Do you subscribe to Ayn Rand's system of morality?

Before Paul Ryan had to recant his worship, libertarianism was taught as gospel. It was REQUIRED study by all that would seek employ by him. Rather totalitarian, if you ask me, but I digress.

 

Do you subscribe to Ayn Rand's system of morality? Once again morality is what it is, either something is moral or it isn't. One can no more alter morality than they can change their race, gender or ethnicity. Do I admire Ayn Rand? That would be a resounding yes, she was one of the great thinkers of the twentieth century. What she had to say about wealth redistribution was prophetic, look at the welfare state the US has become.

 

Even she didn't buy what she was selling in the end

 

Do tell and how so?

 

She took her social security and medicare

 

Yeah and sadly many Libertarians (I am a Libertarian in full disclosure) still constantly talk about her. I much prefer the work of Mill over Rand any day of the week. He is far more intelligent, logical and its much easier to read his stuff. I tried reading Atlas and I was bored to tears and couldn't even make it to the second chapter. I will never understand the infatuation with her.

 

And what is wrong with good morals

 

Exl;ain how heroizing a mass murderer, is GOOD. Explain how seeing all others, but GALTS, as EATERS, is anything but sociopathic EVIL.

 

Ayn Rand was a mixed bag.

That said, I have always considered Atlas Shrugged to be rather overrated.

 

Yeah - the poll reply is all of the above for me.

And it's not really that one subscribes to her philosophy - though one may - as much as that we all of us live by it.

Her life experience just inspired her to articulate the human outlook.

She was a rather brilliant woman who wrote horrible fiction and made terrible choices later in her life.

A great, complicated and tragic figure.

 

The REAL problem I have with her is, She ASPIRES to perfect selfishness. When in reality, it is too true already. There needs to be a counterbalance to that, or man will cease.

 

I think it is really generous to call her moral beliefs a "system". Her moral philosophy is positively riddled with contradictions, and her account of human nature is complete nonsense. And aside from Anthem perhaps, she was a terrible fiction writer who should have stuck to writing nonfiction essays . . . especially since she can't make it through a novel without shoddily cramming an essay in there anyway (*cough* Galt's speech *cough*).

Reading her moral philosophy, it is quite obvious that she can't make up her mind between pure egoism and rights-based ethics, and she never developed an overarching system that really accounted for the two, hand waving any contradiction and just pretending it didn't exist. The only contribution I can really see here to libertarian ethics is that she did come up with a formulation of the non-aggression principle, probably the most popular ethical stance in libertarianism. However, others did it before her (Locke, a much more important philosopher in libertarianism) and others did it better (Rothbard, also more important).

It is all well and good to hear her talking about not living for other people and not forcing anyone else to live for you . . . but then she goes on and writes rape fantasy and claims that the purpose of a woman's life is the hero-worship of a man. WTF?

Especially seeing as she hated libertarians! There are far, far better moral philosophers out there for libertarians.

 

I see a lot of misinformation about Ayn Rand's philosophy.

This will give you a better understanding of what she believed and why. http://objectivism101.com/

This is a quick overview: http://objectivism101.com/IOP/Chart.html

 

As long as a certain amount of contribution is satisfied I see no problem with it.. It's when none or very little is contributed and a disproportionate amount is used by that segment that makes it wrong.. It's not fair to lessen the benefit of those that contribute over a great part of their lives only to receive less compensation because of that disproportionate contribution practice!

Personally I would rather see a system that allows one to OPT out of SSI and other social programs and allow me to manage my dollars how I see fit!

 

Rand's philosophy had none

 

Personally I would prefer a system in which people could opt IN to Medicare.

And you...like Rand...will take advantage of the very systems you denigrate when you reach that age. And despite the efforts of people like you...it will be there for you

 

Who was Ann Rand, and why should I care what she thought anymore than I care what Alyn Ginsberg thought?

 

"Atlas Shrugged" makes more sense than "The Communist Manifesto" or "Mein Kampf".

 

That's your bar? Really?

 

Libertarianism is a better path than big government.

 

And Rand hated libertarians. What's your point?

 

My only point is small government is vastly superior to big government.

Thomas Jefferson said, "The government that governs least governs best". I think Rand would generally agree with that statement. And I agree with most of what Jefferson and Rand said and wrote.

 

But the thread is about her moral philosophy, not her political philosophy: ethical egoism. Jefferson's moral system was more natural law and rights-based.

 

I've read Locke although he uses old timey style so I end up reading it with an English accent in my head. LOL. I will have to check out Rothbard as I don't recall reading any of his stuff.

A Libertarian running around with an Ayn Rand book is like lefties running around wearing Che Gueverra t-shirts. They seem to do it because their peers do it not actually knowing what they actually stand for or their actions.

 

! Thought herself right into Social Security. What a hoot.