In particular, he must grasp that the tiger's predatory behavior represents a natural function of that organism (cf. pp. 2.3:5-6) and that he cannot realistically impose a human moral code upon the animal's actions. The tiger's actions are neither "fair" nor "unfair," but instinctive and non-volitional. An attempt to pass moral judgment upon them would not only be illogical, but also self-defeating, to the degree that it may delude him into believing that he can "rectify" the tiger's behavior. Crusoe's ethical responsibility is to recognize the nature of the beast and to take appropriate action in self-defense—perhaps by direct confrontation, or perhaps by building a tree house beyond the tiger's reach.

Many people use the terms "justice" and "equality" simultaneously. The two concepts are related, but far from synonymous. Justice requires first that we evaluate all persons by the same equal standard—specifically, by applying the standard of objective value to their actions. From the rational egoist's perspective, no one is morally superior because of an accident of birth, such as race or sex; in this sense, all men and women are born equal.