tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post3847118827082925448..comments2024-03-27T05:47:21.295-07:00Comments on Ayn Rand Contra Human Nature: Objectivism & Politics, Part 47Daniel Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06359277853862225286noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-21050374084793949592020-03-03T17:12:16.703-08:002020-03-03T17:12:16.703-08:00Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville
It ...Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville<br /><br />It must never be forgotten that religion gave birth to Anglo- American society.<br /><br />but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.<br />maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00656136425753297294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-16957390825900888202010-04-12T05:30:09.526-07:002010-04-12T05:30:09.526-07:00"Since Rand does not give any examples, it is..."Since Rand does not give any examples, it is difficult to figure out what on earth she is talking about."<br /><br />Never, that must be one of the rare occurences where she didn't give any...<br /><br /><br />SteveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-39481310675272684642010-04-07T20:55:24.390-07:002010-04-07T20:55:24.390-07:00Sam Harris's defence of Objective moral values...Sam Harris's defence of Objective moral values <br /><br />http://www.project-reason.org/newsfeed/item/moral_confusion_in_the_name_of_science3/<br /><br />is getting some play in Objectivist circles.<br /><br />It's so funny how people tend to just support whatever agrees with their preconceived answers for the most part.Xtra Lajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17166565583455141813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-17819847043564576342010-04-07T02:43:51.388-07:002010-04-07T02:43:51.388-07:00Martin H:
>I regard this site as a valuable pub...Martin H:<br />>I regard this site as a valuable public resource and I read it regularly.<br /><br />Cheers Martin, that's exactly how it's intended.<br />regards<br />DanielDaniel Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06359277853862225286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-80412269753838396992010-04-06T21:23:43.005-07:002010-04-06T21:23:43.005-07:00Martin,
I appreciate the clarification and yes, I...Martin,<br /><br />I appreciate the clarification and yes, I agree. Not that we necessarily should or would do anything other than what males do :D.<br /><br />Cheers.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13845776740665082229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-57740388132545691102010-04-06T09:40:01.555-07:002010-04-06T09:40:01.555-07:00I have nothing whatever against Greg's critici...I have nothing whatever against Greg's criticisms of Rand. I regard this site as a valuable public resource and I read it regularly.<br /><br />Alas, I have had run-ins with Randians, and, as you correctly point out, they certainly don't like to be reminded that they evince religiosity: literalism, excommunication of heretics, etc.<br /><br />Just ignore my comment. I made it in the spirit of momentary irritation at a display of male aggression, of which there is altogether too much on t'internet. On that last point, I'm sure you will agree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-21419183530247787832010-04-06T04:20:43.127-07:002010-04-06T04:20:43.127-07:00Martin H,
Imagine being told you should have read...Martin H,<br /><br /><i>Imagine being told you should have read the old posts otherwise your comment lacks polemical efficacy. Love the "polemical efficacy". Male aggression at its finest (yawn).</i><br /><br />Honestly, when I first saw Christian Prophet's post, I thought it was spam to advertise his own blog. Usually, people who want to deal with an issue with substance post something that relates to the topic under discussion with some depth.<br /><br />If you've dealt with fans of Ayn Rand, you might realize that many of them take critical discussion of her as Christians take critical discussion of Jesus. So maybe it would be easier for Christian Prophet or yourself to make it clear what about Greg's criticism of Rand does not agree with you. That Martin's overly general criticism was met with a general response does not strike me as a double standard.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13845776740665082229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-9728803516826474482010-04-05T17:09:52.452-07:002010-04-05T17:09:52.452-07:00Martin H:
