The Basic Social Principle In Ayn Rand

 On Page 30 of her book, The Virtue of Selfishness, Ayn Rand set out a basic social principle that sounds a lot like Max Stirner's union of egoists, a small, limited government of legal, peaceful, competing, cooperating, lawful anarchists: "The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is just that life is an end in itself, so every living human being is an end in himself, not the means to the ends or welfare of others--and, therefore, that man must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. To live for his own sake means that the achievement of his own happiness is man's highest moral purpose."

My response: I accept most of what she writes here. I would like to translate her line that man must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. This is quite laudable, and is similar to my analysis of power apportioning in a society of supercitizen anarchist, each bent on chasing his own goals in perfect liberty, neither allowing other to usurp his legitimate share of social, communal or citizenry power, nor seeking to deprive others of their legitimate share of power and liberty to pursue their own goals. He neither sacrifices or enslaves himself to them, and nor does he allow them to sacrifice themselves to him, becoming dependent on him, depriving both themselves and him of liberty and happiness. Rand maybe was unaware that her stand on not sacrificing oneself to others or depriving them of their independence is superb altruism, laudable for civil society and the common good. It was not her goal, but the outcome is excellent and to be sought after. It also sets up a prosperous classless society of slightly upper middle-class citizens.

One correction I would share with her is her asserting that man should live for his own sake, meaning that the achievement of his own happiness is his highest moral purpose. I would amend that to add that our highest moral purpose is to serve the Mother and Father, and the noblest way to do that is as a successful, active, worshiping self-actualizer.