Was Ayn Rand wrong when she said that it is a virtue to be selfish?

Question

Is Ayn Rand wrong in general?

Answer 1

I think that what Ayn Rand meant is what she tried to explain in the fountainhead, individualism v. altruism. Altruism is giving yourself up for others while individualism is following your own path and doing what you believe is right for you. To be selfish would be to let go of everyone else and their ideals and to follow your own mind. It is a virtue to be selfish because it would take a lot of sacrifice and in the end you would know that it was worth everything that was given up.

Answer 2

Well we must check the context from where this quote originates. It is not nice to be selfish always and I will not approve of this qoute in a general circumustance. Imagine what this world will be like if all people just thought about themselves only and no one and nothing else.
But neglecting urself always is also not a virtue. Aristotle defines an honest person is one who takes his rightful share - not less not more. So one should not be too selfless so as to bring his own peril.
But without looking at the context of the qoute I'll say that being selfish all the time is not a virtue.

May be what she said that she simply meant that one must be capable of being selfish. Isnt it? to much selflessness is not virtue, so being selfish becomes a positive quality..

Where are u getting this from. Any refrences...

TW K

Answer 3

Well I think she was free to call anything a virtue if she wanted to. But I don't think she was consistent.

Collective action, her great boogeyman, itself can be considered act of selfishness, on the part of what I'm sure she'd consider the weak. What else are they doing, but seeking to serve their own purposes, in the best way available to them?

So it's only certain kinds of selfishness that Ayn wanted to allow. And she was the one who was going to decide for everybody what those were.

Ayn was merely rationalizing a way to censure social movements she was prejudicially determined to condemn anyway.

Answer 4

I think you have to look at her definition or at least some of her perspective of the word "selfish" before you decide, she had a somewhat different take on the concept. Keep in mind that she was an atheist, so her view of self was that it was a very special thing - much like a soul that has only one shot at making it good, right here and now.

Rand's view was that to treat others decently and with respect was to recognize and honor that which was good within oneself. She stated that to give up one's values for someone else's was selfless ie: giving up one's soul - and not such a good thing.

She said a whole lot of other stuff that one may or may not agree with, but personally I kind of like the idea of each person taking responsibility for their self - rather than giving up their own ideas, thoughts, values just in order to get along and avoid the challenges that come from standing on one's own feet and living life through one's own eyes.

Answer 5

I think that we misinterpret the word 'selfish' most of the time. Ayn Rand was right; we owe it to ourselves to look after and protect ourselves, and there's nothing wrong or evil in putting one's own needs and desires first, if not all of the time, then certainly some of the time.

Answer 6

No. You have to look at her life and the country she grew up in. She said to do good/help others if it makes you feel good and you like doing it. But she also said, that even if you are doing good it's selfish because you do it to make yourself happy. so in some way or another everyone is selfish. I think people take what she said out of context and think she meant the same as Nietzsche or something.

Answer 7

No. Taken out of the intended context anything can sound wrong.