Mother Forkin' Morals with Dr. Todd May - Part 3: Psychological Egoism - The Good Place (Exclusive)

In the third installment of Mother Forkin' Morals, resident philosophy advisor Dr. Todd May talks about Eleanor's (Kristen Bell) roots as a psychological egoist and how her philosophy has developed over the course of the show.

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NBC’s The Good Place follows Eleanor Shellstrop, Chidi Anagonye, Tahani Al-Jamil, and Jason Mendoza as they seek redemption in the afterlife, aided by Good Place Architect, Michael, and a human-esque repository for all of the knowledge in the universe, Janet.

Find The Good Place trailers, full episode highlights, previews, promos, clips, and digital exclusives here.

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ABOUT THE GOOD PLACE
From creator Michael Schur (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Master of None”) comes a unique comedy about what makes a good person. The show follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell, “House of Lies,” “Veronica Mars”), an ordinary woman who enters the afterlife, and thanks to some kind of error, is sent to the Good Place instead of the Bad Place (which is definitely where she belongs). While hiding in plain sight from Good Place Architect Michael (Ted Danson - “Cheers,” “CSI” - in an Emmy Award-nominated performance), she’s determined to shed her old way of living and earn her spot.

Mother Forkin' Morals with Dr. Todd May - Part 3: Psychological Egoism - The Good Place (Exclusive)

The Good Place

[thepudgyninja]

What has this show done to me that I'm happily watching video lectures on moral philosophy?

[JohnFrazier]

I really love these explorative sidebars into the philosophy behind the show. Please keep them coming!!

[pinkrox]

Concepts that are so dry on paper explained in such an intriguing way, WITH reference to the characters we all know and love! Simply awesome!! Keep them coming pleaaaasee! And...maybe make them longer....?

[ViolettePoete]

Gotta say, I often asked myself why I was doing good things... Do I do them because they're right or because I hope to gain something by it? And if it's the case, does it cancel the good I do ? Or maybe it doesn't even matter so long as you do good things or try to be good...

[uneek]

I like how this guy describes Chidi as kantian. Heard people say it makes no sense for a moral philosopher to be indecisive, but it works if he's a moral realist who believes every decision can be logically sussed out.

[nosmadaaa]

You put the peeps in the chilli pot and add the eminemsss.

[azuredesuuu]

This damn show made me interested so much in moral philosophy and philosophy in general that I'm seriously considering that this would be my course for college 😂

[masterchanell]

Chidi is egoist he makes the "right" choice because he would feel bad if he didnt. Indeed, he is so obssessed with it that if he doesnt he gets a stomachache. I do the exact same thing.

[MsLindaluu]

Why wasn't my college philosophy course even half this interesting?

[ellielindsey]

This reminds of the Friends episode where Pheobe was trying to prove altruism exists, but it doesn't work out so well haha

[Stonefallow]

The key distinction that jumps out to me is that actions based on self-interest and actions based on sympathy come from two different parts of the brain. The self-interested motivation comes from the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for complex planning, decision making, and moderating social behavior. The sympathy/empathy motivation comes from the cerebral cortex, more specifically the supramarginal gyrus. This is the part of your brain that recognizes a lack of empathy and autocorrects. Not surprisingly, people with sociopathic disorders often have a defect in this area of the brain. Yet they are still perfectly capable of making rational self-interest based decisions. In short, humans act for a number of different reasons and they cannot be reduced so easily to something such as "psychological egoism".

[lydias]

I love this show. It mentions many complex moral philosophies, but it comes back to the idea that (like Chidi says) “Why do it? Why choose to be good everyday if there’s no guaranteed reward now or in the afterlife? I argue that we chose to be good because of our bonds with other people. And our innate desire to treat them with dignity. Simply put: we are not in this alone.” Obviously, I haven figured out the secrets of the moral universe. But, as an amateur, I recommend that we all try to be good. At least, that’s what I got from the good place.

Take it sleazy, everyone.

[luisasanchez]

I can't believe I am actually learning something from a sitcom. I love it!

[k]

I'm a college freshman and my Ethics class included this video (and the Trolley Problem video) in our class content. Safe to say that I am now a big fan of ethics and The Good Place. Thanks, university. I also just started watching this series last week and I was so excited to see Michael Schur as one of the writers on the show. Unfortunately I can't get through this video with being spoiled a little

[karlamiller]

I love these Mother Forkin' Moral Lessons!!!

[princessanavjunio]

Surprised to see this linked in my class, makes it easier to understand the topic knowing each character, I absolutely loved this show

[striving]

Wow. He broke that down. There are MANY psychological egoist.

[barbara]

this is why everybody loves moral philosophy professors

[peaceoglory]

Yes! Love these little lectures! Keep them coming!

[bartman]

"As a theory of what human beings are like, [psychological egoism] is thin soup"

Where are the arguments to support that statement???