The Root of All Money
I’d appreciate your feedback from an Objectivist view of the book “The Root of All Money.” Feedback on any part is welcome, but two parts especially: (1) I think that Rand didn’t consider voluntarily altruism broadly enough, and the book offers an alternative view of wealth that (I think) integrates moral arguments for altruism (with your own money, not forced by someone else) with the idea of value for value (page 41). (2) Galt’s Gulch relies on gold as an alternative to fiat currency, but the book makes a case that all currency is fiat currency (about page 98).
Disclaimer – I wrote the book. Early reviewers have said that it was very thought provoking, so I think it will be worth your time.
It’s at Amazon, on Kindle, and at https://www.createspace.com/5680753 (use discount code KDDSCHPZ for $1 off). I priced it about as low as those channels will allow, hoping to make it accessible to spur deeper thinking about what money really is, and how to get control of its power, and help with a solid foundation for countering the forced redistributionist folks.. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Disclaimer – I wrote the book. Early reviewers have said that it was very thought provoking, so I think it will be worth your time.
It’s at Amazon, on Kindle, and at https://www.createspace.com/5680753 (use discount code KDDSCHPZ for $1 off). I priced it about as low as those channels will allow, hoping to make it accessible to spur deeper thinking about what money really is, and how to get control of its power, and help with a solid foundation for countering the forced redistributionist folks.. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Auguste Comte was the person who created altruism and this is what he had to say.
Auguste Comte's version of altruism calls for living for the sake of others. One who holds to either of these ethics is known as an "altruist."
The word "altruism" (French, altruisme, from autrui: "other people", derived from Latin alter: "other") was coined by Auguste Comte, the French founder of positivism, in order to describe the ethical doctrine he supported. He believed that individuals had a moral obligation to renounce self-interest and live for others. Comte says, in his Catéchisme Positiviste,[2] that:
[The] social point of view cannot tolerate the notion of rights, for such notion rests on individualism. We are born under a load of obligations of every kind, to our predecessors, to our successors, to our contemporaries. After our birth these obligations increase or accumulate, for it is some time before we can return any service.... This ["to live for others"], the definitive formula of human morality, gives a direct sanction exclusively to our instincts of benevolence, the common source of happiness and duty. [Man must serve] Humanity, whose we are entirely."
Hopefully you can see that this is completely incompatible with objectivism.
what is the moral code of altruism?The basic principle of altruism is that man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the only justification of his existence, and that self sacrifice is his highest moral, duty, virtue and value.
Do not confuse altruism with kindness, good will or respect for the rights of others. These are not primaries, but consequences, which , in fact altruism makes impossible. The irreducible primary of altruism, the basic absolute , is self-sacrifice--which means; self-immolation, self-abnegation, self-denial, self-destruction--which means: the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of the good.
source THE AYN RAND LEXICON
E.g., when I coached a youth soccer team for no pay, many people would call that altruistic (in the colloquial sense). But I did it not for self-immolation, but because I liked seeing the kids learn, and I liked watching the games played, and knowing that I helped create that. I received value directly in trade for my services, though it did not first get translated into money. I apologize for starting the discussion with a term with such critical, but double, meaning. Perhaps the first statement of the idea should have been something like “doing good things for others, without getting paid directly in money, is compatible with objectivism.” The book has an illustration why buying a stale fundraising candy bar can be an objectively motivated, wealth-maximizing transaction, and not a self-sacrificing one. What do you think?
I copied this from a comment to a post several months ago;
I have mentioned the destruction of language in a few other conversations and, to me, it is a very important topic. I don't know if there is any way to stop it but it is important to understand it, recognize it and call it out whenever we see it happening.
From the Ayn Rand Lexicon; "The “stolen concept” fallacy, first identified by Ayn Rand, is the fallacy of using a concept while denying the validity of its genetic roots, i.e., of an earlier concept(s) on which it logically depends"
The most well known word (to Objectivists anyway) is selfish which is regularly utilized to lump the Bernie Madoffs and the Bill Gates' into one basket.
The most contested seems to be altruism which is equated with charity (to say otherwise gets people fired up) and is used to impose a duty upon people. (It takes a village)
I'm sure most of us on here have had the "two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for dinner" discussion whenever someone blurts out "we live in a democracy, after all".
Don't forget that we don't know what the meaning "of the word is is."
are given voluntarily, thus engendering no obligation.
this is a fundamental misunderstanding, Mr. Comte!!! -- j
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I also think you want to promote your book.
It worked one more time and I added 'can you make the deal? That to the broom pusher front man who said yes. When he got up to go do the usual shuck and jive with some manager I got up and walked to the office announcing I'm leaving and taking my money with me. Went across the street bought a jeep drove back to the frist place and yelled. Go home without any commission tonight explain that to your wife.
Same thing in Circuit City where the guy kept yammering about buying insurance and then wanted me to sign a form saying I had refused it.
At the cash register trying to purchase some items. My rejoinder "Who appointed you Adolf?"
Just get up and walk out. Best Buy is they don't deal with customers just ignore them.
I call customer service and get India? Hang up Never deal with them again.
Just walk out. In this economy the buyer is the king - or Queen
Oh, you bought a boat and sailed away.
Not scalable though. Not enough boats.
And when the market responded to supply boats, then there would be a big federal sales and departure tax invoked, with a kickback to large boat builders who contributed to campaigns.
As an aside, I've often wondered if the quote, "the wanting of money is the root of all evil" could be altered to read "...the route of all money". In today's environment I think 'route' might be more appropriate.
It is the love of money that is the root of all evil.' The short version of your conversion is 'cui bono.' Follow the money. Especially if you have just walked or driven by Bank America within six blocks or Washington DC within 6 states.
I will say, from what I have learned; those that blame money as the root of evil are the very same one's that blame the gun, the drink, the corporations and at the very same time it is they that have usurped, stolen and used it for demented purpose while the rest of us simply use it as a medium of trade, (anything we might agree has intrinsic value for all). We use it for survival, food, health, retirement and to help others as well. Those [that are normal] that have in abundance, use it to capitalize others so that they'll hopefully do the same; this exchange is what makes the world go round...not the medium itself.
Ayan was correct in pointing out that our wealth, our property and our ideas are ours to do as we please.
I say, Humans will naturally, without cause nor pointed fingers will always share what ever abundance they have with those they have determined worthy.