Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism

[Mister Agenda]

Unless you bother to understand how she defines altruism, which is the same way previous philosophers such as August Comte, who described altruism as 'living for the sake of others'. James Feiser says altruism means that 'An action is morally right if the consequence of that action are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone except the agent.'

That degree of self-abnegation being comparable to a sort of 'suicide of the ego' is not a reductio ad absurdum nor any other fallacy. However treating her specifically defined use of the word altruism as though she meant the common use is an example of equivocation if done intentionally.

It's been so long since I've read her stuff that I had forgotten that she had her own definition. I don't remember her using the term "suicide of the ego", either. Did she?

Glad to hear some confirmation that this particular turn of phrase is probably my own. I don't remember her using the phrase in so many words either.