Aristotle: Ayn Rand's Acknowledged Teacher

The Autonomist ^ | 4/26/04 | Edward W. Younkins

[what's up]

I believe it was her husband who was the sot.

He drank after she had the affair with the younger, married man.

How that conduct was logical beats me.

[NittanyLion]

Honestly, if you ever read a biography of Rand, she was a drunken old twat who kept her boytoy in tow while indulging her whims with the other boyos. Yeah, Aristotle is right up there with Rand and her ethos.

I've seen a lot of people attack Rand's personal life, and invariably they do so because they're incapable of rebutting her philosophy. I'll tell you what I've told others: these things have no bearing on Rand's writing. Her philosophy either stands on its own, or it doesn't.

[annyokie]

They were all a pile of drunks from all I have read. Rand had an affair with Nathaniel (I forget his surname) and her husband drank even more but didn't stop it.

The Fountainhead is the only semi-readable book Rand ever wrote. Atlas Shrugged makes a great doorstop.

[annyokie]

Her philosophy is flawed as is her writing. You libertarians keep on quaffing that kool-aid.

[NittanyLion]

Yet I notice you offer no rebuttal. Until you actually provide a counterargument, don't be surprised if you're not taken seriously.

[Capitalism2003]

I thought only lefties hated Atlas Shrugged. It contained after all, a philosophy that completely rebutted and dismantled the arguments in Marx's Communist Manifesto. She was also one of the first people to give a solid MORAL justification for individual freedom and economic liberty...something sorely lacking at the time. But sure, feel free to use the masterpiece as a doorstop. I'm sure Noam Chomsky agrees with you.

[tpaine]

I never could finsih Fountainhead. I was sad to learn that Ann was an atheist.
4 posted on 04/26/2004 6:12:00 PM PDT by NotchJohnson

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Excellent article.
Question: Did Aristotle believe in a god/gods or was he an atheist?
6 ronzo

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I find it curious that a belief in a god/gods is deemed important in judging a persons life and/or philosophy.
-tpaine-

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You should find it curious. It makes a big difference between an ancient and a modern.
-corny-

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How so?
- Was 'god' different in 'ancient' times, corny?

[DManA]

What would Rand say about Tillman?

[PatrickHenry]

What would Rand say about Tillman?

No doubt she would praise him:
Rand's Address To The Graduating Class Of The United States Military Academy at West Point.

[cornelis]

Generally speaking, the human thinker was different in those times. A difference sometimes underscored by the terms ancient and modern. Aristotle was ancient, Kant and Rand are modern. The author sniffs this out a little bit when he says Rand finds fault with Aristotle's metaphysics.

[reasonseeker]

You beat me to it!

[cornelis]

You can find, as a matter of course, argumentative suggestions in the history books that Aristotle couldn't keep it up straight either.

[annyokie]

I've seen a lot of people attack Rand's personal life, and invariably they do so because they're incapable of rebutting her philosophy. I'll tell you what I've told others: these things have no bearing on Rand's writing. Her philosophy either stands on its own, or it doesn't.

How can one have a philosophy of altruism and refuse to live up to it? John Galt destroys his masterpiece of a skyscraper because it is debased by the evils. Ayn Rand destroys her marriage because she has hot pants for Nathaniel. Coincidence? I don't think so. Philosopher, in your hat.

[sharktrager]

Where did I say it invalidated her work?

[cornelis]

How can one have a philosophy of altruism and refuse to live up to it?

It happens. But Rand begins with egoism.

[annyokie]

Rand is hardly an exemplar in her life and is an ass in her "philosophy", to my mind.

[stylin_geek]

Then why even bring it up?

[stylin_geek]

Do you believe in God?

I'm not sure where I used the term "feeling." Would you care to show me?

[BipolarBob]

Although I found Ayn's personal life reprehensible, I did like her different approach to writing about life. Her extramarital affair was supposedly with the approval of her husband. I watched her interview with Dick Cavett and that is what she claimed. I do not judge her, but I do not admire her either. There was a lot of self-centeredness in her life and writings, but that is to be expected if you are an atheist.