Can Selfishness Be a Moral Ideal? by Aaron Smith | Article Reading

This article is read by AI with the permission of the author.
To understand why Ayn Rand’s ethics of selfishness inspires millions of readers, we need to get beyond the popular conception of what selfishness involves. Read the article here: newideal.aynrand.org/can-self...
Subscribe to ARI’s KZbin channel to make sure you never miss a video:
kzbin.info_...
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand University app:
- App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-r...
- Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/de...
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: / aynrandinst
Follow ARI on Facebook: / aynrandinstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: / aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
******
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org/
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events/
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org/

[@alexanderscott2456]

Thinking selfishly about my own life has helped me reach my goals. It has also helped me think about the big picture even when times have been difficult. Living selfishly is the path to personal growth and happiness!

[@lights473]

It has made me enjoy working, being productive, have more self-esteem, and even find value in other individuals

[@glennjohn3824]

@@lights473 and you probably still wearing face diapers and lining up for big pharma lol...

[@science212]

Yes. Individual rights. The true way.

[@glennjohn3824]

That's the American way.... wouldn't have it without Christianity.

[@glennjohn3824]

Individual rights come from where?

[@glennjohn3824]

Not sure why KZbin censorship doesn't want me to ask where these individual rights come from... what say you randian?

[@johnnynick3621]

@@glennjohn3824 *Individual Rights* _A “right” is a moral principle defining and sanctioning a man’s freedom of action in a social context. There is only one fundamental right (all the others are its consequences or corollaries): a man’s right to his own life. Life is a process of self-sustaining and self-generated action; the right to life means the right to engage in self-sustaining and self-generated action-which means: the freedom to take all the actions required by the nature of a rational being for the support, the furtherance, the fulfillment and the enjoyment of his own life. (Such is the meaning of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.)_ _The concept of a “right” pertains only to action-specifically, to freedom of action. It means freedom from physical compulsion, coercion or interference by other men._ _Thus, for every individual, a right is the moral sanction of a positive-of his freedom to act on his own judgment, for his own goals, by his own voluntary, uncoerced choice. As to his neighbors, his rights impose no obligations on them except of a negative kind: to abstain from violating his rights._ _The right to life is the source of all rights-and the right to property is their only implementation. Without property rights, no other rights are possible. Since man has to sustain his life by his own effort, the man who has no right to the product of his effort has no means to sustain his life. The man who produces while others dispose of his product, is a slave._ _Bear in mind that the right to property is a right to action, like all the others: it is not the right to an object, but to the action and the consequences of producing or earning that object. It is not a guarantee that a man will earn any property, but only a guarantee that he will own it if he earns it. It is the right to gain, to keep, to use and to dispose of material values._ Ayn Rand: “Man’s Rights,” The Virtue of Selfishness, 93

[@lights473]

​@@glennjohn3824not God. From the nature of man and his existence that can be discovered via reason.

[@johnnynick3621]

This is one of the very best descriptions I have ever seen on Ayn Rand.

[@glennjohn3824]

lol

[@SpacePatrollerLaser]

What it would do to promote and aid mental health (to use a new buzzword) if adopted would be jaw-dropping

[@glennjohn3824]

What would it do..? Look at it. Big bucks are being made "promoting mental health"... open your eyes.

[@nancyw8341]

I read her book 'The Art of Selfishness". (I think that was the title.) It made me think deeply about selfishness and altruism. She is correct.

[@zardozcys2912]

Rational long-term, non-sacrificial, value-focused Selfishness. For those who cannot imagine an alternative

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

At the end of the day, all you really have is you. Never betray your self.

[@glennjohn3824]

Who is this "self" you don't want to betray?

[@RollingTree2]

Excellent. Every slight framing variation on fundamental radical ideas like this helps me clarify a little tighter in my own mind and overcome a little more those last remaining faulty default societal ingrained givens. And this explanation is beautifully clear, concise, and well done. Thank you.

[@DexterGraphic]

The link to the essay by Aaron Smith that is given in the video notes does not work.

[@glennjohn3824]

"... and enjoying the results both materially and spiritually..." 🤣🤣🤣

[@malemmutum5049]

Absolutely beautiful and inspiring, isn’t it! Only if humans were generally not stupid enough to fall for ridiculous religion fantasies and see the world as objectivists!

[@lights473]

Indeed. You can have material and spiritual well-being without appeal to mysticism and fake deities like "God"

[@glennjohn3824]

@@lights473 if you believe in spirit you believe in God. Truth, Love, Life, Principle, Intelligence and Spirit are all aspects of God that you cannot claim as an atheist. Real simple.

[@Shozb0t]

@@glennjohn3824 Why didn’t Gg0d present the Periodic Table of Elements in The Bibblle? Why did scientists endeavor to develop it themselves? If theologians had been fully successful in burning scientists at the stake, would we now have the many thousands of chemicals (made possible by the heretical study of chemistry) which improve human life today?

[@zardozcys2912]

Rand defined spirit or soul in terms of our faculty of consciousness. So clear-headedness is a spiritual value for example. Anything related to our mental well being would be spiritual.

[@glennjohn3824]

Short answer is a resounding no. Laughably absurd.

[@ExistenceUniversity]

The answer is Yes! Why do you spend sooooooo much time following Objectivism only to hate on it? If you followed Objectivism, especially this lecture, you would learn that your life will be better when you stop following Objectivism if it is something you hate so much. Be selfish and go to your church and help the elderly woman that need someone to aid them in their hobbies or whatever.

[@glennjohn3824]

@@ExistenceUniversity lol... I don't hate objectivism or people so your accusations are unfounded just like Rand's philosophy. You have no basis for morality... but I agree with her 100 that austerity is evil but she has no understanding of good and evil. Neither do you.

[@keesdenheijer7283]

​@@glennjohn3824 Ok, so what defines someone who does have a basis for morality?

[@ExistenceUniversity]

@glennjohn3824 You are the first commenter to ALL Objectivist channel postings and you are crying and screaming about how dumb you think we are, you are obsessed and it is hurting your life

[@matthewstroud4294]

@@keesdenheijer7283 Don't worry about it - this second-hander is turning up to troll and get attention. They are not interested in answers, just narcissistic supply.