Since the beginning of mankind, there has

a continuous search of what man's fulfillment is. Altruism, which Rand strongly rejects, cums that the welfare of others is.our primary comcern,_and the utilitarian claims that the greatest good for the greatest number of people is of primary im— portance. These theories stem from man's search for himself also; They stem from man's awareness that he needs others and can live with and for men. If each man extends concern to another, it it out of genuine selfishness? I

In a sense, Ayn Rand is not merely trying to prove that man is a rational, selfish being. She seems to be arguing that selfishness is man's Erimary virtue, motivation, duty and responsibility Can she prove it and convince the entire human race that her conception is right or even flawless? Can her convictions outweigh the belief that man's make—up is such that he also is naturally motives ted by concern which comes before his own self- interest? Then, after all this is done, and no matter whose arguemsnt comes out on top, there is still no final authority to assert who is right, One is then left with the responsibility of making his own choice of the theory which most adequately deals-with his own problems. Man cannot be stamped and labelled as a simple entity. Granted his wants to attain his own happiness, but necessarily for himself but because he recognizes that the next man feels as he does.

Rand believes that there are no conflicts of interest among rational men, so that if each man functions out of his own interest in his own lit- tle call, there will be no problems. In order for man to function in this manner four oinsiderations are involved. Reality, context, responsibility and effort. In short, man guided by reality does not

V use the tools of emotions or desires because they

places the rational man in a free society where he, does not have to deal with those who are irrat- ionally "In a non free society, no pursuit is possible to anyone; nothing is possible but

‘ gradual and general destruction."

Therefore, we immediately see, that in order for men really to be as Rand sees them, they must be placed in a free society and everyone must be rational, the fact is, this is not the case. How many of us can say that a man guided by rational calculations, free from emotions, is the final picture of the human being? A free society,

free of irrational thinking maybe an ideal but it

is certainly not a reality for the whole human race. The very fact that man does not always think rationally but is often guided by his emotions does

not necessarily mean that it is a false concep-

tion of man. It does mean though, that it is a part of man's framework. whims, emotions and desires are part of man, but Rand wants to push them aside to say that a rational man should be guided only by reason - a calculating reason. Pushing them aside means pushing aside some of man's way of thinking and being in his every- day life. In a sense, it's like reconstruct-

‘ing a man to what she believes he ought to be,

and not discovering man as what he really is.

Ayn Rand has much more to offer in her concept of sgoism than what has been discussed here. Many of the aspects she covers regard- ing man's self-interest offer a challenge and at various times, her points are so strong and se well developed, that she leaves little space for one to oppose her position. Isn't it true when we look at ourselves, that we are primarily con-

cerned with our own Jell.baing and what suitslos, and that we often put ourselves first because we want our own happiness? ‘

are not valid standards of value. Instead, he calculates his interests by reason and does not act until he is able rationally to validate his other values and goals. Context, responsibility and effort are seen in a similar way, as part of the calculations, for all these considerations. revert back to man's rational calculations. Rand

But the problem arises when we ask ourselves if the "virtue of selfishness" is all we need in order to fulfill our lives. The shock comes when we hear a militant atheist, someone like Ayn Rand, exclaim that Atlruism is a "cardinal a sin" and that rational selfishness is the great- est virtue. If so, than all other virtues men believe in must be subordinated to the loftisst virtue, namely selfishness. _Is the human race really what she believes it to be or is there not more to man than the selfish fulfillment of his own life? .

We can look back and sumpathize with the ."Ayn Rand Child" who once cringed to the thought of subordinating her life to the state, but does it necessarily follow that non-subordination of onstself to the state could furthermore elevate selfishness to the realm of supreme‘virtus?

ledge of the language of the host country would be

. .. Lynn McGovern helpful, a basnc ability to /

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or phone 824-2511,