I disagree with some of this. I understand Rand fairly well, I just think she's wrong most of the time.
She would say murder and theft are wrong because of the bad consequences they would bring to the self. She would not be against them if they were of a personal -- selfish -- benefit. She has stated that clearly.
As for considering altruism as a lower value than egoism, that is one of her fundamental mistakes, because she has such a poor understanding of what "altruism" is. She seems to see it as black/white and that the idea is self-sacrifice and self-suicide, ultimately. That is NOT what altruism is, and no one would define it in such a way other than herself. And, as LiveOnEarth pointed out, who is say what values are higher or lower? A self-protection may be more fundamental, but I wouldn't say it was "higher". That would make us on the same plane of morality as animals, and if we're merely animals then Rand's whole philosophy has no basis.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-04-10 01:22 am (UTC)She would say murder and theft are wrong because of the bad consequences they would bring to the self. She would not be against them if they were of a personal -- selfish -- benefit. She has stated that clearly.
As for considering altruism as a lower value than egoism, that is one of her fundamental mistakes, because she has such a poor understanding of what "altruism" is. She seems to see it as black/white and that the idea is self-sacrifice and self-suicide, ultimately. That is NOT what altruism is, and no one would define it in such a way other than herself. And, as LiveOnEarth pointed out, who is say what values are higher or lower? A self-protection may be more fundamental, but I wouldn't say it was "higher". That would make us on the same plane of morality as animals, and if we're merely animals then Rand's whole philosophy has no basis.