The Virtue of Selfishness

Imagine standing at the edge of a vast mountain, the horizon stretching endlessly before you as dawn breaks, bathing the world in golden light. This image is more than a metaphor; it encapsulates the essence of what it means to be human and why ethics is not a mere social luxury but an objective necessity. At the core of our existence lies a fundamental fact: life is conditional. Unlike inanimate matter, which simply exists, living beings face a constant alternative—existence or nonexistence. For man, ethics is the code of values that guides the choices and actions required to sustain his life. Without such a code, survival becomes impossible.

Humans are unique in that their consciousness is volitional. Unlike animals that act on instinct, humans must choose to think, to focus their minds, and to engage reason. This choice is not automatic; it demands effort and responsibility. Consider the power of reason as a tool—a spark plug that ignites the engine of survival. Without it, the mind drifts, unfocused and ineffective, leaving one vulnerable to destruction.

To understand this better, picture a child born without the ability to feel pain. Such a child lacks the automatic warning system that protects life. Similarly, man born without volitional consciousness would lack the essential means to identify values that sustain life. This is why ethics cannot be a matter of whim or social convention—it must be grounded in the reality of human nature and the conditions of existence.

In this light, ethics emerges as a science of values, a rational guide to living. It answers profound questions: What should I value? For what purpose do I act? Who benefits from my actions? The answer is clear: the beneficiary must be the individual acting, for man is an end in himself. To live as anything less is to deny the very nature of human survival.

Thus, the foundation of ethics is the recognition that man must hold his life as his highest value and act accordingly. This is the dawn breaking over the mountain—the beginning of a journey into a rational, purposeful life. As we move forward, we will explore how reason empowers this journey and how virtues arise to sustain it.

Let us now step beyond the foundation and delve into the role of reason, the guiding light that illuminates the path of survival and happiness.