• • Love, sacrifice and the prisoner’s dilemma 
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Altruism  | "The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master." - Ayn Rand. Growing up in the swell of women's lib, I once thought that's what sacrifice in relationships meant too, but there's something missing here. Sacrifice does involves surrender of something important or desirable - for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim". If the higher claim is a dominating partner's selfish gratification, Rand was right. That kind of sacrifice gives someone power over you. But what if the more pressing claim is your partner's wellbeing - and you know they endorse the same deep value? Then you have power with someone.      View blog reactions