preview

Ayn Rand's Objectivism Theory Paper

Decent Essays
Open Document

According to ethical egoism, as human beings we are by nature self-interested in the sense that we make decisions suitable to our own interests and take others into account afterwards. Consequently, because our moral duty is to enhance self-interest we deem ourselves to be the only individuals with moral significance and do not allow for moral equality. The term self-interest is associated with the fact that most people want to be happy and are more concerned with their happiness than with the happiness of a stranger. Ayn Rand’s theory of ethical egoism addresses this type of ethics and calls her view objectivism. According to Rand’s objectivism theory I think she believes it is irrational to save a stranger over a loved one because it is not …show more content…

Ayn Rand’s theory of objectivism states that every individual is an end in him/herself. Since this is the foundation of the theory this would mean that as individuals we exist to achieve one’s own happiness and do not sacrifice ourselves for others. In order to address why Rand believed her theory was superior to altruism we must point out the flaws found within the concepts of the altruism ethical theory. The ethics of altruism places its moral purpose on helping others and states that to value another being means you must sacrifice yourself. Along with this sacrifice altruism does not allow for individuals to choose whether or not they would perform good acts toward others because according to the theory an act of benevolence should be your duty. As a result of this servitude an individual’s virtue is determined by the degree to which he relinquishes his values. These “values” are any individual and/or object which hold personal and rational importance

Get Access