JohnEngelman
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The Virtue of Selfishness deserves to be taken seriously. This is because powerful political and business leaders have been inspired by the philosophy expressed in this book. Since the Reagan administration they have been shaping the U.S. economy in accordance with it.
The Virtue of Selfishness consists of fourteen essays written by Ayn Rand, and five essays written by Nathaniel Branden. They present the philosophy Ayn Rand calls “Objectivism.” Objectivism holds that people should do what is in their self interest as long as they do not resort to violence.
In her Introduction Rand says that a man who devotes his life to becoming successful in a lucrative career is more to be admired than a man who foregoes the chance to achieve such a career in order to take a low wage job so that he can care for his ailing parents.
This is the philosophy of a CEO who engineers a big raise for himself by firing ten percent of his workforce and giving the survivors ten percent more work with no more pay. It is the philosophy that steels his resolve as he improves profitability by reducing health and retirement benefits for his employees. It hardens his heart as he cancels the company Christmas party and picnic as cost cutting measures, even though his corporation is profitable.
If it seems like a growing number of CEO’s are behaving this way that is because many of them discovered Rand’s writings when they were impressionable teenagers.
I enjoy investigating different points of view. I look for original insights into the human condition. I found none of those while reading The Virtue of Selfishness. What I did find were value assertions presented by Rand and Branden as though they were self evident truths.
For example, in her essay, “Man’s Rights,” Rand writes, “The right to free speech means that a man has the right to express his ideas without danger of suppression, interference or punitive action by the government. It does not mean that others must provide him with a lecture hall, a radio station or a printing press through which to express his ideas.”
If you think that you have the right to criticize the government, try to exercise that right on a vacation in North Korea. On the other hand, many democracies finance political campaigns. Spokesmen for political parties in these democracies do have the right to the means to express the policies and values of their parties.
A right cannot be proven the way a scientific hypothesis or a mathematical equation can be. A right is nothing more than a privilege governments give or deny as they see fit. If you do not think so, be careful which country you choose for your next vacation.
In her essay “The ‘Conflicts’ of Men’s interests,” Rand writes, “There is the girl who wishes to be loved, but never thinks of discovering what love is, what values it requires, and whether she possesses any virtues to be loved for.”
Presumably a cast off mistress should take her rejection calmly. Rand didn’t. When Branden terminated their affair she was hurt, angry, and dismissed him from her movement. What made this matter even more sordid was the fact that Rand and Branden were already married to other people. Nevertheless, Rand informed her husband and Branden’s wife that they were required to accept the affair.
Rand argues that one should not sacrifice his happiness for the happiness of others. Nevertheless, in her own life she expected her husband, Mrs. Branden, and eventually Branden to sacrifice their happiness for her happiness.
In her essay, “The Argument from Intimidation,” Rand writes, “The ad hominem fallacy consists of attempting to refute an argument by impeaching the character of the proponent.”
That is only a fallacy if the character of the proponent of an argument does not conflict with the argument. We have the right to expect Rand to have lived up to the code of ethics she commands us to practice. For example, in her essay, “Collectivized Benefits,” she condemnes Medicare. Nevertheless, when she was eligible to receive Medicare benefits she did.
In her essay, “Racism” Rand wrote, “A fully free capitalist system has not yet existed anywhere.” Nevertheless, she acknowledged that during the nineteenth century a close approximation did exist. Back then there was no Medicare, no Social Security (she also received SS checks) no unemployment compensation, no minimum wage laws, and no assurance that the food and medicine you took into your body was not infected with dangerous bacteria and chemicals. Rand never condemned any of this. Nor in this book does she condemn businessmen who buy favors from the government with gifts and campaign contributions.
Rand’s appeal is that she encourages her readers to identify with her fictional heroes like capitalist buccaneer John Galt. Identifying with the real John Galt’s of the U.S. economy will not make you one of them. It will not make them identify with you.
The Virtue of Selfishness consists of fourteen essays written by Ayn Rand, and five essays written by Nathaniel Branden. They present the philosophy Ayn Rand calls “Objectivism.” Objectivism holds that people should do what is in their self interest as long as they do not resort to violence.
In her Introduction Rand says that a man who devotes his life to becoming successful in a lucrative career is more to be admired than a man who foregoes the chance to achieve such a career in order to take a low wage job so that he can care for his ailing parents.
This is the philosophy of a CEO who engineers a big raise for himself by firing ten percent of his workforce and giving the survivors ten percent more work with no more pay. It is the philosophy that steels his resolve as he improves profitability by reducing health and retirement benefits for his employees. It hardens his heart as he cancels the company Christmas party and picnic as cost cutting measures, even though his corporation is profitable.
If it seems like a growing number of CEO’s are behaving this way that is because many of them discovered Rand’s writings when they were impressionable teenagers.
I enjoy investigating different points of view. I look for original insights into the human condition. I found none of those while reading The Virtue of Selfishness. What I did find were value assertions presented by Rand and Branden as though they were self evident truths.
For example, in her essay, “Man’s Rights,” Rand writes, “The right to free speech means that a man has the right to express his ideas without danger of suppression, interference or punitive action by the government. It does not mean that others must provide him with a lecture hall, a radio station or a printing press through which to express his ideas.”
If you think that you have the right to criticize the government, try to exercise that right on a vacation in North Korea. On the other hand, many democracies finance political campaigns. Spokesmen for political parties in these democracies do have the right to the means to express the policies and values of their parties.
A right cannot be proven the way a scientific hypothesis or a mathematical equation can be. A right is nothing more than a privilege governments give or deny as they see fit. If you do not think so, be careful which country you choose for your next vacation.
In her essay “The ‘Conflicts’ of Men’s interests,” Rand writes, “There is the girl who wishes to be loved, but never thinks of discovering what love is, what values it requires, and whether she possesses any virtues to be loved for.”
Presumably a cast off mistress should take her rejection calmly. Rand didn’t. When Branden terminated their affair she was hurt, angry, and dismissed him from her movement. What made this matter even more sordid was the fact that Rand and Branden were already married to other people. Nevertheless, Rand informed her husband and Branden’s wife that they were required to accept the affair.
Rand argues that one should not sacrifice his happiness for the happiness of others. Nevertheless, in her own life she expected her husband, Mrs. Branden, and eventually Branden to sacrifice their happiness for her happiness.
In her essay, “The Argument from Intimidation,” Rand writes, “The ad hominem fallacy consists of attempting to refute an argument by impeaching the character of the proponent.”
That is only a fallacy if the character of the proponent of an argument does not conflict with the argument. We have the right to expect Rand to have lived up to the code of ethics she commands us to practice. For example, in her essay, “Collectivized Benefits,” she condemnes Medicare. Nevertheless, when she was eligible to receive Medicare benefits she did.
In her essay, “Racism” Rand wrote, “A fully free capitalist system has not yet existed anywhere.” Nevertheless, she acknowledged that during the nineteenth century a close approximation did exist. Back then there was no Medicare, no Social Security (she also received SS checks) no unemployment compensation, no minimum wage laws, and no assurance that the food and medicine you took into your body was not infected with dangerous bacteria and chemicals. Rand never condemned any of this. Nor in this book does she condemn businessmen who buy favors from the government with gifts and campaign contributions.
Rand’s appeal is that she encourages her readers to identify with her fictional heroes like capitalist buccaneer John Galt. Identifying with the real John Galt’s of the U.S. economy will not make you one of them. It will not make them identify with you.
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