:: BïtS 'N' PiëCÉS ::

giovedì, giugno 02, 2005

Today, I felt like there was a lot of clutter in my head. Lots of information, ideas and puzzles that made me feel like it was time for a spring-cleaning. So, I spent my one hour bus ride back home thinking of what I’d read and observed to do some much needed sorting. Ayn Rand’s writings gave me a headache and lots of mental curd to literally choke on when I read it early this year (that was ‘The Fountainhead’). The concepts were slippery, sometimes I felt like I’d grasped them and sometimes I’d feel clueless. After reading this other work, it all became much clearer. I decided to voice my own opinion of what objectivism was about, before I read about it the way she meant it. I was pleasantly surprised and gratified to find out that what I’d thought was correct after all… though not as clearly put as the paragraphs that follow.

It’s an excerpt from the back of the centennial edition of her book and I’ve quoted parts of it because I’d like to share it with those who read this blog.

:: The Essentials of Objectivism ::

“My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” - Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand was once asked if she could present the essence of Objectivism while standing on one foot. Her answer was:
1. Metaphysics: Objective Reality
2. Epistemology: Reason
3. Ethics: Self-interest
4. Politics: Capitalism
She then translated those terms into familiar language:
1. “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.”
2. “You can’t eat your cake and have it too.”
3. “Man is an end in himself.”
4. “Give me liberty or give me death.”
The basic principles of Objectivism can be summarized as follows: (Instead of quoting the extremely long paragraph in the book, I have taken it upon myself to present it succinctly, for easy understanding.)

1. Metaphysics: Reality that exists in the world is independent of man’s consciousness, of any observer’s knowledge, beliefs, feelings, desires or fears. Facts are facts, and things are what they are and man’s task is to perceive reality, not to create or invent it. Objectivism rejects any belief in the supernatural, and any claim that individuals or groups create their own reality.

2. Epistemology: Reason is the faculty that identifies and integrates the material provided by man’s senses, it is man’s only means of acquiring knowledge. Objectivism rejects mysticism (any acceptance of faith or feeling as a means of knowledge), and it rejects skepticism (the claim that certainty or knowledge is impossible).

3. Human nature: The exercise of reason depends on each individual’s choice. That which you call your soul or spirit is your consciousness, and that which you call ‘free will’ is your mind’s freedom to think or not, the only will you have, your only freedom. This freedom is the choice that controls all the choices you make and determines your life and character. Objectivism rejects any form of determinism, the belief that man is a victim of forces beyond his control (such as God, fate, upbringing, genes, or economic conditions).

4. Ethics: Rationality is man’s basic virtue, and his three fundamental values are: reason, purpose, self-esteem. Man – every man – is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self-interest, with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life. Objectivism rejects any form of altruism – the claim that morality consists in living for others or for society.

5. Politics: No man has the right to seek values from others by means of physical force. Men have the right to use force only in self-defense and only against those who initiate its use. Men must deal with one another as traders, giving value for value, by free, mutual consent to mutual benefit. Objectivism rejects any form of collectivism, such as fascism or socialism as well as the current ‘mixed economy’ notion that the government should regulate the economy and redistribute wealth.

6. Esthetics: Ayn Rand described her own approach to art as ‘Romantic Realism’ – romantic in the sense that she presents men as they ought to be; realistic in the sense that she places them here and now and on this earth. Her novels are not didactic but artistic – the projection of an ideal man, as is exemplified by Howard Roark, John Galt, Hank Reardan and Francisco d’Anconia as an end in himself, not as a means to any further end.

Dopey @ 8:55 PM | 0 comments

0 Comments:

Posta un commento

<< Home

about me

francesca chiu
2 eyebags & 5 wrinkles
on long-term dormicum drip
KIV IMH
icq: 58631104
more...
Español
EJournals

Cortislim

taggie

Talkflooble chatterbox, a free javascript chat tag board / shoutbox / tagboard program for your xanga, diary, blogger or weblogtechnical interview puzzles, riddles and brain teasers

Epidemiology
SEER
IARC
Classification
WHO
AFIP
Staging
AJCC
UICC
Treatment
NCI
NCCN

links

Navigation
Emedicine
MuggerLand
"Survivor"
Blogarama
Blog Directory
Rice Bowl Journals
Technorati Profile