Rational Self Interest: Virtue or Vice?

RATIONAL SELF-INTEREST: VIRTUE OR VICE?

We’re often told that "selfishness" is a dirty word. We’re raised on stories of noble sacrifice, altruism, and putting the needs of the group above our own. But there is a counter-argument that has shaped the modern world: that looking out for Number One isn’t just natural—it’s the most responsible thing you can do.

Rational Self-Interest (Ethical Egoism or Ayn Rand’s Objectivism) suggests that the moral purpose of life is the pursuit of your own happiness, and that sacrificing oneself for others is not a moral duty. The key word is Rational. It’s not about whim-worship or stabbing people in the back (which is self-destructive); it’s about long-term, calculated flourishing.

If Ayn Rand were alive today, she likely wouldn't be writing long novels about architects. Instead, she might be analyzing mainstream Rap (specifically the commercial "Flex" culture) and the Influencer economy, as they are perhaps the purest, most unapologetic expressions of Rational Self-Interest in modern society. They operate on the premise that your primary duty is to yourself: The Hustle, The Grind, Being Self-Made. Success is measured by material accumulation, while altruism is often viewed with suspicion ("Trust no one," watch out for "snakes" and "haters").

Or, Ayn might be exploring the "Tech and Crypto" mindset—where the "Sovereign Individual" is king, "Trustless" systems replace human connection, and Game Theory suggests we should secure our own bag before the music stops.

Tonight at Questions That Matter: we’ll be looking at whether this hyper-individualistic mindset is making us resilient or if it’s building a society that is brittle, fragile, and prone to catastrophic collapse because it has optimized away the "inefficient" bonds of community?

Some of our potential prompts for the night:

1. Where exactly do you draw the boundary of the 'Self'— Is it limited to your body and bank account, or does it include your neighbors and the air you breathe—and if the world around you is collapsing, is a truly separated 'Self-Interest' even possible?

2. Tech-Libertarians often dream of being "Sovereign Individuals" (crypto-rich, passport-flexible, detached from the state). Is this ultimate freedom, or is it actually a form of extreme parasitism—benefiting from the stability of nations without contributing to their upkeep?

3. When a real crisis hits (a flood, a crash, a pandemic), who survives? The "Sovereign Individual" in a bunker, or the person deeply woven into a messy, inefficient network of neighbors?

4. "Get Rich or Die Tryin’": This famous 50 Cent mantra is the ultimate Rational Self-Interest slogan. But does this mindset inspire resilience and escape from poverty, or does it create a toxic culture where your worth is zero unless you are rich?

5. Is our refusal to be altruistic actually driven by rationality, or is it driven by the fear of being "the sucker" who gives while everyone else takes?

6. In Game Theory, if two people act purely in their own self-interest, they both get a worse outcome than if they had cooperated. Are we living in a global Prisoner’s Dilemma where our "rational" individual choices are ensuring our collective destruction (climate, inequality, war)?

7. If we achieved the Libertarian dream of a minimal (or non-existent) state, would we actually be free? Or would the "rational self-interest" of the strongest warlord or richest corporation simply fill the void, creating a new, more ruthless tyranny?

8. Influencer culture demands that you turn your privacy, your relationships, and your children into "content" for profit. Is this the ultimate triumph of Rational Self-Interest (maximizing the value of your assets), or is it the ultimate form of self-exploitation?

Here are some working definitions of some words that might get thrown around during the night:

Rational Self-Interest: The belief that the moral purpose of a person’s life is the pursuit of their own happiness. (Key nuance: This is about long-term flourishing, not short-term whims).

Altruism: The ethical belief that the needs of others should take precedence over your own, and that self-sacrifice is a virtue.

Collectivism: A worldview that prioritizes the group (family, tribe, state) over the individual, often arguing that the individual exists to serve the whole.

As usual, the goal of the night isn’t simply to agree, disagree, or learn. It’s also to connect through genuine, lively, interactive discussion and, potentially, to go to some of the unexpected and uncharted places that deep and free conversation can take us.

When we wrap up, around 8 p.m., we hope you’ll mingle, exchange numbers, and head out with some of us for something to eat or drink. As polarized as the world is right now, one of the deepest connections still available to human beings is a shared meal or drink.

Whether you’re in Chiang Mai for a short visit or you’re a longer-term expat or resident, we hope you can join us, not only in exploring the deeper questions but in making new connections and friendships through the discussions.

If possible, please support the venue, 4seas, by purchasing a beverage or a snack. They are kindly providing the space to us at no charge.

We look forward to meeting you!