The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism is a 1964 collection of essays by the philosopher Ayn Rand and the writer Nathaniel Branden. Most of the essays originally appeared in The Objectivist Newsletter. The book covers ethical issues from the perspective of Rand's Objectivist philosophy. Some of its themes include the identification and validation of egoism as a rational code of ethics, the destructiveness of altruism, and the nature of a proper government.
The book contains 19 essays, 14 of them written by Rand and five by Branden, plus an introduction written by Rand. All but one of the essays had previously been published in The Objectivist Newsletter, a magazine that Rand and Branden had launched in 1962. The exception was the book's first essay, "The Objectivist Ethics", which was a paper Rand delivered at the University of Wisconsin during a symposium on "Ethics in Our Time".[1] "The Objectivist Ethics" explains the foundations of Rand's ethical theory. Her other essays engage a variety of ethical topics, often challenging common perspectives on such issues as compromise and moral judgment. Branden's essays, such as "Counterfeit Individualism" and "The Psychology of Pleasure", present a more psychology-focused view of morality.[2]
Use of the term selfishnessedit
Rand's characterization of selfishness as a virtue, including in the title of the book, is one of its most controversial elements. Philosopher Chandran Kukathas said Rand's position on this point "brought notoriety, but kept her out of the intellectual mainstream".[3] Rand acknowledged in the book's introduction that the term 'selfishness' was not typically used to describe virtuous behavior, but insisted that her usage was consistent with a more precise meaning of the term as simply "concern with one's own interests". The equation of selfishness with evil, Rand said, had caused "the arrested moral development of mankind" and needed to be rejected.[4]
Critics have disputed Rand's interpretation of the term. Libertarianfeminist writer Sharon Presley described Rand's use of 'selfishness' as "perversely idiosyncratic" and contrary to the dictionary meaning of the term, Rand's claims to the contrary notwithstanding. Presley believes the use of the term has caused Rand's arguments to be frequently mischaracterized.[5] Philosophy professor Max Hocutt dismissed the phrase 'the virtue of selfishness' as "rhetorical excess", saying that "without qualification and explanation, it is too paradoxical to merit serious discussion".[6] In contrast, philosophers Douglas J. Den Uyl and Douglas B. Rasmussen described Rand's response to the question of why she uses the term as "neither antagonistic nor defensive, but rather profound."[7] Philosopher Chris Matthew Sciabarra said it is "debatable" whether Rand accurately described the meaning of the term, but argued that Rand's philosophical position required altering the conventional meanings of some terms in order to express her views without inventing entirely new words.[8] Philosophy professor Stephen Hicks wrote in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy that Rand's "provocative title" was matched by "an equally provocative thesis about ethics".[9]
Publication historyedit
Ayn Rand in 1957
The idea of creating a collection of Rand's essays initially came from Bennett Cerf of Random House, who had published two of Rand's previous books, Atlas Shrugged and For the New Intellectual. Rand proposed a collection of articles to be titled The Fascist New Frontier, after a Ford Hall Forum speech she had given criticizing the views of President John F. Kennedy. Uncomfortable with Rand's comparison of Kennedy to Adolf Hitler, Cerf asked that Rand choose a different title essay. She rejected this request and dropped Random House (as well as ending her friendship with Cerf), choosing New American Library as the publisher for her new book. The Virtue of Selfishness bore a different title and did not include her piece on Kennedy; he had been assassinated before it was released, making the point of the essay moot.[10]
Receptionedit
The book became one of Rand's strongest-selling works of nonfiction, selling over 400,000 copies in the first four months of its release,[11] and over 1.35 million copies by 2014.[12]
Rand scholar Mimi Reisel Gladstein described the collection of essays as "eclectic" and "appealing to interested nonacademic or nonspecialist readers as well as to the more serious student of Objectivism".[13] Gladstein reported that a number of contemporary reviews compared Rand's views to existentialism.[14]
In his book Winning Through Intimidation, self-help author Robert J. Ringer said The Virtue of Selfishness is Rand's "masterpiece".[15]
In a public appearance, writer Christopher Hitchens said, "Though I have some respect for The Virtue of Selfishness, a collection of essays ... I don't think there's any need to have essays advocating selfishness among human beings. I don't know what your impression has been, but some things require no further reinforcement."[16]
Den Uyl, Douglas & Rasmussen, Douglas, eds. (1986) [1984]. The Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand (paperback ed.). Chicago: University of Illinois Press. ISBN0-252-01407-3. OCLC 15669115.
