Rand And Selfishness

 

On Page ix of her book, The Virtue of Selfishness, Ayn Rand has this to say about selfishness: “If it is true 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 admits no view of man 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.”

 

My response: this paragraph is rich in implications. Her alternative definition of selfishness makes it virtuous, and altruism most vicious. As altruists, humans are not self-sufficient and self-respecting. Then, paradoxically, Rand reveals her altruist kindness for all people, indirectly delivered: if all care for themselves, that benefits all, and it works: we are all to take care of ourselves and see to our own interests, not sacrificing oneself nor sacrificing others.

 

We are to live for our own needs and interests, with sacrifice being rendered rare and not useful. I like her program.