[Objectivist]

Quote by: Morality Games If people willingly accept the conditions of altruism because it benefits them, Ayn Rand's philosophy is put in a difficult position. It can be argued a properly altruistic life is a fine existence.

Not really. Even if people didn't accept any definition of altruism that Ayn Rand maintained, the philosophy would still stand. The ethics isn't defined negatively, i.e. the ethics isn't defined by critiquing and refuting the irrationality of other moral systems. The philosophy would still make the case that every man is an end in himself, not the means of others.

I am not particularily altruist, but nor am I without empathy.

A rational egoist is not altruistic and he does have empathy. Have you ever read any of Ayn Rand's fiction? To say that Rand, or me, or any other Objectivist doesn't have emotions and doesn't identify with the emotions of other people is absurd.