Abstract

HOYOS VALDES, Diana. Socrates on Egoism. Does he say we should be virtuous and egoists?Socrates on Egoism. Does he say we should be virtuous and egoists?. Co-herencia [online]. 2013, vol.10, n.19, pp.41-56. ISSN 1794-5887.

In this paper I address the issue whether Socratic eudaimonia entails egoism. It is, whether according to Socrates' view a man who acts having his happiness as final criteria for his acts is an egoist. This view seems to be in contradiction with what we commonly think a moral theory must say. I gather previous attempts to answer this question in two big groups: formalists and substantivists, based on their general objectives. I argue that the second kind of approach is more effective because it tries to see and interpret Socratic theory as a whole and make it more coherent. It takes Socrates as providing a theory of human motivation to act in which the agent seeks his happiness, but in which friendship, love, and justice play a fundamental role.

Keywords : eudaimonia; virtues; egoism; Socrates; Klosko; Nakhnikian; Rudebusch; Irwin.

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