(no subject)

[garran]

My impression has long been that Libertarianism, as a political philosophy, is based on principles of ethical egoism (of which Ayn Rand was the most famous proponent). Is this true? Can you be a libertarian without being an ethical egoist?

Comments

[haibane-rachan.livejournal.com]

Explain to me what an "ethical egoist" is and I might attempt to answer you.

[garran.livejournal.com]

Briefly (and sloppily): ethical egoism is a moral philosophy which argues that it is the duty of each person to behave entirely according to their own self-interest. Altruism is regarded variously as (at best) bizarre and ineffective, or (at worst) an appalling societal disease.


-Garran