The Virtue of Selfishness (Signet) by Ayn Rand
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Book Reviews of The Virtue of Selfishness (Signet)
Book Review: An Excellent Collection of Essays on Objectivism
Summary: 5 Stars
This book contains an excellent collection of essays on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism and is appropriate for anyone seeking to obtain a deeper understanding of her philosophy beyond reading her novels. A few of the best essays contained within include:
* The Objectivist Ethics -- this is Ayn Rand's presentation of her ethics of rational egoism (i.e., rational self-interest).
* The Ethics of Emergencies -- this is where Ayn Rand discusses how her philosophy applies to many "lifeboat" situations.
* Man's Rights -- in this essay, Ayn Rand discusses what individual rights are and where they come from. Specifically, she argues that rights come from the nature of man (not from divine origin, society or law) and what they mean in practice.
* The Nature of Government -- this essay contains Ayn Rand's view on government's as an agency of force, how the only proper purpose for a government is to safeguard the rights of men, how the only legitimate functions of government are those necessary to preserve individual rights (i.e., police force, army and a court system) and the necessity for a strong, central government to serve as a final arbiter on the use of retaliatory force. This last point is in stark contrast to various anarcho-capitalists such as David Friedman and Murray Rothbard.
* Government Financing in a Free Society -- this essay discusses Ayn Rand's view that in a truly free society, all government financing should be voluntary. However, she does indicate that embracing a system based entirely on voluntary financing would be one of the last steps on transitioning to a truly free (i.e., laissez-faire capitalist) society.
* Racism -- in this essay, Ayn Rand eloquently argues how not only is racism immoral and stupid, but holding racist views is also bad for the holder.
Book Review: We are free to live.
Summary: 5 Stars
The most basic element of Ayn Rand's philosophy is that every man has, not only the right, but the unavoidable duty, to live for his own interests and goals. If a man decides to live for something other than himself, he is evading his responsibility to himself. A man that seeks to live for a cause is a man who is afraid to live for himself. Ayn Rand was born in Imperial Russia, and was raised in the early stages of the drawn-out murder of the Soviet Union. She knew, from first hand experience, the inevitable terror of a society that attempts to use irrationality and slogans in place of logic and economical integrity (for, make no mistakes, economics are the highest expression of morality and integrity). To preserve this country, nearly the last country on earth which had not succumbed to the disease of socialist thinking, she wrote her novels, to make her logic an available weapon against this illness. And as we look around today, we can see that she succeeded, and we may say a moment's silent thanks to the incredible will, the indomitable mind that saved this country.Her thoughts are easily argued with, but that was her intent. To make people think, to make them use their minds in a clear and logical way, to examine the world around them and see where it was headed. Whenever anyone reads her books and says "But wait, is this so?", they come a step closer to making this world clearer, and brighter. And that, in essence, was the purpose of Ayn Rand's writing. To make the people of the world think, and see for themselves the state of the world, and the causes of it.
Book Review: Ayn Rand and Virtue
Summary: 5 Stars
The Virtue of Selfishness is a provocative title and so are the ideas that Ayn Rand discusses in the book. Rand remains a popular fiction author, but less well known, and less understood, is her philosopher side. She did not write fiction to entertain, she wrote to convince her readers of of philosophical truth as she understood it.
Ayn Rand set her own course in life and opposed both Christians and Communists with equal fervor. She states the premise of the book when she declares that, "Every human being is an end in himself, not the means to the ends or the welfare of others and therefore, man must live for his own sake..." This principle is diametrically opposed to the Christian belief in altruism, and the communist collective and sets up both the title and a theme in the book.
Most of the essays are written by Rand, the rest were written by Nathaniel Branden and all but one originally appeared in The Objectivist Newsletter, a newsletter co-published by Rand and Nathaniel Branden during the sixties.
If you are interested in understanding Rand's philosophy of Objectivism this book is an essential element of that understanding. While Rand thought of Objectivism as an integrated philosophical system, which required acceptance as a whole, time and her death in 1982 has mellowed the message. In recent years, people have been more willing to accept parts of what she proclaimed and leave others "in the book," so to speak. This has allowed many more conservatives, libertarians and even Christians to read and enjoy her work.
Book Review: Life altering book!
Summary: 5 Stars
Rand believes in maximizing happiness. As she explains, happiness (long term and rational, not short term and destructive) is an end in itself! She calls her philosophy of life "Objectivism."
Anyone who believes someone else has the morally authority to confiscate their property must lack ego (self esteem) because they are giving up their liberty to the spending whims of someone else. Rand states that you can give your wealth to anyone or any group (i.e. the government) voluntarily, but no one (or group) has the moral authority to redistribute your property. Government only has the moral authority to protect you and your property. If you give anyone the moral authority to take property, they will corrupt it. She even explains how governments can raise taxes voluntarily to support necessary government institutions.
Selfishness, she explains, is inherent in our nature. Therefore, altruism is a morally bankrupt philosophy. To the extent one's selfless concern for the welfare of others is directed toward persons with poor values, you have rewarded bad behavior at the expense of a more virtuous exchange. In addition, sacrificing your happiness for others is a zero sum game, whereas capitalistic exchanges are a win-win for both parties. If on the other hand, you gain satisfaction (happiness) at transferring your time or wealth to someone else, Rand argues it isn't altruism, but another form of selfishness.
If these concepts fascinate YOU as much as they do me, you will love this book!!!
Book Review: "Selfishness" is not what you thinl it is
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a collection of articles that appeared in the "Objectivist" in the early 1960s. Most were written by Rand but a few were written by her then, "intellectual heir" Nathaniel Branden. Barnden, who was 25 years younger than Rand had a torrid affair with her and when they broke it off, Rand added an interesting postcript to the introduction of this book that the two were no longer associated with each other. OK, enough of my gossip ... getting back to the point; this book is a clear cut introduction to Rand's philosophy. "Selfishness" does not mean a self centeredness where you act as though the world revolves around you. Rather, you do not ask anyone to sacrifice himself/herself to you but you ask that no one expect that you sacrifice yourself either. Rand views most governmental programs as asking one group to sacrifice for others. Selfishness is not brutishness if we act rationally. Rather, it causes each of us to act in our rational self interest while expecting others to do the same. In a free society, we all can do this, in a collectivist society we cannot. Rand forsaw the concept of "affirmative action" and therefore was one of the minority who opposed the 1964 civil rights act even though she abhorred rascism. However, she did not believe a curbing of our freedoms was the remedy to rascism. Each of these articles are illuminating and are as applicable today as they were nearly 40 years ago.