Gladstein, Mimi Reisel (1999). The New Ayn Rand Companion. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN0-313-30321-5. OCLC 40359365.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Nathaniel Branden § "Mental Health versus Mysticism and Self-Sacrifice".
January 01, 1970
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The Virtue of Selfishness A New Concept of Egoism is a 1964 collection of essays by the philosopher Ayn Rand and the writer Nathaniel Branden Most of the essays originally appeared in The Objectivist Newsletter The book covers ethical issues from the perspective of Rand s Objectivist philosophy Some of its themes include the identification and validation of egoism as a rational code of ethics the destructiveness of altruism and the nature of a proper government The Virtue of SelfishnessCover of the 1964 Signet Books editionAuthorAyn RandCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSubjectEthicsPublisherNew American LibraryPublication date1964Media typePrintPages173 Centennial edition ISBN0 451 16393 1 Centennial edition OCLC183461 Contents 1 Summary 2 Use of the term selfishness 3 Publication history 4 Reception 5 References 5 1 Works cited 6 External linksSummary editThe book contains 19 essays 14 of them written by Rand and five by Branden plus an introduction written by Rand All but one of the essays had previously been published in The Objectivist Newsletter a magazine that Rand and Branden had launched in 1962 The exception was the book s first essay The Objectivist Ethics which was a paper Rand delivered at the University of Wisconsin during a symposium on Ethics in Our Time 1 The Objectivist Ethics explains the foundations of Rand s ethical theory Her other essays engage a variety of ethical topics often challenging common perspectives on such issues as compromise and moral judgment Branden s essays such as Counterfeit Individualism and The Psychology of Pleasure present a more psychology focused view of morality 2 Use of the term selfishness editRand s characterization of selfishness as a virtue including in the title of the book is one of its most controversial elements Philosopher Chandran Kukathas said Rand s position on this point brought notoriety but kept her out of the intellectual mainstream 3 Rand acknowledged in the book s introduction that the term selfishness was not typically used to describe virtuous behavior but insisted that her usage was consistent with a more precise meaning of the term as simply concern with one s own interests The equation of selfishness with evil Rand said had caused the arrested moral development of mankind and needed to be rejected 4 Critics have disputed Rand s interpretation of the term Libertarian feminist writer Sharon Presley described Rand s use of selfishness as perversely idiosyncratic and contrary to the dictionary meaning of the term Rand s claims to the contrary notwithstanding Presley believes the use of the term has caused Rand s arguments to be frequently mischaracterized 5 Philosophy professor Max Hocutt dismissed the phrase the virtue of selfishness as rhetorical excess saying that without qualification and explanation it is too paradoxical to merit serious discussion 6 In contrast philosophers Douglas J Den Uyl and Douglas B Rasmussen described Rand s response to the question of why she uses the term as neither antagonistic nor defensive but rather profound 7 Philosopher Chris Matthew Sciabarra said it is debatable whether Rand accurately described the meaning of the term but argued that Rand s philosophical position required altering the conventional meanings of some terms in order to express her views without inventing entirely new words 8 Philosophy professor Stephen Hicks wrote in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy that Rand s provocative title was matched by an equally provocative thesis about ethics 9 Publication history edit nbsp Ayn Rand in 1957 The idea of creating a collection of Rand s essays initially came from Bennett Cerf of Random House who had published two of Rand s previous books Atlas Shrugged and For the New Intellectual Rand proposed a collection of