Whatcha reading?

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Bube

Yeah, I heard that her characters are flawless. I don't know how I'd react to that before I've read it though.

From what I've read of her thoughts on objectivism, it seems that the philosophy itself thrives on flawless people. So it's not really surprising.

But damn! I searched high and low to find Atlas Shrugged, now you're telling me to go to the ends of the earth for The Fountainhead!

Go to Amazon. You'll find it pretty easily along with her philosphical works.

As for Objectivism, I think its been widely misinterpreted and even purposely so in history by socialist intelelctuals in our university system. Its not really about being perfect, but that we should always attempt to try and strive for perfection. It is in that effort that we grow.

To read the basics of her philosphy, it is more about recognizing reality, and therefore it flaws and triumphs, and controlling feeling because feelings distort and confuse a proper analysis of reality. Like the name, it is about objectively viewing the world; not concentrating on what should happen, but dealing with what will happen and operating in that realm. Part of this is the recognition that we will never be perfect, but we should always work towards it, because the myth of the perfect can inpire a better good.

Like any philosophy, it is written by a flawed person and can contradict itself at times, but when compared to works of her contemporaries, like Also Sprach Zarathustra and The Communist Manifesto, Rand is the most balanced intellectual ever to walk the earth.

I'm also not an Objectivist, as by Rand's own definition, if you don't believe in everything she wrote, you are not an Objectivist, and I don't. But I'd have to say that of all the modern philosophies, I agree with objectivism the most. And she was an atheist, and I am not.

I'd recommend reading the Wiki on Objectivism and then decide whether you'd want to read more about it. At the very least its an interesting read. Her writings on Rational Self-Interest is especially interesting.