[Hank Kerchief]

I believe her philosophy in a nutshell boils downs down to indiviualism.

Yes!

But most people confuse individualism with subjectivism, which is really a kind of anti-individualism. Hedonism, for example, is a subjectivist philosophy. Objectivism is radically anti-hedonism.

Hank

[jnarcus]

Well not exactly...Rand and the objectivists tend to think that casual sex is a good thing...Her books often indirectly espouse this...as long as two individuals decide together that tonight is a good thing then it is...but of course since Rand has no basis for a moral code ( such as the belief in God) then the moral code is always changeab;e depending on who is doing the deciding. The thing that seems to always be the most attractive about objectivism and Rand's books is that it calls to the heart of an individual...the ability to stand with grace and dignity against the howling mobs...I agree one should stand but I will take my examples from the likes of Martin Luther ('here stand I. I can do no other) or william Wallace or Condi Rice ( for a more modern perspective) and yes even GW (I will do what is best for the American people)

[r9etb]

Objectivism is radically anti-hedonism.

If we accept this claim, then it means Rand's basis for objectivism is false.

Consider:

Rand claims that Man — every man — is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.

Now, suppose I consider hedonism to be in my own self interest, that my self-indulgence does make me happy, and that I suffer no ill-consequence from my hedonism. (One might consider Hugh Hefner as the poster boy for this point of view.)

If Rand were to state that this was, nevertheless, a Bad Thing, then she would have to base her claim on something other than individual self-interest and individual happiness. I would no longer be an "end in myself;" rather, I would be subject to some moral code other than my own self-interest.

Which contradicts Rand's original claim.