Don’t libertarians think greed and selfishness are virtues?
Question 21 in Faith Seeking Freedom: Updated & Expanded
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Certainly some libertarians are greedy and selfish—just like some political conservatives and progressives. But there is nothing about libertarian political theory that lauds such behaviors as good and right. On the contrary, libertarianism suggests that the nature of the aggressive political process is to attract those corrupt individuals who are indeed greedy and selfish to positions of power, where instead of having to satisfy others’ needs to gain anything (as in the marketplace), they can use that power to steal what they want from others. While the marketplace rewards those who serve the needs of others through mutual exchange, politics incentivizes direct greed with its very structure.
However, you might also have heard of the “virtue of selfishness” as explained by Ayn Rand, whom many libertarians respect. Some of Rand’s teachings are antithetical to Christian values, but it’s notable that Rand’s use of such language is meant to combat the oft-proclaimed mantra that the state is inherently altruistic and is “better” than the marketplace where everyone is always and only “greedy.” Instead, Rand says that it is good to aspire, to achieve, to create, to act in one’s self-interest. As Christians, we even believe it is in our own self-interest to seek after God because it is the end of man to glorify God and enjoy him forever! So, self-interest in the right perspective is a good thing (see Question 19).