes"s understanding of human nature, hobbes understanding of why we need rules, both moral and legal. The basic argument for why we agree to live under laws, i. e. , to form a social contract: hobbes defends a view of human nature known as psychological egoism". Psychological egoism: human beings always act in their own self-interest: hobbes also believes that all human beings are naturally equal. For, as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself.
