Ayn Rand's moral defense

Reader comment on: A Pro-Capitalist 'Family Persuasion Guide'

Submitted by Harry Binswanger (United States), Dec 27, 2019 23:38

Missing from Ira's pro-capitalist family lesson was the kind of defense Ayn Rand gives of capitalism: that the individual has a right to his life that only capitalism respects. Under other systems, the state issues edicts to the individual ordering to do or not do certain things, and the state disregards the right of the individual to act on his own best judgment, so long as he respects the same right in all others.

Of course, maybe the fact that this is an egoist defense of capitalism (it protects you own life, your own property, your own pursuit of happiness) makes it an ethical third rail for some.

But as long as the moral high ground is given to the egalitarians and preachers of sacrifice, capitalism will lose.

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