Ayn Rand

[Charlie-two-zero]

Scarecrow38: Ayn Rand specifically states that individual rights place a burden upon the holder. That burden is to refrain from infringing upon the rights of others. So there is no "no holds barred" egoistic slaughters happening.

Cheeze_pavilion: The philosophy of Objectivism is aimed at Human Beings as they are. Not as if they were sociopathic rapists. That is: carbon based lifeforms, belonging to the great ape family, of the tree homo sapiens sapiens (and all collected genetic baggage from our ancestors) with the capacity for independent rational thought. I am sure that if humans were sociopathic rapists (vox populei) then the resultant ethical code that fits that species would differ. Thankfully sociopathic rapists are rare and an abnormality that are dealt with via gaol or high security psyciatric wards (or both)

 

[Guvnorium]

When I think of Ayn Rand all I think about is the Ethical Egoism concept her philosophical beliefs lend themselves to, which is the system of morality where people should only act for their own benefit and fully ignore any effects of their actions on others. I think this is a rediculous and impossible way to live your life, so I don't have much respect for her from a Philosphical viewpoint.

"I'm not in the bussiness of giving chances, I'm running a railroad."

I'm only on page 59 of Atlas Shrugged. It's a good book, and the political ideas (which are already surfaceing)slightly coincide with my own. I'd be curious to know what Ayn would say about the war in Iraq and the shitload of money we're giving them.

 

[R.O.]

I read both Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and I enjoyed both books. If I had to pick a favorite, I think I would choose Fountainhead because it is so much funnier than Atlas Shrugged. Toohey and Keating are hilarious. I think Catherine is probably the most tragic character in the novel. Wynand is a runner up but Catherine beats him because she never gets to do what she wants. She doesn't get Keating, money, or a life of her own.

I think you have to pick Rand's ideas apart in order to see what stuff is practical or not. For example, Roark would die penniless in reality while I can believe that Galt would be able to do the things he did. Also, there are a handful of women in the world like Dagny. The Atlas Shrugged world resembles reality way more than 1984 or A Brave New World.

Rand probably didn't intend to create a cult and I don't think she liked it. I don't even think she was writing to create a philosophy. I think she was writing to get rich which is what she did. She produced some great books that are still in print which is amazing. And her books are ten times better than that Harry Potter or Earthsea nonsense. She is arguably the best female author ever.