Key figure: Ayn Rand [b85], 1900s America Ayn Rand is sometimes popular with tech people and CEOs. Understandably, some CEOs view themselves as brilliant and like being told that ruthlessly pursuing their ambition is morally good. (Though the end-goal can’t be great feats of engineering, that self-interest must come first and great feats of engineering can only be a side-effect).
I think this section is a little dismissive just saying CEOs like egoism because it justifies their selfishness doesn't actually argue against it. If this chapter is trying to get us to think unbiased about ethics, it should probably engage with her actual argument before writing it off. It feels like the authors already decided egoism is wrong and didn't bother making the case.