To All:

First of all, before I begin my introduction to the morality of rational self-interest, I must emphasize the importance of definitions, which, if taken for granted, can only lead to misunderstandings and erroneous conclusions.

Therefore, to the best of my ability, I will provide a few definitions below that inform the morality to which I subscribe. I do not expect everyone to share these definitions. However, I feel it is worth mentioning, when discussing something as important and vital to man as morality, that nothing is as destructive as the approximate. As I understand it, and as I employ it, morality is an objective pursuit, and therefore it is based on three absolutes: reality, reason and man's nature.

If there is objection to my approach to morality, I ask that you please provide your concept of morality as you understand it, and as you employ it. Without this preliminary step, it may be difficult for some to identify where you are coming from, and therefore one has only his inferences from your statements as to what your basic approach to morality is. I ask that neither of you take my statements below as personal attacks, as my morality is not about threats or torture, but of values and happiness.

Please read the following very carefully.

I begin with a definition of morality: Morality is a code of values to guide man's choices and actions.

This definition of morality presupposes two aspects of rational philosophy:

1. That man has a particular nature, which includes the attribute volition; man has the choice to think, the choice to use reason, the choice to pursue values, the choice to enjoy his life. These are moral choices, but they depend on his metaphysical nature as a volitional being. (Discussion of man's nature belongs to the first branch of philosophy, which is metaphysics. This definition presupposes objective metaphysics.) Thus, man has a self: he chooses which his volition, he thinks with his mind, he reasons with his reasoning, he pursues his values, he enjoys his life. All these actions being with and revolve around one absolute constant: Man's self.
2. That man's only means of knowledge is reason, which is the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by his senses. Its method is logic, which is the art of non-contradictory identification. (The discussion of reason belongs to the second branch of philosophy, which is epistemology. This definition presupposes objective philosophy.)

Thus, man is a rational being, by choice.

To quote Ayn Rand:

As a living being, man faces one fundamental alternative: to live, or to die. Therefore, his actions may have potentially grave consequences on his well-being. Just by his very nature as a living being, man faces a choice, and therefore, to survive, he requires morality to guide his choices and actions.

Man is a thinking animal. He does not possess instincts, as many scientists and behaviorists claim ('instincts' are defined here as automatic knowledge), and his knowledge does not come from supernatural entities. (Even the religionist must admit that he did not know of 'god' until he was either instructed about 'god' or until he read about 'god' in some form of literature. In this respect, all men are born atheist: 'atheism' being here defined as: absence of god-belief. No man is born with beliefs of any kind, let alone beliefs in myths and fables.)

Therefore, man neither has any kind of instinct for self-preservation, nor can he rely on faith to fill his belly and secure his survival. Instead, he must apply his mind, consciously and consistently, to the problem of his survival as required by his nature. This is the initial and primary task of a rational system of morality fit for man: to live.

As on philosopher once said: "Man is given his life, but not his survival."

Morality is man's tool of resolving the problem of survival.

 Contrast the above with the popular notion of morality, that suggests that morality consists of rules for behavior towards others.

This approach to morality ignores man's fundamental choice as a living being: to live, or to die. This approach to morality presumes that man will live, somehow, and that his primary concern should be how he interacts with others. Why should this be his primary concern? Blank out.

This approach also ignores the concept 'value', which is the means of man's morality. The rational man preserves his life because it is a value to him; he does not preserve his life out of a sense of 'duty' or in obedience to commandments. He does so out of his own selfish interests.

This approach also erroneously presumes that the problems of morality can be addressed and resolved by rules, which only serve to excuse man from thinking, and do not allow for the deeper processes of a rational system of morality, such as applying rational principles to the requirements of man's life.

The moral is the chosen, not the commanded, the forced, or the coerced; the moral is the understood, not the obeyed.

 The first component of morality is the concept value. A 'value' is anything one acts to gain and/or keep.

Values are the building blocks of man's morality, and it requires a standard. That standard is: man's life. Not just any man's life, but his own life. The standard that recognizes that A) man's life is an end in itself (as opposed to being an end in service to others) and that B) without life, man cannot value anything, for he cannot value anything from the grave.

The second component of morality is the concept virtue. A 'virtue' is the action by which values are achieved.

This component takes into account the fact that values can only be achieved through man's actions, and that no amount of wishing will replace those actions. The actions that one takes to achieve his values must be chosen by himself, according to his values-hierarchy, and enacted by himself.

When speaking of values, there can be no discussion without reference to the self.

As I said, morality is a code of values to guide man's choices and actions.

This is barely an introduction, but it will get the debate started, I'm certain. For many, this may be the first time you have encountered the idea of selfishness as a moral philosophy. 'Conventional wisdom' would have it that selfishness is inherently evil, corrupt or depraved. The 'conventional' idea of a selfish man is that of a monster standing over slaughtered men, women and children drooling at the mouth for the next opportunity to slaughter more on his way to some unlawful, unrightful gain.

I will explain to the group why this is not what I mean by the morality of rational self-interest. I will explain why the morality of rational self-interest is the only moral system fit for man in dealing with the problem of living on earth. I will also show you why other, 'conventional' systems of morality fail in precisely this respect.

For now, if there are any questions about what I have already provided, I ask that you please share your questions with me. Please keep in mind that I consider the subject of morality to be the greatest intellectual pursuit that can occupy a man's mind, as without it, man will lose his ultimate value: his life.

Thank you,

Tindrbox

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