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~starbreaker

Once I figured out that Ayn Rand was just trying to justify egoism by wrapping it up in a half-assed neo-Aristotlean virtue ethic, it was pretty much over. Reading Max Stirner was the coup de grace for any regard I might have had for Rand's bullshit.

> What is not supposed to be my concern! First and foremost, the good cause, then God’s cause, the cause of mankind, of truth, of freedom, of humanity, of justice; further, the cause of my people, my prince, my fatherland; finally, even the cause of Mind, and a thousand other causes. Only my cause is never to be my concern. "Shame on the egoist who thinks only of himself!"

Max Stirner: "The Ego and Its Own" (1844)

There's no need to justify egoism. One need only be smart about it, and realize that in the long run it's best to repay kindness with kindness, and give strangers who have done you no harm the benefit of the doubt.

Though I'll admit I still have a bit of trouble with the latter...

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~rosie88 wrote:

>>There's no need to justify egoism. One need only be smart about it, and realize that in the long run it's best to repay kindness with kindness, and give strangers who have done you no harm the benefit of the doubt.

I do that and more sometimes, I am treated with my respect and given more appreciation by strangers than people I know but yes I get what you're saying, the world is filled with way too much egoism and not enough humanity. Give me humanity any day of the week.