Is Selfishness a Virtue? Watch the Live Debate.

The Ayn Rand Institute's Yaron Brook vs. economist Gene Epstein.

Is selfishness a virtue? The Ayn Rand Institute's Yaron Brook is debating Former Barron's Columnist and former New York Stock Exchange Chief Economist Gene Epstein at a live event moderated by Fox News legal expert Judge Andrew Napolitano. Watch below, and drop questions for the participants in the Facebook comments. A couple of the best will be read aloud at the event.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Altruism is definitely a vice. I know that much.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Doin' right ain't got no end.

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[Chipper Morning Baculum]

What's wrong with altruism? Nothing, from a libertarian perspective.

[Sevo]

From a libertarian VP, nothing whatsoever.
From a logical VP, it probably doesn't exist.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Libertarians no longer have meetings in phone booths because neither exists anymore.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Judge shops his ties at the Trump Store.

[Fist of Etiquette]

So this appears to be an exercise in defining the word.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Weinstein sure is taking it on the chin tonight.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

And he's used to giving it on the chin.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Where da bitches at?

[Incomprehensible Bitching]

Oh course selfishness is a vice! That's why I devote nearly all of my time and energy thinking about everyone else all the time.

I promise.

[Idiocracy]

I don't believe you.

[Incomprehensible Bitching]

You calling me a liar, asshole?

I'm the most unselfish person you've ever seen, sickness libertarian wonder!

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Ah, no wonder it was sold out: all the Objectivists showed up.

I'm glad Epstein won. Brook was flailing and never grappled with the problem that selfishness's benefits are so dependent on the surrounding institutions and incentives. A selfish entrepreneur does much good and must be satisfied with his life, but a selfish politician or cronyist or slaveowner? The best response he has is, well, such people must not really be happy and self-actualized.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

A lot of Facebook views, too.

The market has spoken, Mr. Epstein. All debates going forward should challenge some Randian notion. Take these cultists for all they're worth!

[Chipper Morning Baculum]

At about the 40 min mark, Yaron Brook says "To me, the idea of freedom and free markets is secondary."
Indeed. And that's why you suck, buddy. Yaron would probably support that ordinance that bans people from feeding the homeless.

[Sevo]

No way I was gonna watch that. Was there agreement on what the term meant, or did they all ague their personal definition against everyone else' ditto?

[Brandybuck]

Ayn rand takes the words "selfishness" and "altruism" and redefines them to mean things completely different from what they are. Selfishness is not self-interest and altruism is not self-abnegation. I hope Epstein forces Brook to properly define his terms before the debate starts.