Problem Definition

From Capitalism the Unknown Ideal by Ayn RandPage 1 of 1

Capitalism and Egoism

What Principles are Manifested ?

Collectivism and AltruismVersus

Capitalism is a political system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned.

Is Man Free?

Collectivism is a political system based on government control of the economy, which holds that man’s life and work belong to the state and that the state may dispose of him for the sake of whatever it deems to be the “good”.

Yes No

Definition Definition

Egoism - the moral code that holds that it is right for man to live for his own sake, and not for the sake of society.

Altruism - the doctrine which demands that man live for others and put the interests of others above his rational self interest.

The Political Expression ofThe Political Expression of

The purpose of law and of government is the protection of individual rights.

The three broad categories of the proper functions of government address the issues of physical force and the protection of men’s rights: the police, to protect men from criminals, the armed services, to protect men from foreign invaders, the law courts, to settle disputes among men according to objective laws.

A complex legal system, based on objectively valid principles, must be implemented to make a society free and to keep it free.

The constitution is a limitation on the government, not on private individuals. It prescribes the conduct of the government, not of the people. It does not grant the government power, but protects the people from the government.

The government’s over-riding concern is the protection of the personal power of its leaders.

Any constitution that exists is subjective and unenforceable in the absence of the balance of powers found in separate branches of government.

The citizens must depend on the good will and motives of its tyrants, whether single dictators or majority rule.

Controlled economies cannot determine how to price goods and services, thus causing increasing shortages in goods and services available to the people.

The government is free to do anything that it wants to do, while the people must have permission to do anything.