Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics
The Virtuous Egoist
- Author: Tara Smith, University of Texas, Austin
- Date Published: June 2007
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521705462
Paperback
Other available formats:
Hardback, eBook
Looking for an inspection copy?
This title is not currently available on inspection
-
Ayn Rand is well known for advocating egoism, but the substance of that instruction is rarely understood. Far from representing the rejection of morality, selfishness, in Rand's view, actually demands the practice of a systematic code of ethics. This book explains the fundamental virtues that Rand considers vital for a person to achieve his objective well-being: rationality, honesty, independence, justice, integrity, productiveness, and pride. Tracing Rand's account of the harmony of human beings' rational interests, Smith examines what each of these virtues consists of, why it is a virtue, and what it demands of a person in practice. Along the way she addresses the status of several conventional virtues within Rand's theory, considering traits such as kindness, charity, generosity, temperance, courage, forgiveness, and humility. Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics thus offers an in-depth exploration of several specific virtues and an illuminating integration of these with the broader theory of egoism.
Read more- Focuses on how to be egoistic, which is usually neglected in discussions of egoism
- Relates Rand's form of egoism to virtue ethics, which has been prominent in moral philosophy
- Paints a far more positive portrait of the egoist than the stereotypes that philosophers, as well as other, too often lazily accept
Reviews & endorsements
'The first detailed and scholarly study of Rand's conception of virtue, Tara Smith's Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist is an important and timely book.' Robert Mayhew, Philosophical Books
See more reviews'The issues raised by this book are manifold and provocative.' Helen Cullyer, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: June 2007
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521705462
- length: 330 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 152 x 23 mm
- weight: 0.52kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Rational egoism: a profile of its foundations and basic character
3. The master virtue: rationality
4. Honesty
5. Independence
6. Justice
7. Integrity
8. Productiveness
9. Pride
10. Implications for certain conventional virtues: charity, generosity, kindness, temperance.
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×