Atlas Shrugged-Contradictions Where None Can Exist(VANITY)

dubyagee

[yendu bwam]

Man is a rational animal. When he is no longer rational he becomes evil.

Stalin, Mao and Lex Luther were all perfectly rational (but for most, evil) people.

[shempy]

Could you name a few of today's "serious philosophers"? How does one become a "serious philosopher"?

[lelio]

Ask any serious philosophers what they think of Ayn Rand
Let me guess: they hate her as she explains her philosophy in a sound and rational way. No mysticism. No circular reasoning. No depending on twisted logic.
If the 'serious philosophers' can't keep their world a secret cloaked in words that no one can understand they'll soon be out of a job. Perhaps that's why they dislike her.

[dubyagee]

So goodness is about selfishness (not working for the good of the whole)?

That's the way Rand saw it. Anything else was merely a facade.

[Brett66]

Rand has some good ideas, but since she's an atheist it lowers my opinion of her. Her personal life was a mess, she really needed God in her life.

Another criticism was how she portrayed that perpetual motion machine in her book. Being a enthusiast of such psuedo-science, I found it laughable Dagny Taggart could just look at Galt's machine and know what it does instantly. It was also laughable such a sophisticated woman as Mrs. Taggart would believe claims of infinite energy without question.

[jwalsh07]

When he is no longer rational he becomes evil.

So, there have been no evil men who were entirely rational? I don't think so Lev.

Its obvious that the antithesis of evil is good. Why fight it?

[shempy]

If you think Stalin, Mao and Lex Luther were perfectly rational, you need a new definition of perfect.

[Barbie Doll]

I have Atlas Shrugged, started reading the first 100 pages of the book. Questions like: Who is John Galt? and the Taggarts situation with regards to the railroad business started to confuse me, as I kept reading it, I eventually put it down. But now I think I'll starting where I left off and try to understand what Ayn Rand is trying to say.

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Having heard Atlas Shrugged touted often on Free Republic as one of the greats in literature,

That the above is nonsense.

[lelio]

Her denial was for the purpose of pursuing her own code of morality, which she perceived to be superior to that of God.
Could you explain what the "morality of God" is? How are you supposed to know what it is?

[dubyagee]

I found the fact that she basically lumped people into only two different categories hard to accept. Things just aren't that simple. But the book was a good read even as preachy as it was.

[dubyagee]

That the above is nonsense.

I have seen this book as recommended reading on this forum probably more than any other...besides the bible of course...

[yendu bwam]

"To know one's own desires, their meaning and their costs requires the highest human virtue: rationality." - Ayn Rand.

This is the biggest piece of Randish poppycock (and not incidentally, the centerpiece of her 'rational' thought)! First, to know one's desires has nothing to do with rationality. A pedophile likes to have sex with kids. He knows his desires just fine. A selfish person likes not to share his toys with others. He knows his desires just fine. Neither needs to emply rationality to understand those desires. And as for rationality being the highest virtue - Rand exposes herself here. If you have some scale of virtue that you can measure rationality with, you then have some morality outside of rationality. Finally, rationality can be used for good or for evil. It is neutral to good and evil. Rand desperately wants there to be no good or evil that can't be discerned through the use of reason, and she tries (in vain) to use reason to prove her point. It's like trying to prove the fourth dimension can't exist using only three.

[dubyagee]

Honestly, it is a bizarre scenario, one that could never take place. But I do recommend it. I could hardly put it down once I started reading it.

[stylin_geek]

First, there are some very serious scientists that question God as he is portrayed in the Bible, however, I must refer you to a quote by Dr. Robert Goddard (I might have this slightly wrong, forgive me if I do) he said "People say that God does not exist, because science has not proved he does, however, must one light a candle in order to see the sun?" Second, see my home page. Third, Ayn got a lot of things right, but she swung and missed when it came to God.

I may be attributing the above quote to the wrong person. Hopefully, if I did, someone can post the correction.

[ken5050]

Can I ask how old you are?...see, either of Rand's two novels can have a stupendous impression on a 16 year old..which was my age when I first read them.....and all my friends were reading "Catcher in the Rye"..which is a much, much shorter book.....Rand makes you think, she overwhelms you, especially at that age..makes you question a lot of what you've been taught to date.......

[lelio]

I found that a little difficult to accept to until I read an essay that said "Why didn't you show Galt tying his shoes or sitting on the toliet?" and her response was that she's trying to show the ideal (wo)man and didn't have time to show the minor trivalities of life and had a story to tell.
Could you imagine how many more pages would be added if she included the shades of gray that we all have? We're talking bowling ball weight.

[Frapster]

Thank you - I thought that's what you were saying but I wanted to be sure.

[BADROTOFINGER]

So goodness is about selfishness (not working for the good of the whole)?

There is a difference between working out of selfishness, and working in our own self interest. I think that goodness is about working in our own self interest...JFK

[yendu bwam]

Could you explain what the "morality of God" is? How are you supposed to know what it is?

Well, Christians believe God's morality is summed up in the 10 Commandments and in the teachings of Jesus. If you're interested - check out Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament. That'll give you a pretty good idea.