[Am-info] Ayn Rand Institute?

[Mitch Stone]

On Monday, March 18, 2002, at 11:53 AM, Hans Reiser wrote:
>
> So, it is basically a philosophy to maximize the welfare of those not 
> strong enough to be king but strong enough to own a company, or those who 
> want to marry/admire/serve/follow said type of person (like Ayn Rand).

That's more or less my read. In the bad old days, people worked their will 
over others at the point of a sword (well, they still do). According to 
objectivists, the problem isn't the working of the will over others, it's 
the weapon. Kicking somebody in the kneecaps and stealing their wallet is 
objectively bad, but figuring out how to steal it by some non-violent 
method is objectively good. How this can be rationalized is beyond me -- 
and that's why I find calling the whole business "objectivism" rather 
humorous (this view is no more objective than any other).

> It is understandable as the philosophy of someone from a communist 
> country who left it, and I do think that Ayn Rand contributed to the 
> philosophical literature (as holy men often do).   Black and white art is 
> often worth looking at, even if you yourself are able to see grey tones.

Possibly, but her theories go way beyond anti-communism.

>
> Thanks much for helping me to better understand her and her movement.

Let me know when you understand it -- then you can explain it to me!


   Mitch Stone
   mitch@accidentalexpert.com