Reason Foundation Co-Founder Tibor Machan on Ayn Rand
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It's not so much the contents of this particular video, but the rash of videos in praise of Rand that Reason did almost simultaneously. Don't get me wrong, I like SOME of her ideas, but lets discuss them, rather than the person who promoted them.
Besides, if we're going to talk about capitalism, where are the videos about Rothbard? Spooner? Mises?
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@787Bisurdaddy I'm not a fan of "worship" either. But how do you distinguish "mindlessly idolizing" Rand from recognizing her achievements and the impact they have had over the last fifty years? I didn't see anything in this video that I would characterize as "mindlessly idolizing."
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@787Bisurdaddy For a devastating take on Rand, google for this:
Ayn Rand: Engineer of Souls by Anthony Daniels
Also google for this:
The Greatly Ghastly Rand by Jason Lee Steorts
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"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving." There is truth in that, and is an argument well developed in George Gilder's 'Wealth and Poverty' without detracting from Rand's rationale. Communism is atheist to the extent that the state has taken over the role of God. And selfish to the extent that the constructive selfishness of the individual, is subverted to the destructive selfishness of the collective.
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Good clip, in which Tibor comes across very agreeably :-)
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Rand's call 2 reason would seem more plausible had she reasoned far enough to drop those things blocking successful conveyance of her message. Perhaps she didn't give a crap if the world was saved from totalitarianisms of various stripes. She had books to sell and the fate of the world--the ostensible subject not only of those books, but her entire career--couldn't quite compete w her interest in accumulating wealth. So she's saving the world or she could care less about saving the world--which?
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All true and very well stated. I would however, without disagreeing with Tibor Machan, place even greater importance on Liberty. Freedom was never said to be safe, it can't promise that, there will be dangers it's part of the package, nevertheless, surrendering Freedom is far more dangerous making the rational choice obvious. I've gone out of my way befriending any who escaped communism, too bad Americans won't listen, their accounts are dire warnings for anyone not desiring Hell on Earth.
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Clearly you do not know what you are talking about. However, that can be remedied. I suggest you read the following book:
Virtue of Selfishness, by Ayn Rand
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God these "Reason" guys are just so wishy-washy. If you go listen to Ayn Rand talk for 6 minutes you will learn so much more than you will listening to this weirdo.
Rand was Russian, Rand was a woman, Rand was a novelist, Rand couldn't fit in fully with the left nor the right, she looked unusual, etc, etc, etc...
These superifical people always have some cheap, sociological explanation for why she's so popular.
It's always anything and everything besides the fundamentality of her ideas. The fact that she was the first to ever fully defend what the rest of us liked, but never knew why we did so.
grantsinmypants2 2 years ago 7
I'm not a fan of this Rand worship stuff. Reason is great because it talks about ideas, not people. You guys should be encouraging others to NOT mindlessly idolizing certain individuals and instead focus on the great ideas that matter.
787Bisurdaddy 2 years ago 7