Ultimately, Rand was searching for the origin of John Galt in the pages of human nature. But was she right? Are we rational egotists trapped in a net of social obligations? Or are we an innately social species for whom altruism was integral to our success on this planet? There was only one place she could look: the Pleistocene.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_an ... ingle.html
Ayn Rand vs. the Pygmies
Moderator: Global Moderator
-
MachineGhost
- Executive Member
- Posts: 10054
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:31 am
Ayn Rand vs. the Pygmies
Last edited by MachineGhost on Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain." -- Thomas Hobbes
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
Re: Ayn Rand vs. the Pygmies
I think that it is only when we come to terms with our own selfishness that we have the psychological and emotional tools to enter into mutually profitable exchanges and relationships with others.
In other words, until we can comprehend and acknowledge our selfishness, there is a barrier to us realizing our potential as social creatures, which in turn allows us to build durable societies.
I see societies that are premised upon something other than mutually profitable exchanges among individuals and that seems to get ugly and fall apart pretty quickly.
Rand has always struck me as a bit of a cold fish. She seemed not to grasp the idea that people can be nice to each other and do nice and generous things for each other just because they like to. There was also something a bit immature and childish in her dismissive attitude toward people who disagreed with her.
In other words, until we can comprehend and acknowledge our selfishness, there is a barrier to us realizing our potential as social creatures, which in turn allows us to build durable societies.
I see societies that are premised upon something other than mutually profitable exchanges among individuals and that seems to get ugly and fall apart pretty quickly.
Rand has always struck me as a bit of a cold fish. She seemed not to grasp the idea that people can be nice to each other and do nice and generous things for each other just because they like to. There was also something a bit immature and childish in her dismissive attitude toward people who disagreed with her.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”