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Ayn Rand (pg. 3)
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Joss Weatherby
Seriously, philosphy... I mean...
It has its merits, but sometimes it seems like a wasted human effort of the highest order... :mad: |
well, im talking about political philosophy so i must respectfully disagree. and the philosophy i do really hate (the wankey type) certainly served a useful purpose in under-pinning much of western culture (i am pretty unfamiliar with philosophy outside europe).
but im still with you. its why i dropped philosophy in favour of political science. much more fun and (to me) relevant. |
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| Joss Weatherby |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
well, im talking about political philosophy so i must respectfully disagree. and the philosophy i do really hate (the wankey type) certainly served a useful purpose in under-pinning much of western culture (i am pretty unfamiliar with philosophy outside europe).
but im still with you. its why i dropped philosophy in favour of political science. much more fun and (to me) relevant. |
eh i was reading the wiki for objectivism and thought it was a total waste of time...
Political philosphy is fine, it helps define a greater force, that of many people. Individual philosphy, while helpful in that search, usually is too narrow and specific to find any common ground amongst all people and cultures. That is why I find it stupid. |
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| astroboy |
There was once a video in which Christopher Hitchens summed up my view of Rand's work.. or at least some of the problems I have with her.
I find her novels thoroughly awful as attempts at literature - and probably quite good as acts of demagoguery (which to me is an indictment as much as anything).
With regards to The Virtue of Selfishness, which is somewhat more impressive in my view. I simply don't think there is any more need to encourage humans to be selfish than there is to encourage humans to .
As an attempt at philosophy her writing is also incomplete it is at most a collection of axioms that remind me more of religious dogma than philosophical theory. |
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| Domesticated |
| quote: | Originally posted by astroboy
With regards to The Virtue of Selfishness, which is somewhat more impressive in my view. I simply don't think there is any more need to encourage humans to be selfish than there is to encourage humans to . |
Certainly not, but Rand encourages humans to be selfish in a self-serving and self-sufficient way. A majority of the selfishness we see in current societies is directly related to taking advantage of others.
However, this is one reason her work falls down; there is no conceivable way that you are ever going to convince people to stop taking advantage of one another. Communism has never worked for that very reason, and for the same reason laissez-faire capitalism could never work. |
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| Zild |
Any Rand totally sucks ass. Sorry had to say it. Don't feel like I need to make any explanations or justifications. If you've read her tripe you will understand.
yes i misspelled her stupid ass name on purpose |
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| Domesticated |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
Any Rand totally sucks ass. Sorry had to say it. Don't feel like I need to make any explanations or justifications. If you've read her tripe you will understand.
yes i misspelled her stupid ass name on purpose |
I'd expect that from someone who thinks that calculus is more creative than essay writing and that humanities are soft subjects for idiots. |
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
I'd expect that from someone who thinks that calculus is more creative than essay writing and that humanities are soft subjects for idiots. |
plain and simple it IS. if you don't have the capacity to understand that well i'm not surprised.
i don't have the time nor do you have the desire for me to properly educate you but i can guarantee given that education you would realize there is much more creativity and beauty in upper level mathematics than you will find in all of Da Vinci's works of art. |
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| Capitalizt |
| quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
Certainly not, but Rand encourages humans to be selfish in a self-serving and self-sufficient way. A majority of the selfishness we see in current societies is directly related to taking advantage of others.
However, this is one reason her work falls down; there is no conceivable way that you are ever going to convince people to stop taking advantage of one another. Communism has never worked for that very reason, and for the same reason laissez-faire capitalism could never work. |
The laissez faire Rand talks about isn't complete "hands off" anarchy that most people think it is. Like most libertarian thinkers she believes that laws and mechanisms must be in place to prevent compulsion...that fraud, theft, and violence must be banished from all human relationships. In that respect capitalism is vastly different from communism. Does this type of system mean men won't try to "take advantage" of others? Of course not. It just means they can't use FORCE on others. Initiation of force violates the central tenet of objectivism. |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
plain and simple it IS. if you don't have the capacity to understand that well i'm not surprised.
i don't have the time nor do you have the desire for me to properly educate you but i can guarantee given that education you would realize there is much more creativity and beauty in upper level mathematics than you will find in all of Da Vinci's works of art. |
Well, if you spend enough time and effort on practically anything you'll tend to want to justify it to yourself by saying that it's better than everything else.
:p |
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
Well, if you spend enough time and effort on practically anything you'll tend to want to justify it to yourself by saying that it's better than everything else.
:p |
Why would I want to justify mathematics which I've spent a small amount of time on when my career goals are to be a paratrooper in the US Army?
I'm just calling it as I see it. A spade is a spade is a spade. Unless you want to lie to yourself and call it a club.
actually if i remember correctly you're getting a philosophy degree, so i don't even know why i dignified your post with a response... i must be ing drunk |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
What's your problem with philosophy?
I don't have any problem with math, btw, and I agree that there's a lot of beauty to be found in it. I made that comment mostly just to mess with you.
;) |
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| eckmek |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zild
Why would I want to justify mathematics which I've spent a small amount of time on when my career goals are to be a paratrooper in the US Army?
I'm just calling it as I see it. A spade is a spade is a spade. Unless you want to lie to yourself and call it a club.
actually if i remember correctly you're getting a philosophy degree, so i don't even know why i dignified your post with a response... i must be ing drunk |
Holy unfounded view on science batman! |
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