Andrew Ryan (Bioshock) speaks out against altruism

All relevant speeches in one video, slightly edited so that it becomes a political speech. Included is the intro, his speech about marxism and the new deal and his speech about altruism.

If you want to understand that it wasn't Ryan's philosophy that brought Rapture to its knees but the lack of military (and the need for absolute secrecy and a ban on travel and trade with the outside world), I suggest reading: http://bioshock.wikia.com/wiki/Andrew_Ryan

My new Account name is ForABetterTomorrow, see http://www.youtube.com/ForABetterTomorrow

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• bioshock
• andrew
• ryan
• individualism
• collectivism
• altruism
• capitalism

[wenjizeng89]

Would you kindly vote this comment up?

[TheNexzy]

@anotherinternetter So true, bioshock will forever be my nr.1 game of all time!

[gyokszi]

@angryjackalx I'm Hungarian so I'm not at home, when it comes to American election, but what about Ron Paul? He is a little like Andrew Ryan, I think! :)

[dtek40k]

Somehow I knew there'd be a lot of mostly stupid political arguments here.

[angryjackalx]

I'd vote for Andrew Ryan over any of the current candidates for president.

[Captain0Newman]

@Utvuk

What is your take on it then? Do you think altruism exists? Are you libertarian? What position do you take?

[Utvuk]

@Captain0Newman

I think you failed to provide solid reasoning for any of your statements.

Oh, and by the way, Rapture fell because writers put it this way. Don't forget that you're talking about a story written with a certain idea in mind.

[Captain0Newman]

@Utvuk

this is my point. "civic duty" is just another form of self-interest, not altruism. Altruism doesn't exist. I just think Ryan mis-diagnoses the problem, and ultimately it is because of unfettered self-interest that rapture falls. That is all.

[Utvuk]

@Captain0Newman

"If the Kriegsmarines were the least politically motivated they would not have committed suicide, as you're describing it, for duty."

Apparently most of them did so out of sense of duty and loyalty to Germany, if not to Hitler. Admiral Lutjens would make an interesting example.

[Captain0Newman]

@Utvuk

I don't actually believe altruism exists. I think everyone has an angle. The best way to get someone to do something for you is to convince them it is in their own self-interest to do so. If the Kriegsmarines were the least politically motivated they would not have committed suicide, as you're describing it, for duty. They must have had a reason, and it can be assumed it was in their self-interest to do it no? Not overthrowing a dictator is due to a self-interest for life preservation.

[Utvuk]

@Captain0Newman

"It is easy to benefit from unpaid labor."

BS, unless you have others bound by sense of "civic duty" to guard your "property" for you even if it is against their own values and ideals. Why do you bring U.S. wages into this I don't even know.

[Utvuk]

@Captain0Newman

"government by a dictator"

Government exists because people support it, or at least tolerate it. If they do so out of sense of duty and not because of their own self-interest then randian definition of altruism is to blame for it.

You're mixing up Kriegsmarine with SS, according to some memoirs (admiral Roeder's, iirc) fleet was the least politically motivated part of armed forces. Anyway, even if they were nazi fanatics it only proves Ryan's point.