Can conflicts of interest btw rational men exist?

Ethics
1

One point:

While there will always be conflicts of desires, there are in fact no conflicts of interests, at least between rational men.

2

While there will always be conflicts of desires, there are in fact no conflicts of interests, at least between rational men.

I would agree with you if in a world full of rational people no one made mistakes or errors in judgement. However, even rational men are fallible. If the world were full of rational men who never had conflicts of interest, there would be no need for a court system.

3

I would agree with you if in a world full of rational people no one made mistakes or errors in judgement. However, even rational men are fallible. If the world were full of rational men who never had conflicts of interest, there would be no need for a court system.

I agree with what you’re trying to say, but I think it’s the terminology that’s got me. I am taking “interest” to mean “that which is in one’s rational self-interest.”

Perhaps you are using a different meaning?

4

I’m still not convinced that two rational men cannot through errors of knowledge think that they each have a right to an interest commonly shared.

I didn’t mean to imply this couldn’t happen. Indeed, I think it can. However, the key is:

  1. They only think that they each have a right to the interest.

  2. This thought is the result of errors, just as you say.

So I agree with you. :smiley: