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To: tpaine
just what is your basic problem with Rand?

She's a horrible writer, albeit one with valuable insights into philosophy? That's a start ;)

Why do you, roscoe & the boyos here sneer & ridicule the axioms she supports, -- The same ones you embrace & admit are 'useful'?

The problem isn't the philosophy per se, it's the sales pitch. Objectivism has no special claim to rationality over and above any other system of morality, and yet it purports exactly that - "the only objectively true and rational system of morality", is how it was phrased earlier in the thread, IIRC. But it can't be proven objectively true unless the premises can be proven objectively true, and so that claim is of the same order as it would be about any other system of morality - an unproven assertion, that may or may not be actually true.

I cant speak for others, of course, but my own objective is not to knock objectivism down, and show that it's somehow inferior to other moral systems - I don't believe that to be the case, really. Rather, this is more dealing with claims of exceptionalism than anything else. It's not worse than any other given system as far as I can tell, but neither is it inherently superior.

298 posted on 05/01/2003 7:08:06 PM PDT by general_re (Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves.)
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To: general_re
just what is your basic problem with Rand?

She's a horrible writer, albeit one with valuable insights into philosophy? That's a start ;)

Makes more sense than most of the objections on this thread. Sadly.

--------------------------

Why do you, roscoe & the boyos here sneer & ridicule the axioms she supports, -- The same ones you embrace & admit are 'useful'?

The problem isn't the philosophy per se, it's the sales pitch. Objectivism has no special claim to rationality over and above any other system of morality, and yet it purports exactly that - "the only objectively true and rational system of morality", is how it was phrased earlier in the thread, IIRC.

Big deal. One persons opinion, 'IIRC', is not proof that Rand made "special claims".

But it can't be proven objectively true unless the premises can be proven objectively true, and so that claim is of the same order as it would be about any other system of morality - an unproven assertion, that may or may not be actually true.

You seem to think this what, -nihlist?- view of 'unproven assertions' you have is some sort of trump philosophical card. It makes no sense. Get over yourself.

I cant speak for others, of course, but my own objective is not to knock objectivism down, and show that it's somehow inferior to other moral systems - I don't believe that to be the case, really. Rather, this is more dealing with claims of exceptionalism than anything else. It's not worse than any other given system as far as I can tell, but neither is it inherently superior.

You keep repeating the claim that Rands objectivism sees itself as exceptional.. So what?

310 posted on 05/01/2003 7:35:43 PM PDT by tpaine (Really, I'm trying to be a 'decent human being', but me flesh is weak.)
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