All you objectivists need to stop criticizing this lady. She's your friend. At least she's acknowledging Rand's good traits. Most scholars realize that Rand was an extreme-capitalist, a dishonest philosopher, and a writer of absolutes.
Not to mention she hated collectivism, yet used medicare.
@redshark618 "Us" Objectivists also realize that she was an extreme capitalist and a writer of absolutes. What you find dishonest in her philosophy, I don't know.
As for medicare, she, like many US citizens do, (over)paid for it so she might as well have used it.
@redshark618 You see what you want to see and not what is. This is concerning both my attitude and Ayn Rand. You're not saying anything new, just repeating what other opponents of Ayn Rand are mindlessly jabbering. It's no wonder that you see any criticism to that as hostility when in reality I just don't care. These points have been thoroughly analyzed and argued against rationally (not to mention, some are blatant lies, at least to someone who has read some of her books).
@redshark618 "I have read her books. I used to believe them."
Key word being "believe". All the more reason for me not to enter a discussion with you on your "beliefs".
"I hope for now we can agree to disagree."
The only thing I care to agree to is that I'm right and you're wrong, but seeing how strongly you *believe* you are right, I doubt any agreement is possible. Why is it so important to you that we agree on anything anyway?
@redshark618 Well, suppose that you lied to a murderer to protect your children and afterwards I said that you were a liar because of it and that I was sorry that you hadn't overcome that flaw.
Does that sound like I'd be a very honest person in that scenario?
I've read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a good account of how Ayn Rand developed her thought and her novels. Her life is laid out in a narrative, and like Burns says, you can't help to both admire and yet sometimes wish Rand was a bit different.
Rand's personal relationships were not very great and she did not have much tact. I think her biggest flaw was that she did not exactly have very good social skills. She had her flaws like every human being after all; she was not a God.
Interesting perspective, take on Rand/Objectivism.
Like all dogmas and belief systems - Christianity, Communism, AA, Amway - Objectivism would work great if everyone bought into it and no new information was allowed into the system to corrupt the believers, shake loose the Unmoved Mover all rationalistic philosophies share.
I wish she'd have elaborated on those "weaknesses and flaws" that she claims Rand had. She claims Rand needed "balance" which leads me to suspect that she came away with an extremely poor understanding of objectivism, or just disagreed with it. We can't know which. I was actually considering buying Burns' book based on the first 90% of the interview, but I really hate when people make accusations without backing them up. That leads me to conclude that she would be a horrible biographer of Rand.
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Vegasgodless 1 month ago
All you objectivists need to stop criticizing this lady. She's your friend. At least she's acknowledging Rand's good traits. Most scholars realize that Rand was an extreme-capitalist, a dishonest philosopher, and a writer of absolutes.
Not to mention she hated collectivism, yet used medicare.
redshark618 3 months ago
@redshark618 "Us" Objectivists also realize that she was an extreme capitalist and a writer of absolutes. What you find dishonest in her philosophy, I don't know.
As for medicare, she, like many US citizens do, (over)paid for it so she might as well have used it.
ReasonSharp 3 months ago
@ReasonSharp Alright, here is a condensed list of Objectivism's problems:
-dogma, the reliance on "axioms" (moral absolutes) instead of realistic worldviews
-xenophobia, an automatic conceit or ill-will against those perceived "incompetent"
-hostility toward any differing opinion (this is the hallmark of dictatorship)
-extreme egocentricity
-the valuation of "what" to think, rather than "how" to think
Overall, objectivism resembles a tyranny more than a philosophy. I've been there before.
redshark618 3 months ago
@redshark618 Oh, please. Is this the highest extent of your "knowledge" of Objectivism?
Actually, I don't care how you justify that BS, I've heard all of these before and I'm not interested to enter yet another pointless discussion.
ReasonSharp 3 months ago
@ReasonSharp Hostility toward differing opinions. You've proved my point for me.
redshark618 3 months ago
@redshark618 You see what you want to see and not what is. This is concerning both my attitude and Ayn Rand. You're not saying anything new, just repeating what other opponents of Ayn Rand are mindlessly jabbering. It's no wonder that you see any criticism to that as hostility when in reality I just don't care. These points have been thoroughly analyzed and argued against rationally (not to mention, some are blatant lies, at least to someone who has read some of her books).
ReasonSharp 3 months ago
@ReasonSharp I have read her books. I used to believe them. I hope for now we can agree to disagree. Good day.
redshark618 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@redshark618 "I have read her books. I used to believe them."
Key word being "believe". All the more reason for me not to enter a discussion with you on your "beliefs".
"I hope for now we can agree to disagree."
The only thing I care to agree to is that I'm right and you're wrong, but seeing how strongly you *believe* you are right, I doubt any agreement is possible. Why is it so important to you that we agree on anything anyway?
ReasonSharp 3 months ago
Jennifer basically says "I decided which of Ayn Rand's traits were her character flaws, and then I felt sorry for her that she didn't overcome them."
Dishonesty at its best.
ReasonSharp 8 months ago
@ReasonSharp How is that dishonesty? Writers do that all the time. Tolstoy disagreed with Dostoyevsky but still admired his heart.
redshark618 3 months ago
@redshark618 Well, suppose that you lied to a murderer to protect your children and afterwards I said that you were a liar because of it and that I was sorry that you hadn't overcome that flaw.
Does that sound like I'd be a very honest person in that scenario?
ReasonSharp 3 months ago
I've read the book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a good account of how Ayn Rand developed her thought and her novels. Her life is laid out in a narrative, and like Burns says, you can't help to both admire and yet sometimes wish Rand was a bit different.
Rand's personal relationships were not very great and she did not have much tact. I think her biggest flaw was that she did not exactly have very good social skills. She had her flaws like every human being after all; she was not a God.
DukeAlba 9 months ago
am Crap.
Did she even read Rand's books?
RandLovingRex 9 months ago
Jennifer Burns does not understand Objectivism.
ObjectivistAesthetic 1 year ago
If conservatives had listened to Ayn Rand back in the day the Republican party wouldn't be the bunch of douches they are today.
MoneyIsSilver 1 year ago
Interesting perspective, take on Rand/Objectivism.
Like all dogmas and belief systems - Christianity, Communism, AA, Amway - Objectivism would work great if everyone bought into it and no new information was allowed into the system to corrupt the believers, shake loose the Unmoved Mover all rationalistic philosophies share.
HickysBoy 1 year ago
@HickysBoy genuine question- what has the information that has made objectivism redundant?
samm1809 1 year ago
@samm1809 sorry, what IS the information that has made atlas shrugged redundant
samm1809 1 year ago
I wish she'd have elaborated on those "weaknesses and flaws" that she claims Rand had. She claims Rand needed "balance" which leads me to suspect that she came away with an extremely poor understanding of objectivism, or just disagreed with it. We can't know which. I was actually considering buying Burns' book based on the first 90% of the interview, but I really hate when people make accusations without backing them up. That leads me to conclude that she would be a horrible biographer of Rand.
garett69 1 year ago