"Why is it moral to serve the happiness of others, but not your own? ..." - Ayn Rand

Posted by GaltsGulch 9 years, 7 months ago to Pics
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"Why is it moral to serve the happiness of others, but not your own? If enjoyment is a value, why is it moral when experienced by others, but immoral when experienced by you?" - Ayn Rand


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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That's up to you. It's not a group thing it's an individual choice unlike social altruism...or are there social hypocrites? Institutionalized liars? Say one thing do another....ah yes...politicians, preachers, teachers, car sales staff, and the media. Value for the group less than zero.
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  • Posted by james464 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What rule requires one to not be hypocritical? Isn't it just another value that can be held same as altruism?
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  • Posted by james464 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You make my point....nothing matters without an external source of meaning.
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  • Posted by james464 9 years, 7 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'll do you one better...everything is nihilism without God.

    Without God to set meaning, how is any immutable meaning determined?
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  • Posted by james464 9 years, 7 months ago
    Isn't enjoyment only a value if one were to define it as such? To one, enjoyment may be devalued while others value it.

    Regardless of the above, how can morality be defined within a system of subjectively such as Objectivism developed within man himself? One man's morality is another man's immorality correct?
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  • Posted by broskjold22 9 years, 7 months ago
    The only goal to give of oneself to others is one's own satisfaction. Altruism consistently practiced is nihilism. More often, this anti-concept is used - as SaltyDog says - as an excuse to convince others to do something hypocritical or perverse.
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 7 months ago
    This quote stood out to me when I first read it. If it's good for person A to serve person B, why is it wrong for person B to do the exact same thing? Why does it matter who's doing it? Of course it does not matter.
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  • Posted by Solver 9 years, 7 months ago
    Altruism is an individual choice. Social altruism is not. Methods of social altruism are immoral to individuals.
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