Replies

That is an excellent point. Rand (for all that I admire many aspects of her philosophy)had some glaring holes in her philosophy. It is interesting that she heself acknowledges that she leaves as "unanswered" the question of WHY something is right or wrong (or good and bad) she claims that it is derived internally and that no further exploration into the question is needed. Ironaically it comes into a conflict with her ultimate axiom...that there are no contradictions. She refuses to answer the question because it contradicts her testimony. Ayn Rand wanted to believe absolutely in the perfection of man. That man was the highest attainable morality. Her position defies history. Man without a "religious" code of morality is subjected to moral relativism. How ironic that the one aspect of mankind that she despises most is the very thing that would run rampant if her code of rational ethics were practiced by all. It was always amazing to me that in The Fountain Head both the antagonist and protagonist are atheists. How I wonder does she explain in her mind that the one has such a good moral code and the other does not. By her light it would be because teh protaganist is rational and loves Man. While the antagonist is irrational and hates MAN. She is close to being correct..but I think her postion reveales her own flaw. The antagonist is not Irrational. Elsworth is a very intelligent thoughful ration being. He is fully cognizant of the damage he is doing and the depth to which is is bringing people low. He is EVIL. The protagonist on the other hand LOVES man. Admires mans capacity and ability and everything that is good in him....he you see is Good. So built in to Ayn Rands own conceptualization is a pattern that defies her own argument. The bad guy you see is BAD while the good guy is GOOD. it isnt the rationality of their minds that makes them so. It is their capacity to love and do what is right that makes them so. So Even in Ayn Rands world view somewhere is this concept that hating man is evil and loving man is good. Why would that be if morality was only based on rational pursuit of your own self interest.

That man was the highest attainable morality. Her position defies history.

And is a sad morality, given human nature.

It is interesting that she heself acknowledges that she leaves as "unanswered" the question of WHY something is right or wrong (or good and bad) she claims that it is derived internally and that no further exploration into the question is needed....So Even in Ayn Rands world view somewhere is this concept that hating man is evil and loving man is good.

Agreed.