In defense of selfishness : why the code of self-sacrifice is unjust and destructive

From childhood, we're taught one central, non-controversial idea about morality: self-sacrifice is a virtue. It is universally accepted that serving the needs of others, rather than our own, is the essence of morality. To be ethical--it is believed--__is__ to be altruistic. Questioning this belief is regarded as tantamount to questioning the self-evident. Here, Peter Schwartz questions it. __In Defense of Selfishness__ refutes widespread misconceptions about the meaning of selfishness and of altruism. Basing his arguments on Ayn Rand's ethics of rational self-interest, Schwartz demonstrates that genuine selfishness is not exemplified by the brutal plundering of an Attila the Hun or the conniving duplicity of a Bernard Madoff. To the contrary, such people are acting __against__ their actual, long-range interests. The truly selfish individual is committed to moral principles and lives an honest, productive, self-respecting life. He does not feed parasitically off other people. Instead, he renounces the unearned, and deals with others--in both the material and spiritual realms--by offering value for value, to mutual benefit. The selfish individual, Schwartz maintains, lives by reason, not force. He lives by production and trade, not by theft and fraud. He disavows the mindlessness of the do-whatever-you-feel-like emotionalist, and upholds rationality as his primary virtue. He takes pride in his achievements, and does not sacrifice himself to others--nor does he sacrifice others to himself. According to the code of altruism, however, you must embrace self-sacrifice. You must subordinate yourself to others. Altruism calls, not for cooperation and benevolence, but for __servitude__. It demands that you surrender your interests to the needs of others, that you regard serving others as the moral justification of your existence, that you be willing to suffer so that a non-you might benefit. To this, Schwartz asks simply: __Why?__ Why should the fact that you have achieved any success make you indebted to those who haven't? Why does the fact that someone __needs__ your money create a moral entitlement to it, while the fact that you've __earned__ it, doesn't? Using vivid, real-life examples, __In Defense of Selfishness__ illustrates the iniquity of requiring one man to serve the needs of another. This provocative book challenges readers to re-examine the standard by which they decide what is morally right or wrong. "From childhood, we're taught one central, non-controversial idea about morality: self-sacrifice is a virtue. It is universally accepted that serving the needs of others, rather than our own, is the essence of morality. To be ethical--it is believed--is to be altruistic. Questioning this belief is regarded as tantamount to questioning the self-evident. Here, Peter Schwartz questions it. In Defense of Selfishness refutes widespread misconceptions about the meaning of selfishness and of altruism. Basing his arguments on Ayn Rand's ethics of rational self-interest, Schwartz demonstrates that genuine selfishness is not exemplified by the brutal plundering of an Attila the Hun or the conniving duplicity of a Bernard Madoff. To the contrary, such people are acting against their actual, long-range interests. The truly selfish individual is committed to moral principles and lives an honest, productive, self-respecting life. He does not feed parasitically off other people. Instead, he renounces the unearned, and deals with others--in both the material and spiritual realms--by offering value for value, to mutual benefit. The selfish individual, Schwartz maintains, lives by reason, not force. He lives by production and trade, not by theft and fraud. He disavows the mindlessness of the do-whatever-you-feel-like emotionalist, and upholds rationality as his primary virtue. He takes pride in his achievements, and does not sacrifice himself to others--nor does he sacrifice others to himself. According to the code of altruism, however, you must embrace self-sacrifice. You must subordinate yourself to others. Altruism calls, not for cooperation and benevolence, but for servitude. It demands that you surrender your interests to the needs of others, that you regard serving others as the moral justification of your existence, that you be willing to suffer so that a non-you might benefit. To this, Schwartz asks simply: Why? Why should the fact that you have achieved any success make you indebted to those who haven't? Why does the fact that someone needs your money create a moral entitlement to it, while the fact that you've earned it, doesn't? Using vivid, real-life examples, In Defense of Selfishness illustrates the iniquity of requiring one man to serve the needs of another. This provocative book challenges readers to re-examine the standard by which they decide what is morally right or wrong."-- Provided by publisher "There is one central, non-controversial idea we're taught about morality--that self-sacrifice is a virtue. What if it's wrong? From childhood, we are told that serving the needs of others, rather than our own, is the essence of morality and the way to achieve social harmony. To be ethical--it is believed--is to be altruistic. Here, Peter Schwartz questions this notion. In Defense of Selfishness shows that what altruism demands is not that you respect the rights of your neighbor and refrain from acting like Attila the Hun, but rather that you subordinate yourself to others. Altruism entails not benevolence and cooperation, but servitude. Schwartz asks why the fact that someone needs your money makes him entitled to it, while the fact that you've earned it, doesn't. Schwartz rejects sacrifice, under which one person's gain comes at the price of another's loss. Instead, he proposes an alternative to altruism, whereby people deal with one another not by sacrificing but by offering value for value, to mutual benefit, and by refusing to seek the unearned. Schwartz proposes a world, based on Ayn Rand's ethics of rational self-interest, under which individuals live honest, self-respecting, productive lives. Using real-life examples, In Defense of Selfishness illustrates the iniquity of requiring one man to serve the needs of another, challenging readers to question the standard by which they decide that something is morally right or wrong"-- Provided by publisher This book presents a collection of recent articles on the problems in today's schools, why school and students are underperforming, exploring a range of topics and explaining why some reforms in education are destined to fail while others have been proven to work. The first section, "Teaching Approaches," presents articles on progressive education; curriculum and methods; computers/distance learning; direct instruction, explicit teaching; ability grouping; and whole school reform. The second section, "The Student," offers articles on student beliefs/character education and social promotion. The third section, "Parents and Teachers," includes articles on such issues as the parent-school relationship, teacher salaries, teachers' unions, and teacher evaluation. The fourth section,"Educationally Disadvantaged," discusses such issues as bilingual education, Ritalin, and special education. The fifth section, "Standards and Accountability," looks at the development of academic standards and the fight against testing. The sixth section, "Structuring Education," presents articles on spending, vouchers, contracting out, charter schools, class and school size, federal aid to education and the poor, home schooling, and private schooling. (SM) This Book Presents A Collection Of Recent Articles On Education Reform. The Contributors Examine The Basic Nature Of Our Education Problems, Provide A Clear Understanding Of Why Schools And Students Are Underperforming, And Propose Reasonable And Effective Strategies For Success. Teaching Approaches. Progressive Education. School Reforms Hinder Learning, Crusader Argues / Richard Lee Colvin. A Unique School Or Out Of Step? / Richard Lee Colvin. Opposing Approaches So Johnny Can Read: Finding The Answers In Drills And Rigor / E.d. Hirsch, Jr. The Schools They Deserve: Howard Gardner And The Remaking Of Elite Education / Mary Eberstadt. What Is An Educrat? / Debra J. Saunders. Curriculum And Methods. Developmental Appropriateness: Review -- Years Of Promise: A Comprehensive Learning Strategy For America's Children / Philip H. Abelson. Science Friction / Steve Olson. Dictatorship Of Virtue: Multiculturalism In Elementary And Secondary Schools / Richard Bernstein. Computers/distance Learning. Edited By Williamson M. Evers, Lance T. Izumi, And Pamela A. Riley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Schwartz maintains that self-interested action does not necessarily denote evil action, questionable motives or even suspicious interests of any kind. The phrase simply means what it says: intending to benefit self. Whether that self is honorable or despicable is a different question. This book explores a wide range of critical areas in education, examines the basic nature of our education problems, provides a clear understanding of underperformance, and proposes reasonable and effective strategies for success.