I guess when you put Ayn Rand's books in the context of Twilight and Harry Potter they're not terrible.

I think Paris Hilton's Confessions of an Heiress will have as helpful as an impact on critical thinking well into the next century.

3 replies hidden

AynRand

February 5th, 2011

12:37:28 AM CST

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I've learned people tend to discredit whatever threatens their own beliefs. Please provide some substantive reasoning for your positions next time. Right now you're just making unfounded claims.

mormonator

February 5th, 2011

2:02:25 AM CST

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I agree with about half the things you say. However, I don't think that as humans the best thing is to turn us into selfish robots who only seek to help ourselves. I think those views are a shortcut for the weak-minded people who only want to placate their selfish tendencies or are sociopaths to the world around them. I don't find Rand as a threat as all. I do dislike glassy eyed half wits who recite and believe Rand's word as if it came from a god. I think good writing on staunch individualism may have ended with Locke or Wilde. Ayn Rand offered nothing that hadn't already been said in a better way. Rand just rebranded it as "Objectivism". Bastiat is comparable to other bad writing that has lasted way too long like Rand's.

"I've learned people tend to discredit whatever threatens their own beliefs."
Well yeah? Why hold beliefs if the opposing belief isn't discredited in your own view?
I have no problem with being critical of my views. My views have changed much because of this over the years.

madDogSoldier

February 9th, 2011

10:06:40 PM CST

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Selfishness is survival. Beyond that, selfishness is following your dreams, getting a good career, having kids, etc. Selfishness is an axiom. If you do not care about yourself, how can you hope to take care of others? If you yourself is unimportant, then how can anyone else be important.

You made a strawman when you suggested that Rand or anyone else wanted you to not help others or love others. What was and is suggested is that everyone be allowed to choose who and what you value. Who you help should be your choice. Not someone elses. If someone can forcibly make a choice for you, then they are your master.

It is authoritarian types who accuse other people of selfishness so they can con others into following the whims of the authoritarian. The kings of old demanded that people not be selfish, so they can surrender their lives in battle and taxes for them. The church would label anyone as selfish anyone who would try to disobey them. Religious cults label those as selfish those who question the cult leaders authority. Psycho marine drill Sergeants and military officer types accuse someone of selfishness, if not outright insubordination when a lower soldier wants to do things his way instead of following authority. When someone disagrees with a politician, or certain groups of people oppose the idea of that politician, then that politician accuses his/her opponents of selfishness.

By now, it is clear to see that 'selfishness' used in the negative form is a tool used to manipulate others into obedience.