>If you try to break into a dinner pa...Martin H:<br />>If you try to break into a dinner party exchange of arcana you'll be snubbed even if, or especially if, you know a lot. Same rules apply here. <br /><br />Actually, at most dinner parties, I've been to anyone who knows a lot about a subject under discussion doesn't get "snubbed" - quite the reverse!<br /><br />If CP, or indeed yourself, would like to make a knowledgeable contribution, go right ahead.Daniel Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06359277853862225286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-32252458154532330022010-04-05T14:51:52.504-07:002010-04-05T14:51:52.504-07:00Best not to bother, Christian. The blogosphere has...Best not to bother, Christian. The blogosphere has lulled many into thinking that the social rules that govern, say, a dinner party have been put into abeyance by the ease with which we can comment on blogs such as this one.<br /><br />Not a chance! If you try to break into a dinner party exchange of arcana you'll be snubbed even if, or especially if, you know a lot. Same rules apply here. Actually, this blog, like many, and forums too, are typically dominated by a couple of smart alpha-males who defend their territory well.<br /><br />Imagine being told you should have read the old posts otherwise your comment lacks polemical efficacy. Love the "polemical efficacy". Male aggression at its finest (yawn).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-36551034608103494992010-04-05T12:13:45.978-07:002010-04-05T12:13:45.978-07:00"What is more important? Rand's intellect..."What is more important? Rand's intellectual faults? Or the prophecy and solutions she offered?"<br /><br />I'm not quite sure what the point is here. Let us say that Rand's prophecy and solutions are more important than her intellectual faults. And what are we supposed to conclude from that? Does that mea her intellectual faults have no importance at all? But that hardly follows. Merely because A is more important than B does not mean that B is entirely unimportant or unworthy of discussion and analysis. This is particularly true when B is clearly related to A. Rand's prophecy and solutions are, at the very least, rationalized on the basis of her intellectual faults. And if we were to accept Rand's word that her philosophy—and, indeed, her entire psycho-epistemology—represents an integrated whole, then the intellectual faults are part and parcel of the prophecy and the solutions.<br /><br />But even more to the point, I've (and others at ARCHNBlog) have been involved in copious discussions about Rand's "prophecy and solutions." So there doesn't seem a whole lot of polemical efficacy in targeting this post for not providing what has been given in abundance in other posts.gregnyquisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13653516868316854941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-20629427001574606452010-04-05T05:31:58.619-07:002010-04-05T05:31:58.619-07:00CP wrote:
>What is more important? Rand's i...CP wrote:<br />>What is more important? Rand's intellectual faults? Or the prophecy and solutions she offered?<br /><br />If you're going to offer "prophecy" and "solutions", especially those that demand a major restructuring of society, it's pretty important that said "prophecy" and "solutions" get thoroughly examined for faults before installation begins. Hence identifying Rand's intellectual faults is highly important.<br /><br />In fact, there is every reason to believe Rand's recommendations are shot through with fatal errors , from her epistemology on up.Daniel Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06359277853862225286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-19667488398447535032010-04-04T12:48:51.885-07:002010-04-04T12:48:51.885-07:00What is more important? Rand's intellectual fa...What is more important? Rand's intellectual faults? Or the prophecy and solutions she offered? It would serve to ask everyone we know to read Atlas Shrugged not only because of Rand's accurate prophecy, but because of the solution she offers. See the article "Ayn Rand, 20th Century Prophetess":<br />http://acimmessages.blogspot.com/Christian Prophethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020964652943679070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29196034.post-74856986340168582702010-04-03T16:07:17.293-07:002010-04-03T16:07:17.293-07:00Since Rand does not give any examples, it is diffi...<i>Since Rand does not give any examples, it is difficult to figure out what on earth she is talking about. In any case, the contention that “most” conservative intellectuals are guilty of “apologizing for their own ideal” and attempting to “trick people into freedom” is grossly implausible. Wherever we find Rand failing to provide evidence for some controversial and implausible assertion, there’s usually a very good reason—namely, because she doesn’t have any evidence to provide. She’s merely making stuff up to (no doubt unconsciously) to fit a particular ideological narrative which she wishes to promote.</i><br /><br />I prefer your earlier explanation which I repeat below:<br /><br /><i>Although Rand was especially sensitive to any criticism which, in her opinion, distorted her own views, she showed no such sensitivity when it came to distorting the views of ideologies and philosophies she didn’t care for.</i>Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13845776740665082229noreply@blogger.com