The Virtue of Selfishness

This book is a collection of essays by Ayn Rand and Nathaniel Branden. It covers the ethics of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism.You don’t have to be interested in philosophy or Ayn Rand to get something out of this book, but you do have to approach it with an open mind. Quite predictably, a continuous theme throughout the book is the immorality of altruism and virtuousness of (rational) selfishness. I picked up this book a bit skeptical, especially because of the cult that seems to surround Ayn Rand. But this work was extremely thoughtful and thought-provoking. Probably one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. More people should give it a chance.Rand and Branden talk a lot about “the virtue of selfishness.” “Selfishness" is defined from the get-go as “rational self-interest,” and Rand even offers an explanation for why she uses the word “selfishness” at all (it’s in the Kindle preview!).In the first chapter, Rand says that life is an end in itself, and that “Reason, Purpose, and Responsibility” are the things we should value in order to secure our life. We achieve those three values by being rational, productive, and having pride in ourselves and our work. So, since our life is an end in itself, there’s no moral obligation to subject ourselves to the will or whims of others. In fact, she argues that living for others is flat-out immoral.Throughout the book, Rand and Branden addressed almost every concern and question I had (and have seen others have) regarding the ethics of her philosophy. Altruism is defined as sacrificing oneself for someone else, and Rand denounces it as immoral. But there are cases where an “altruist act” is actually in your rational self-interest. Rand gives the following example: Someone is going to torture your significant other to death in order to get something from you. If you love this person so much that living without them would be impossible, then the moral thing to do would be to “sacrifice” yourself. It’s not really self-sacrifice though, since it's in your rational self-interest.Rand also denounces racism, violence (except in self-defense), criminal activity, and exploiting others for your own gain (!!!). Really, it’s like her critics have never read her work. She is very clear on her stance with each of these issues: vehemently opposed.One unanswered question I still have after reading this work: since I have the right to do what I want with my property and time, can I give a homeless man a dollar? Can I loan my friend my car for the weekend? Would either act be immoral? I’m confident that the answer is yes, I can do these things, but I’m not sure whether (according to Objectivist ethics) it would be immoral.What I got from this book:The essays by Nathaniel Branden on self-esteem and mysticism were especially enlightening for me. I also really enjoyed reading about the “doomsday mindset” (my words - I forget how Rand/Branden called it exactly) that we all apparently have inherited from religion and superstition. This “the world is going to shit” outlook is what compels us to embrace altruism.Overall, the virtue of selfishness itself is incredibly empowering. It says that I am responsible for myself and my actions, and that I owe it only to myself to live a happy, meaningful life. I love that. And I loved this book.Who should read this book:Everyone and anyone can get something out of this book, but especially students and people just getting into the working world. It’ll empower you to work harder and take responsibility for yourself and your actions. And it’ll also get you to think more about what you’ve been taught, what you believe, and why.I alternated evenings between reading this book and listening to Leonard Peikoff’s lectures on “The Philosophy of Objectivism” (available online through the Ayn Rand Institute). I thought Peikoff’s lectures complimented this work well. Now I’m reading something that’s the polar opposite: Bertrand Russell’s  Authority and the Individual . I recommend both/either if you want to do some more in-depth thinking about individualism. I also recommending Nathaniel Branden's  The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem  for those interested in self-esteem and self-efficacy (which was a prevalent theme in The Virtue of Selfishness).

There are nineteen articles in this volume, fourteen by Rand and five by Nathaniel Branden. The longest is "The Objectivist Ethics," in which Rand explains her philosophy of "Rational Self Interest." The remaining articles are examples of the application of this philosophy.Rand contends that "that which furthers (a living being's) life is the good, that which threatens it is the evil." Thus the basic human value is "rational selfishness...the value required for man's survival."How do people determine if something is "good or evil"? If the person experiences pleasure, it is a signal that the experience is "good" and that the person is acting properly. If the individual has pain, the feeling shows that the experience is "bad."People understand these sensations by using their intelligence, by thinking. Since people are not born with intelligence, they must study about the world and how to think well so that they can live properly.There are two essentials for survival: thinking and productive work. A person who tries to survive without thinking is no better than an animal. Productive work is the way people sustain themselves, getting food, adequate comfort, and time for study and self improvement. The work should be "the fullest and most purposeful use of the mind." Living by her agenda results in a feeling of pride, the realization that one has achieved the best that one can achieve.This achievement is selfish. The individual is interested in himself, his own life, and not the life of another or of society.The individual deals with others only when he wants to do so, without constraints or directives, unforced, in an exchange that "benefits both parties by their own independent judgment."Society is good when it gives individuals the two things necessary for human existence: knowledge and trade. "The only proper, moral purpose of a government is to protect man's rights."Since a person's life is the top value, how should a person act in the following examples?1. Should a man save his wife who he loves and feels that he can't live without or twenty strangers? The wife because she is dear to him.2. Should a man act courageously and take an unreasonable chance to save another person's life? No, his life comes first.3. Should people devote their lives to help the poor rise from poverty? No, he should devote himself to his own concerns, his life.4. Is faith and self sacrifice for others correct? No, they are the cause of all evil and the deterioration of humanity.There are three problems with this volume. First, it is very repetitious. Rand's philosophy is contained in the first chapter and the book presents nothing new after it. It only rehashes the message and applies it to various situations.Second, Rand bases her philosophy on ethics, an amorphous subject that many scholars correctly feel is very subjective. She would have done much better to base her ideas upon reality, upon what is "true and false," upon the nature of people and the laws of nature. The result is the same, but the presentation would be clearer.Third, many philosophers would agree that the basic human nature, that which distinguishes them from animals and inanimate objects is their intelligence, and that, as Rand contends, being altruistic is not an inherent part of a human being. Yet, as Aristotle pointed out, man is a social animal, he must live with and interact with people to survive. Thus helping others is necessary, at least to some extent. Rand ignores this when she insists that altruism is evil.

As advertised, Excellent condition

El libro explica muy bien como cada uno debe tener egoísmo, para ti, lo más importante debes ser tu y los tuyos, es decir, tus seres queridos, aunque hay algunas ideas que parecen metidas con calzador, pero la mayoría del libro es bueno, recomendado.

First read this in highschool, I didn't know at the time but it was the most influential book I ever read during that time. Returning to it as an adult reveals more of it's masterpiece. I have yet to meet someone who hates Rand that has actually read her stuff. You won't be dissapointed.

Great Book!

Paper quality isn’t so good but okay.Coming to book … it has very valuable information on the life and every living organism and why we need ethics , etc.I recommend a buy

Se trata un magnífico libro de ética política. Hay que leerlo con perspectiva y situarlo en el contexto temporal de cuando fue escrito.