Most of us believe it's better to be selfless than selfish. In certain ways, this serves us. But it is not without traps. The modern age philosopher that most effectively pointed these out was Ayn Rand. Her philosophy and prescriptions were and remain controversial, because they are truly radical - a departure from much of the conventional thinking. In discussions about Rand's ideas, you'll find that she is often vilified and ridiculed, but rarely effectively opposed with rational arguments. To tackle this topic, we consider the foundational questions we must all face - those matters that form the basis of our consciousness and even our personality. In this episode, we're not trying to convince you to answer one way or another so much as we want you to examine your fundamental beliefs to uncover the ways they both serve and limit you.