The Virtue of SelfishnessA collection of essays that sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, Ayn Rand's controversial, groundbreaking philosophy. Since their initial publication, Rand's fictional works—Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged—have had a major impact on the intellectual scene. The underlying theme of her famous novels is her philosophy, a new morality—the ethics of rational self-interest—that offers a robust challenge to altruist-collectivist thought. Known as Objectivism, her divisive philosophy holds human life—the life proper to a rational being—as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with man's nature. In this series of essays, Rand asks why man needs morality in the first place, and arrives at an answer that redefines a new code of ethics based on the virtue of selfishness. More Than 1 Million Copies Sold! |
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Simply, a master piece. This book tackles some fundamental issues in ethics. It's more than an ethical system, but a template for every man who wants to define a rational, yet objective, code of values.
Contents
Mental Health versus Mysticism and SelfSacrifice | |
The Ethics of Emergencies | |
The Conflicts of Mens Interests | |
Isnt Everyone Selfish? | |
The Psychology of Pleasure | |
Doesnt Life Require Compromise? | |
The Monument Builders | |
Mans Rights | |
Collectivized Rights | |
The Nature of Government | |
Government Financing in a Free Society | |
The Divine Right of Stagnation | |
Racism | |
Counterfeit Individualism | |
How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society? | |
The Cult of Moral Grayness | |
Collectivized Ethics | |
The Argument from Intimidation | |
Common terms and phrases
accept achieve action advocates altruism animal answer applies Argument attempt automatic Ayn Rand basic benefit capitalism choice choose citizens claim compromise concept concern consciousness consider consists context contradiction deal demand desire destruction difference discover doctrine earned economic effort emotional ethics evil existence fact feel force freedom function gain give given goals happiness holds human individual rights integrity intellectual interests involved irrational issue judge judgment kind knowledge living man’s means merely mind moral motivated nature never objective Objectivist Observe one’s organism person philosophical physical pleasure political possible practice premise principle productive proper protection psychological pursue question racial racism rational reality reason regard requires responsibility seek self-esteem selfish sense social society specific standard things valid values virtue whims wishes
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Virtue of Selfishness |
| Author | Ayn Rand |
| Publisher | Penguin, 1964 |
| ISBN | 1101137223, 9781101137222 |
| Length | 176 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / Epistemology Philosophy / Essays Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |