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Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist 1st Edition

by Tara Smith (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
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Ayn Rand is well known for advocating egoism, but the substance of that egoism�s instruction is rarely understood. Far from representing the rejection of morality, selfishness, in Rand�s view, actually demands the practice of a systematic code of ethics. This book explains the fundamental virtues that Rand considers vital for a person to achieve his objective well-being: rationality, honesty, independence, justice, integrity, productiveness, and pride. Tara Smith examines what each of these virtues consists in, why it is a virtue, and what it demands of a person in practice.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0521705460
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0521705462
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Cambridge University Press
  5. Publication date
    April 16, 2007
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6 x 0.83 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    330 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a strongly written addition to the scholarly literature on Ayn Rand's philosophy...belongs in every college and university library, and on the shelves of philosophers interested in Rand's views and current trends in the ethics literature." --Stephen R.C. Hicks, Rockford College: Philosophy in Review

"...the issues raised by this book are manifold and provocative... This book should force a debate of renewed vigor about what we mean by egoism, whether and how the egoism / altruism dichotomy should be applied within eudaimonistic ethical theories, and what our ethical theories imply about our political outlook. Smith provides us with a version of egoism that will need to be argued against by those who find it distasteful or misguided, rather than simply dismissed." --Helen Cullyer, University of Pittsburgh, Note Dame Philosophical Review

"For those interested in gaining a full and accurate understanding of Rand’s revolutionary moral code, University of Texas at Austin philosophy professor Tara Smith’s new book Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist is a most welcome addition to the existing literature. Smith describes the book as “an account of what Rand’s rational egoism consists of and requires,” with particular emphasis on its virtues.8 This it is―and more. The book illuminates the central principles of the Objectivist ethics in rich detail, rendering them readily accessible to any sincere inquirer." --Diana Hsieh, The Objective Standard

Book Description

Explains the fundamental virtues that Rand considers vital for a person to achieve his objective well-being.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (April 16, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521705460
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521705462
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.83 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 44 ratings

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  1. Tara Smith

    Tara Smith

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  2. Tara Smith

    Tara Smith

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    Tara Smith is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin, where she has taught since 1989. A specialist in moral, legal, and political philosophy, she is author of the books Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System (Cambridge University Press, 2015), Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist (Cambridge, 2006), Viable Values: A Study of Life as the Root and Reward of Morality (Rowman and Littlefield, 2000), and Moral Rights and Political Freedom (Rowman and Littlefield 1995). Smith’s scholarly articles span such subjects as rights conflicts, the morality of money, everyday justice, forgiveness, friendship, pride, moral perfection, and the value of spectator sports.

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
44 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Charlie
5.0 out of 5 stars Making abstract ideas practical
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2017
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Do you ever get uneasy when trying to connect abstract ideas to practical reality? If so, this is the book for you. Tara Smith is an excellent transmitter of Ayn Rand's ideas. Her presentation is clear, rational, and engaging. In Normative Ethics, she discusses each of the seven primary virtues from Rand's Atlas Shrugged. She traces their roots and demonstrates their applicability in various examples with different contexts. Each virtue is tied to reality and viewed from the context of how it affects your life.

She also discusses other traits that are commonly referred to virtues and offers her analysis on their merits.

Overall, the supreme value in this book is showing you the reader why philosophy is important. Why the ideas behind ethics can shape man's mind to act in a way that leads to success and happiness in action.

If only other philosophies presented their ethics in such a clear manner. Highly recommend!
2 people found this helpful
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Dan Chern
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Explication of Rand’s Virtues
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2020
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This is not another overview of Rand’s primary virtues. Rather, Professor Smith provides the reader with a detailed analysis of Rand’s virtues and lays out the intellectual and existential requirements necessary to practice these life-enhancing virtues on a day-to-day basis.

Equally important, Professor Smith regularly stresses the interlocking nature of these virtues. She clearly demonstrates that one cannot practice some of them; to be truly virtuous, one must practice all of them.

This work also compares and contrasts Rand’s conception of egoism and the virtues with how these concepts are more commonly understood. By providing these conceptual foils, Smith helps the reader better grasp Rand’s unique approach to living a healthy, happy, virtuous life.
One person found this helpful
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interpreter
5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophy professor turns out another valuable book
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2015
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Tara Smith was my philosophy professor in Austin. Her lectures were professional and academic, and revealed, among other things, that the ideas popularized by Ayn Rand were in fact beginning to percolate among professional philosophy departments in the same decades that saw publication of Ayn Rand's major works. It is reminiscent of the debate over calculus, developed at about the same time by Newton and Leibnitz. The relevant question, of course, is whether the biocentric theory of ethics makes sense. Compared to any of the competing theories, it does hold its own. I was impressed by Prof. Smith's earlier work on Political freedom and moral rights, which is kind of like a detective story with no reference to famous writers, only to professors of philosophy. The principles stack up pretty well even as far afield as in molecular genetics, which is not at all what one expects of a philosophy tome. When this one came out I purchased it immediately, liked it, and occasionally make a gift of it to truly special friends.
3 people found this helpful
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Book Fanatic
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017
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I thought this was an excellent distillation and presentation of Ayn Rand's ethical philosophy. Smith puts it all together in one place and presents it in a very logical and well thought out manner. She correctly points out that much of what is assumed an ethical theory is just that – assumed but not supported or justified. I thought this was a great book and highly recommend it.
3 people found this helpful
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Philip C Dennis
5.0 out of 5 stars A Life Changing Book
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2019
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Ayn Rand was an able genius who created "A Philosophy for Living on Earth" and my life has been measurably improved by a richer understanding of how Aristotle suggested we achieve happiness! Well worth the cost and I'll read it again!
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FaithfulObjectivist
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatment in a very pleasant style
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2020
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Outstanding treatment of then virtues and as good as Peikoff in some areas. Look forward to next book by Dr Smith.
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matthew S.
5.0 out of 5 stars All serious egoists should read this book.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2018
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Read the entire thing with my Objectivist study group. It's a great introduction to Egoist ethics, clearing the mud around what an egoist should and shouldn't do. A true defense of independence and individuality.
2 people found this helpful
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JJCZONE
5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING EXPLICATION OF OBJECTIVIST VALUES
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013
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This is a wonderful, clear, and thorough discussion of Ayn Rand's Objectivist ethics that gives a lot of guidance on how to understand and integrate values base on an objective approach to reality and human life. Makes it refreshingly clear why a rational approach to human morality is far superior to any mystical or religious view.
4 people found this helpful
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