articles to be titled The Fascist New Frontier after a Ford Hall Forum speech she had given criticizing the views of President John F Kennedy Uncomfortable with Rand s comparison of Kennedy to Adolf Hitler Cerf asked that Rand choose a different title essay She rejected this request and dropped Random House as well as ending her friendship with Cerf choosing New American Library as the publisher for her new book The Virtue of Selfishness bore a different title and did not include her piece on Kennedy he had been assassinated before it was released making the point of the essay moot 10 Reception editThe book became one of Rand s strongest selling works of nonfiction selling over 400 000 copies in the first four months of its release 11 and over 1 35 million copies by 2014 12 Rand scholar Mimi Reisel Gladstein described the collection of essays as eclectic and appealing to interested nonacademic or nonspecialist readers as well as to the more serious student of Objectivism 13 Gladstein reported that a number of contemporary reviews compared Rand s views to existentialism 14 In his book Winning Through Intimidation self help author Robert J Ringer said The Virtue of Selfishness is Rand s masterpiece 15 In a public appearance writer Christopher Hitchens said Though I have some respect for The Virtue of Selfishness a collection of essays I don t think there s any need to have essays advocating selfishness among human beings I don t know what your impression has been but some things require no further reinforcement 16 References edit Gladstein 1999 p 80 Burns 2009 p 211 Gladstein 1999 pp 80 81 Kukathas 1998 p 55 Rand Ayn Introduction In Rand 1964 pp vii ix Presley Sharon Ayn Rand s Philosophy of Individualism A Feminist Psychologist s Perspective In Gladstein amp Sciabarra 1999 pp 265 266 Hocutt 2008 p 440 Den Uyl Douglas J and Rasmussen Douglas B Life Teleology and Eudaimonia in the Ethics of Ayn Rand In Den Uyl amp Rasmussen 1986 p 76 Sciabarra 1995 p 252 Hicks Stephen R C July 7 2005 Ayn Rand 1905 1982 Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Retrieved February 17 2011 Burns 2009 pp 210 211 Heller 2009 pp 335 337 Gladstein 1999 p 81 Burns 2009 p 212 Bowden Tom June 23 2014 50 Years of the Virtue of Selfishness Ayn Rand Institute Retrieved July 6 2014 Gladstein 1999 p 81 Gladstein 1999 p 119 Ringer Robert J Winning Through Intimidation Los Angeles Book Publishers p vii ISBN 0 308 10229 0 Hitchens Destroys the Cult of Ayn Rand mirror YouTube Retrieved January 17 2021 Works cited edit Burns Jennifer 2009 Goddess of the Market Ayn Rand and the American Right New York Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 532487 7 OCLC 313665028 Den Uyl Douglas amp Rasmussen Douglas eds 1986 1984 The Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand paperback ed Chicago University of Illinois Press ISBN 0 252 01407 3 OCLC 15669115 Gladstein Mimi Reisel 1999 The New Ayn Rand Companion Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 30321 5 OCLC 40359365 Gladstein Mimi Reisel amp Sciabarra Chris Matthew eds 1999 Feminist Interpretations of Ayn Rand Re reading the Canon University Park Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University Press ISBN 0 271 01830 5 Heller Anne C 2009 Ayn Rand and the World She Made New York Doubleday ISBN 978 0 385 51399 9 OCLC 229027437 Hocutt Max Winter 2008 In Defense of Herbert Spencer PDF The Independent Review 12 3 433 445 Kukathas Chandran 1998 Rand Ayn 1905 82 In Craig Edward ed Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Vol 8 New York Routledge pp 55 56 ISBN 0 415 07310 3 OCLC 318280731 Rand Ayn 1964 The Virtue of Selfishness New York New American Library ISBN 0 451 16393 1 OCLC 28103453 Sciabarra Chris Matthew 1995 Ayn Rand The Russian Radical University Park Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University Press ISBN 0 271 01440 7 OCLC 31133644 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Nathaniel Branden Mental Health versus Mysticism and Self Sacrifice Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Virtue of Selfishness amp oldid 1170081813, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
