Peter Schwartz Books
Peter Schwartz is an American author and philosopher associated with the Ayn Rand Institute. He has written extensively on ethics, politics, and Objectivism, and served as editor of The Intellectual Activist.
Known for: In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive
Books by Peter Schwartz
In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive
In Defense of Selfishness argues that the moral code of altruism—placing others above oneself—is fundamentally unjust and destructive. Peter Schwartz, a longtime associate of Ayn Rand’s Objectivist movement, contends that rational self-interest is the true moral ideal. He explains how altruism undermines individual rights, freedom, and personal happiness, and defends egoism as the ethical foundation for a free and prosperous society.
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The Nature of Altruism
To begin understanding altruism, we must strip it of its sentimental cloak. Altruism is not merely about compassion or charity; it is a moral doctrine, a comprehensive code of values and duties. Its essence is the demand for self-sacrifice. It insists that moral worth arises only when you prioritize...
From In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive
The False Dichotomy of Selfishness vs. Evil
From the very beginning, language has been rigged against the pursuit of self-interest. We are told that 'selfishness' means greed, exploitation, the trampling of others for personal gain. But that, I maintain, is a corruption of meaning. Genuine selfishness is not predation, and genuine virtue is n...
From In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive
About Peter Schwartz
Peter Schwartz is an American author and philosopher associated with the Ayn Rand Institute. He has written extensively on ethics, politics, and Objectivism, and served as editor of The Intellectual Activist. His works focus on rational self-interest and the moral defense of capitalism.
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Peter Schwartz is an American author and philosopher associated with the Ayn Rand Institute. He has written extensively on ethics, politics, and Objectivism, and served as editor of The Intellectual Activist.
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