| | Luke wrote, The question does arise about the morality of these actions. How should a rational egoist who views sex as the highest form of expressed love evaluate these events? He might simply appeal to the authority of Objectivism's originator, Ayn Rand, and recite chapter and verse from any of her various authorized publications. Such a rationalistic approach may have some merit but also begs questions about the origins of those articulated principles. Actually, I see no evidence in Objectivism that would positively preclude prostitution as irrational or immoral. But Objectivism would say that it pales by comparison to a true romantic relationship, if you can get it. If you can, then why would you prefer something second best, like prostitution? I think that's the argument. But there's no Kantian prohibition against alternative sexualities, if you haven't found the summum bonum. The Objectivist theory of romantic love in its fiction depicts serial monogamy as the ideal. Why do you say that? It depicts serial monogamy, to be sure, but not as some kind of moral absolute. I think you're reading too much into Rand's novels. She didn't include within them every possible aspect of an appropriate lifestyle. Let's not forget that there are many optional values that Rand didn't cover in her fiction or even touch on in her explicit philosophy. That doesn't mean that they're incompatible with Objectivism.
- Bill
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