How influential was Ayn Rand on modern libertarianism? To buy my books, including Thomas Paine: A Lifetime of Radicalism, check out my online bookstore: davidbenner.square.site
I have a very philosophically oriented substack and am very well versed in philosophy. Bottom line on Ayn Rand: while I think her social commentary and political philosophy is relevant and must be answered, her epistemology/metaphysics are terrible and amount to stubborn, childish, and willful blindness.
Regardless of what you think about Ayn Rand or her philosophy, consider the following. Look around you. The world is practically an ocean of selfishness. Can you really argue with a straight face that _more_ selfishness is going to lead to some kind of utopia? Coz if it could, we'd have been there millennia ago.
people are pursuing their selfish interests, selfish long term goals? Nah, I see an ocean of people filled with guilt, sabotaging themselves with immediate pleasure at the expense of their long term happinesss, people downcutting themselves in every step of the way to feel moral. I see an ocean of people refusing to defend themselves in the face of their own enemies cos the act of defending themselves seems so egotistical, and being a victim is just where virtue lies. You say that because you have zero concept of what being selfish really is.
Rand intentionally used the word “selfishness” to be provocative, but she was also careful to distinguish selfishness from whim. Rational self interest would be more precise IMHO.
@@mikepalmer2219 in objectivism, it depends on the motivation, if you want whats best for your family because your family gives you selfish joy then that is indeed rationally selfish, but if you want whats best for your family only out of duty, tradition and social pressure then that is you being unselfish - self-destructive.
Ayn Rand defines selfishness as being concerned with ones own interest, but not at the expense of others. It's the rights of an individual when being told by altruists that you must sacrifice for the whole. You see this today, like the forcing of migrants upon your country. It's what she saw from the Bolshevik Revolution, these "do-gooders" that wanted to spread economic equality. This is all being played out today with DEI. It ends in fascism.
How influential was Ayn Rand on modern libertarianism?
To buy my books, including Thomas Paine: A Lifetime of Radicalism, check out my online bookstore: davidbenner.square.site
I have read all her novels and purchased the lexicon. She is very inspiring.
Sarcasm is irony
Sarcasm is the last ego-salvaging attempt of the situationally impotent
I am going to think about that statement for a long time. Would you mind elaborating?
*_She was a prolific cheater on her husband. When you have no loyalty and can't be trusted, the worst traits are part of your character._*
Prince was ok.
You might not like his style or persona, but as a musician he was undeniably talented and prolific with many musical instruments.
I have a very philosophically oriented substack and am very well versed in philosophy. Bottom line on Ayn Rand: while I think her social commentary and political philosophy is relevant and must be answered, her epistemology/metaphysics are terrible and amount to stubborn, childish, and willful blindness.
She wanted me to be free, so I’ll do anything for her
Chick humour is denigration
Regardless of what you think about Ayn Rand or her philosophy, consider the following. Look around you. The world is practically an ocean of selfishness. Can you really argue with a straight face that _more_ selfishness is going to lead to some kind of utopia? Coz if it could, we'd have been there millennia ago.
people are pursuing their selfish interests, selfish long term goals? Nah, I see an ocean of people filled with guilt, sabotaging themselves with immediate pleasure at the expense of their long term happinesss, people downcutting themselves in every step of the way to feel moral. I see an ocean of people refusing to defend themselves in the face of their own enemies cos the act of defending themselves seems so egotistical, and being a victim is just where virtue lies. You say that because you have zero concept of what being selfish really is.
Rand intentionally used the word “selfishness” to be provocative, but she was also careful to distinguish selfishness from whim. Rational self interest would be more precise IMHO.
If wanting what’s best for my family is selfish then I guess I am guilty.
@@mikepalmer2219 in objectivism, it depends on the motivation, if you want whats best for your family because your family gives you selfish joy then that is indeed rationally selfish, but if you want whats best for your family only out of duty, tradition and social pressure then that is you being unselfish - self-destructive.
Ayn Rand defines selfishness as being concerned with ones own interest, but not at the expense of others. It's the rights of an individual when being told by altruists that you must sacrifice for the whole. You see this today, like the forcing of migrants upon your country. It's what she saw from the Bolshevik Revolution, these "do-gooders" that wanted to spread economic equality. This is all being played out today with DEI. It ends in fascism.