Altruism holds that being moral consists in self-sacrificially serving others. Despite its self-destructive nature, altruism is accepted to some extent by almost everyone today. Of course, no one upholds it consistently–at least not for long. Rather, most people accept it as true–and then cheat on it.
All religionists–Christians, Jews, and Muslims–are altruists. Their holy books demand it. All so-called “Secular Humanists”–Utilitarians, Postmodernists, and Egalitarians–are altruists. Their philosophies demand it.
From the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim points of view, the significant “others” are “God” and “the poor.” They are the “others” for whom you should sacrifice. From the Utilitarian point of view, the “other” is “everyone in general” (the Utilitarian principle is “the greatest good for the greatest number”). From the Postmodern and Egalitarian points of view, the “other” is “anyone with less wealth or opportunity than you have”; in other words, “the better off you are, the more you should sacrifice for others–the worse off you are, the more others should sacrifice for you.”
Sacrifice–Sacrifice–Sacrifice. Everyone believes it is the moral thing to do. And no philosopher has been willing to challenge this idea.
Except Ayn Rand. Quote:
[T]here is one word–a single word–which can blast the morality of altruism out of existence and which it cannot withstand–the word:
