Concepts of Value
Ayn Rand has defined value as "that which one acts to gain and/or keep." While this definition serves as an excellent starting point for our analysis, the term "value" (as well as "worth" and "benefit," which are often used synonymously) contains a subtle ambiguity, reflected in this definition. The word and Rand's definition are subject to two related but distinct interpretations, which she does not distinguish clearly.

On the one hand, since life is a process of self-sustaining and self-generated action, the very existence of that action depends on whether or not it successfully fulfills needs of the organism. The implicit goal of living activity as a whole is therefore to promote the life of the acting organism. In this fundamental sense, we act only in order to gain and/or keep what we need, and the function of values is to direct our action toward fulfilling our objective needs. This meaning of "value" is directly linked to the concept of need. A beaver dam is a value sought by the beaver to serve its needs for shelter and protection; an automobile is a value sought by human action to serve human transportation needs. Not all needs give rise to values, however, since some needs are readily provided by the environment and do not require special action ().

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