Counterfeit Individualism

(Originally written July 20, 2006 in Book 3)

The Virtue of Selfishness
Ayn Rand

Counterfeit Individualism
Nathaniel Branden

Individualism upholds the supremacy of individual rights, the principle that man is an end, not a means and that man should think and judge independently, "valuing nothing higher than the sovereignty of his intellect" (Rand, 135).

Individualists never sacrifice themselves to others, nor sacrifice others to themselves.

First and foremost, an individualist is a man of reason.

Individualism is never subjectivism.

Counterfeit individualism exclaims 'His right because I feel it'. Authentic individualism exclaims, 'It is right because I see in reason that it is right'.