Asik Shoab Prof. Dr. Doctor
HUP 102.1206
Paper #3.
In the introduction to her collection of essays on ethical philosophy, The Virtue of Selfishness, Rand writes that the "exact meaning" of selfishness is "concern with one's own interests." Rand's argument for the definition of selfishness is that it does not include a moral evaluation; it does not tell us whether concern with one's own interest is good or evil. She states that selfishness' has become a synonym to the word evil'. On the other hand, Altruism which means unselfishness; self-sacrifice; selflessness, is declared by Rand that it takes any action for the benefit of others is good, and any action taken for one's own benefit is evil.
According to the default ethical theory, altruism …show more content…
By Rand’s reasoning, because altruism exposes the individual to exploitation, selfishness is the best protection. Evolutionary biologists, on the other hand, carefully investigated the conditions under which altruism works and when it fails. For unrelated individuals, the most influential theory is that of reciprocal altruism. In simple terms, the theory states “I will help you if you agree to help me.” In the article, ‘The Domesticated Gene’ Douglass Allchin, historian, and philosopher of science states that genes can have intent and moral perspective. To illustrate the reciprocal altruism, he mentions vampire bats who fed each other by sharing the blood. A bat share blood with their peers, thinking of his future benefit which is controversial to Rand altruism theory. In addition, Rand states one need to act rationally not emotionally for the greater good of the society. However, the “selfish gene” logically puts someone benefits first for calculating the best profit. For example, a mom would prioritize her kid’s life first in any situation than everyone’s else …show more content…
She argues that self-interest is moral and that altruism is immoral. Her argument for the whole thing goes like if one must be benefitted from the actions, otherwise it would be valueless. Anyway, Rand is wrong about this too. Just because you value your life doesn’t even mean that you should defend it at the cost of everything else. What about the soldier that jumps on the grenade to save the rest of his platoon? “What a loser!” Rand would say and by her philosophy not only is he a loser, but he just committed an act that she judged to be immoral. Jumping on a grenade and saving everybody else’s life is an immoral act and I fail to see why it wouldn’t be using Rand’s own philosophy and saved themselves
HUP 102.1206
Paper #3.
In the introduction to her collection of essays on ethical philosophy, The Virtue of Selfishness, Rand writes that the "exact meaning" of selfishness is "concern with one's own interests." Rand's argument for the definition of selfishness is that it does not include a moral evaluation; it does not tell us whether concern with one's own interest is good or evil. She states that selfishness' has become a synonym to the word evil'. On the other hand, Altruism which means unselfishness; self-sacrifice; selflessness, is declared by Rand that it takes any action for the benefit of others is good, and any action taken for one's own benefit is evil.
According to the default ethical theory, altruism …show more content…
By Rand’s reasoning, because altruism exposes the individual to exploitation, selfishness is the best protection. Evolutionary biologists, on the other hand, carefully investigated the conditions under which altruism works and when it fails. For unrelated individuals, the most influential theory is that of reciprocal altruism. In simple terms, the theory states “I will help you if you agree to help me.” In the article, ‘The Domesticated Gene’ Douglass Allchin, historian, and philosopher of science states that genes can have intent and moral perspective. To illustrate the reciprocal altruism, he mentions vampire bats who fed each other by sharing the blood. A bat share blood with their peers, thinking of his future benefit which is controversial to Rand altruism theory. In addition, Rand states one need to act rationally not emotionally for the greater good of the society. However, the “selfish gene” logically puts someone benefits first for calculating the best profit. For example, a mom would prioritize her kid’s life first in any situation than everyone’s else …show more content…
She argues that self-interest is moral and that altruism is immoral. Her argument for the whole thing goes like if one must be benefitted from the actions, otherwise it would be valueless. Anyway, Rand is wrong about this too. Just because you value your life doesn’t even mean that you should defend it at the cost of everything else. What about the soldier that jumps on the grenade to save the rest of his platoon? “What a loser!” Rand would say and by her philosophy not only is he a loser, but he just committed an act that she judged to be immoral. Jumping on a grenade and saving everybody else’s life is an immoral act and I fail to see why it wouldn’t be using Rand’s own philosophy and saved themselves