"Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values." A. Rand

In recent months, this quote by Rand has come to have new meaning for me. Objectivism calls this Rational Self-Interest. Now, I would hardly call myself an Objectivist, partially because I have Epicureanistic and Hedonistic tendencies, which tend to be opposite the higher "standard of life" that many Objectivists believe in.

Perhaps that's because I do not see Epicurean and Hedonism as mindless self-indulgence (Epicureanism is far from mindless or self-indulgent. Hedonism can definitely have a case made for mindless self-indulgence.). For some, I admit, it is, but as several people can point out, there is little that is mindless in my self-indulgence.

But the quote does strike home.

"Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life..."

It sounds selfish on a cursory glance. In fact, many have said so. And in fact, to an extent it is, and to an extent it is not.

Side Note:

Rand rejected the idea of Altruism, the idea that self sacrifice was a moral 'ideal.' That it was evil, due to the notion it often creates; that ones value is created by subjugating yourself to another.

Heinlein, another favorite author of mine also decried Altruism and Self Sacrifice, but for another reason. He believed that Altruism was based on Self-Deception (The root of evil to Heinlein), and that it should be rooted out.

"If tempted by something that feels 'altruistic,' examine your motives and root out that self-deception. Then, if you still want to do it, wallow in it." R.A.H.

But Heinlein also believed in Duty and Self-Sacrifice if one was not being deceptive to ones self, and if one had willingly chosen to do so. I would like to believe that in such a situation, Rand would have approved, as both had beliefs that the only worthwhile duties were those freely chosen and taken up, and that only free individuals could make those choices.

End Side Note.

I, however, believe that it is true. We have a moral purpose to make ourselves happy. However, what makes one person happy is not what will make another, because of ones values; something else that was pointed out in the quote.

I have, at one point, made anothers happiness paramount, because it was a component in my own, but I failed when I allowed that one aspect of my happiness make me forget about my purpose and my other values.

There is a virtue in selfishness, but that virtue tends to be clouded when ones selfishness actively hurts others. There is a virtue in altruistic behavior if it is done without self deception, and without using the function of such to ascribe value to oneself.

The problem is, too few people strive to strike the balance that works for them. They tend to go to one extreme or another, or get pushed into acting one way or another by well meaning, or not so well meaning, people.

Strike a balance that works for YOU, not for someone else. Find the Values that YOU ascribe to, and do not compromise. Find the Passions in YOUR life.

Follow your true moral purpose: Happiness.

Anyway, end rant. Maybe I will expound more upon this later. Debates and Questions are welcomed. I leave you with the following from a student of Epicureanism.

Tetrapharmakos (four-part cure)

"Don't fear god,
Don't worry about death;
What is good is easy to get, and
What is terrible is easy to endure."