Ayn Rand: Unconventional

On Page ix of her book, The Virtues Of Selfishness, Ayn Rand self-identifies her definition of selfishness as unconventional and it is: "If it is true that what I mean by 'selfishness' is not what is meant conventionally, then this is one of the worst indictments of altruism: it means that altruism permits no concept of a self-respecting, self-supporting man--a man who supports his life by his own effort and neither sacrifices himself or others. It means that altruism permits no view of men except as sacrificial animals and profiteers-on-sacrifice, as victims and parasites--that it permits no concept of a benevolent co-existence among men--that it permits no concept of justice." Rand turns conventional moral definitions on their heads by defining selfishness as good, desirable and virtuous, and altruism or other-centeredness as evil, undesirable and vicious. And she is correct. People are born deprave--my moral stance, not hers--and hate themselves. They suffer a natural lack of vital self-esteem. They run in packs, and don't self-support, self-love or self-realize. They share the social lie that unselfishness is good, and that selfishness is bad. They lie and do evil, and are praised for doing good, so for this reason, they never have to cease doing what it is that they love to commit. None are too respect themselves, only the collective, the pack is to be revered and respected. Rand points out the kindness shared with others as he supports himself, but not others, and neither sacrifices himself or others. Where people would do their own thing, and support themselves and esteem themselves, allowing their neighbors the same social graces, justice and a benevolent co-existence would come about. Each person victimizes no neighbor nor sponges off of them. Where people disallow others to parasitize them or victimize them, much tyranny, exploitation, warring and needless suffering would subside.