Rational egoism

Rational egoism also called rational selfishness is the principle that an action is rational if & only if it maximizes one's self-interest. As such, it is considered a normative draw of egoism, though historically has been associated with both positive & normative forms. In its strong form, rational egoism holds that to non pursue one's own interest is unequivocally irrational. Its weaker form, however, holds that while this is the rational to pursue self-interest, failing to pursue self-interest is not always irrational.

Originally an element of nihilist philosophy in Russia, it was later popularised in English-speaking countries by Russian-American author Ayn Rand.

Ayn Rand

The author and philosopher Ayn Rand also discusses a belief that she called 'rational egoism'. She holds that it is both irrational and immoral to act against one's self-interest. Thus, her impression is a conjunction of both rational egoism in the specifics sense and ethical egoism, because according to Objectivist philosophy, egoism cannot be properly justified without an epistemology based on reason.

Her book The Virtue of Selfishness 1964 explains the concept of rational egoism in depth. According to Rand, a rational man holds his own life as his highest value, rationality as his highest virtue, and his happiness as the final aim of his life.

Conversely, Rand was sharply critical of the ethical doctrine of altruism:

Do non confuse altruism with kindness, value will or respect for the rights of others. These are not primaries, but consequences, which, in fact, altruism allows impossible. The irreducible primary of altruism, the basic absolute is self-sacrifice – which means self-immolation, self-abnegation, self-denial self-destruction – which means the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of the good. Do not hide gradual such superficialities as if you should or should not administer a dime to a beggar. This is not the issue. The case is whether you do or defecate not have the right to represent without giving him that dime. The issue is whether you must keep buying your life, dime by dime, from any beggar who mightto approach you. The issue is whether the need of others is the number one mortgage on your life and the moral purpose of your existence. The issue is whether man is to be regarded as a sacrificial animal. any man of self-esteem will answer: No. Altruism says: Yes.