Ethics - Rational Values
We must now answer the next important question - how should we act? - given the primacy of reason.
Various answers have been carried through to this question. Indeed, the most practical value in philosophy is the one question deemed. Unfortunately, what is called the Naturalistic Fallacy, is what most of them commit - the unwarranted passage from an is (especially a fact of nature or evolutionary psychology) to an ought.
On the one hand we would follow "divine command", as suggested by theologians, but this command was authoritatively made by man. Having us follow our instincts or societal mores, secular thinkers would, but the former is a natural phenomenon and the latter is authoritatively made by man.
Rather, to arrive at a trustworthy idea of what our self-interest is, proper ethics must start from reason. It is true that we do things because we think they are beneficial for ourselves - everyone acts in his perceived self-interest. Unfortunately, this is sometimes a delusion. We often do things that are really destructive, but we think are beneficial - such as, in the name of ideology, shunning a source of well-being, maintaining an abusive relationship, or refusing to part with a dangerous addiction.
Thus the primacy of reason entails that a reasoned and enlightened search for self-interest - egoism - is the way to live objectively.
The provision of our own volitional life is the most important value. Other values that sustain our life and happiness are physical and mental health, physical and mental enjoyment, individualism, honesty, integrity, harmonious relations with others, and the accomplishment of our productive goals.
Any ideology of sacrifice, any demand to subject man to degrading rules in order to "be moral", as if morality was some kind of holy unattainable pedestal, is consummately reproved by Objectivism. There is no disunion between the moral and the practical, the good and our lives. Ethics is our means to a fulfilled life; it is not a religious duty or a secular burden.
"One does not live for the sake of being moral; one acts morally in order to make the most out of his life." - David Kelley
