Communication Ethics

15 Pages 3670 Words

Epicurus wrote that the wise person is prepared to lie if there is no risk of detection, but that we can never be certain our falsehoods won’t be discovered.

A few other philosophers have echoed the Epicurean call for selfish concern. Thomas Hobbes described life as "nasty, brutish and short," and advocated political trade-offs that would gain a measure of security. Adam Smith, the spiritual father of capitalism, advised every person to seek his or her own profit. Nietzsche announced the death of God and stated that the noble soul has reverence for itself. Egoist writer Ayn Rand dedicated her novel The Fountainhead to "the exultation of man’s self-esteem and the sacredness of his happiness on earth."3

Modern society needs no encouragement to seek pleasure. Bobby McFerrin’s egoistic advice, "Don’t worry, be happy," won a Grammy award by capturing the spirit of our age. Of course, the advice of McFerrin, Rand, or Epicurus is suspect. If their counsel consistently reflects their beliefs, their words are spoken for their own benefit, not ours.

Despite the pervasive nature of egoism, most ethical thinkers denounce the selfishness of the principle as morally repugnant. How can one embrace a philosophy which advocates terrorism as long as it brings joy to the terrorist? When the egoistic pleasure principle is compared to the life of someone like Mother Teresa, ethical egoism seems to be no ethic at all. The egoist would say, however, that the Nobel Peace Prize-winner is leading an ethical life because she takes pleasure in helping the poor. If charity becomes a burden, she should stop.

UTILITARIANISM: JOHN STUART MILL

British philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill shared the egoist’s concern for outcomes, regarding an act as good or bad depending on its consequences. He applauded the Epicurean view that pleasure in life is the only consequence that matters. But Mill took great exception to Epicurus’ preoccupati...