PHIL 101 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
Does Rand think that morality and selfishness are opposites? Why or why not?
No. Behaving rationally means putting your own interests first. You have a duty to act selfish.
Morality and altruism are opposites.
What does she think about being selfish?
Self esteem. Live in accordance to your own nature and respect your own ability to do the right
thing.
What attitudes or actions does she view as immoral?
Self-sacrifice. Asking help from others. A love that is placed above oneself.
What does one seek, earn and derive from love?
love is an expression of self esteem. A response of one's own values in another. Get's a purpose
and selfish happiness/joy from love.
Why does Rand think that a selfless, disinterested love is a contradiction in terms?
because it means one is indifferent to that which one values.
Is it a sacrifice for a man who is passionately in love with his wife to spend a fortune to save
his wife's life?
No it is selfish. Her survival is of greatest importance to his happiness.
Would it be a sacrifice for a man to let his wife die to save ten other women?
Yes it would be a sacrifice to give up his wife's life.
What would altruism advise this man to do?
altruism says that losing the life of one woman is worth it to save the lives of ten women.
What would Rand advise?
, Rand says to act in accordance to what would bring happiness to one's own life. In other words
to selfishly save your wife, if you could not live without her.
Suppose a man fails to save the one he loves and, as a consequence, lives a life of loneliness.
Would Rand morally condemn the action of the man?
yes as treason against their own moral values. values are those which one acts to gain or keep
What is the virtue involved in helping those one loves?
integrity
How does Rand define integrity?
loyalty to one's convictions and values. The policy of acting in accordance to one's values.
Upholding them and translating them into reality.
What does Ayn Rand identify as the ultimate moral value for each human being?
your highest moral purpose is the achievement of one's own happiness.
Is Rand's ethical theory teleological, hedonistic or altruistic?
Rand is an ethical egoist believes in teleological ethics - where only the consequences of an
action are morally relevant.
Does she believe in God?
no, own happiness is achieved through work and thinking.
How does Rand define "selfishness"?
As a virtue, because it promotes ones rational values (own life and happiness).
In popular usage, how has the word "selfishness" commonly been understood?
exploit others for your own gain
What political theories/ systems does Rand tend to support
capitalism, which she thinks respects the individual. Where you have a freedom to function and a
constant rise in general good.
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
Does Rand think that morality and selfishness are opposites? Why or why not?
No. Behaving rationally means putting your own interests first. You have a duty to act selfish.
Morality and altruism are opposites.
What does she think about being selfish?
Self esteem. Live in accordance to your own nature and respect your own ability to do the right
thing.
What attitudes or actions does she view as immoral?
Self-sacrifice. Asking help from others. A love that is placed above oneself.
What does one seek, earn and derive from love?
love is an expression of self esteem. A response of one's own values in another. Get's a purpose
and selfish happiness/joy from love.
Why does Rand think that a selfless, disinterested love is a contradiction in terms?
because it means one is indifferent to that which one values.
Is it a sacrifice for a man who is passionately in love with his wife to spend a fortune to save
his wife's life?
No it is selfish. Her survival is of greatest importance to his happiness.
Would it be a sacrifice for a man to let his wife die to save ten other women?
Yes it would be a sacrifice to give up his wife's life.
What would altruism advise this man to do?
altruism says that losing the life of one woman is worth it to save the lives of ten women.
What would Rand advise?
, Rand says to act in accordance to what would bring happiness to one's own life. In other words
to selfishly save your wife, if you could not live without her.
Suppose a man fails to save the one he loves and, as a consequence, lives a life of loneliness.
Would Rand morally condemn the action of the man?
yes as treason against their own moral values. values are those which one acts to gain or keep
What is the virtue involved in helping those one loves?
integrity
How does Rand define integrity?
loyalty to one's convictions and values. The policy of acting in accordance to one's values.
Upholding them and translating them into reality.
What does Ayn Rand identify as the ultimate moral value for each human being?
your highest moral purpose is the achievement of one's own happiness.
Is Rand's ethical theory teleological, hedonistic or altruistic?
Rand is an ethical egoist believes in teleological ethics - where only the consequences of an
action are morally relevant.
Does she believe in God?
no, own happiness is achieved through work and thinking.
How does Rand define "selfishness"?
As a virtue, because it promotes ones rational values (own life and happiness).
In popular usage, how has the word "selfishness" commonly been understood?
exploit others for your own gain
What political theories/ systems does Rand tend to support
capitalism, which she thinks respects the individual. Where you have a freedom to function and a
constant rise in general good.
