Swallow

Thank you! That helps a lot. I found this quote: "An ultimate value is that final goal or end to which all lesser goals are the means — and it sets the standard by which all lesser goals are evaluated. An organism's life is its standard of value: that which furthers its life is the good, that which threatens it is the evil" by Ayn Rand. So... furthering my life... what about anyone/thing else? Is there really nothing to it but "me"?

I am a bit confused over what Objectivism holds to be intrinsically good. I have seen two answers, "life" and "one's own self interest", and I am wondering which Rand considered to be of ultimate importance. I a new here, having just been introduced to Objectivism through a friend. I am an atheist and (in some sense) a Naturalist. Thanks!