The Virtue of Selfishness: Ayn Rand's Radical Code of Morality by Peter Schwartz   Ayn Rand originated a revolutionary theory of ethics, one in which human life is the standard of value and the practice of rational self-interest is the supreme virtue. In this talk, Mr. Schwartz offers an introductory overview of the Objectivist ethics.   He discusses how Ayn Rand validates her theory and how she answers the fundamental question of what in reality gives rise to the phenomenon of values. He contrasts the ethics of self-interest with its opposite: the ethics of altruism. He also demonstrates why, under a rational code, the moral is the practical. Finally, he explains the link between self-sacrifice and dictatorship, showing why individual rights and freedom can be values only if selfishness is a virtue.