Ben Nadel © 2008.
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This last week, I finally finished the last CD in the unabridged 42 disc version of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged audio book. It was a tremendous piece of work. It dragged on a little bit in certain parts where Rand basically repeats her philosophy over various different scenarios. But the story line is rock solid. Despite the audio book being 51 hours long, I truly felt that the entire book was constantly building towards a climax. Every time I switched it off, I wanted to switch it back on and find out what happens next.
Atlas Shrugged really hits a chord with me, as I think it touches most people, because it speaks to the best in all of us. It speaks to the part of us that wants to be the best, to do the right thing, to live for ourselves, and to be free and happy. Ayn Rand preaches that the highest virtue of human existence is to be productive. When I hear her say things like that, it's like a huge burden being taken off my shoulders. The burden, of course, is the war that I rage inside of my own head trying to balance my desire to be productive with my feelings of obligation to engage in things in which I am simply not that interested.
I would like to, over the next few weeks, go back over the book and present some passages that really meant a lot to me. It is a most excellent book and I highly recommend it to every one. I suspect that there are people out there who just will not understand what she is saying (and I am not talking about religion, just philosophies on life); I think you either have to feel that the book connects with you at a core level, or you just don't agree with what she is saying. But of those who don't get it, I am sure a lot of it comes down to courage. Living for yourself takes courage. It is not an easy thing to do; this I know from personal experience.
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if you liked Atlas Shrugged you might appreciate the Canadian three-piece band "Rush" who draw inspiration from Rand's work.
Personally, I find her philosophy a bit grating - it smacks too much of Margret Thatchers "There is no such thing as society".
Wait until you have children, Ben, you might think differently.
Posted by barry.b on Jun 16, 2007 at 7:14 PM
@Barry,
That is true; her writings, at least those that I have dealt with, have not involved children in practically any capacity. I will just have to figure this stuff out as I go. But it is nice to have inspiration such as her writings along the way.
Posted by Ben Nadel on Jun 16, 2007 at 8:01 PM
"Ayn Rand preaches that the highest virtue of human existence is to be productive." Bullshit. The highest virtue of human existence is to help other people. Read "The Iron Heel" by Jack London to get another viewpoint.
Posted by jim collins on Jun 16, 2007 at 8:04 PM
@Jim,
I just checked it out on Amazon.com. It looks like a cool book. I certainly loved Brave New World and 1984, neither of which [Amazon's reviews states] are as prophetic at The Iron Heel.
And also, just a note on helping other people. Ayn Rand does not advocate against it. In fact, I believe at one point she says that if helping people makes you feel better, then you should do it. If you get good feelings in return for helping, then it is not a sacrifice, but rather and exchange of "goods" for lack of a better term.
What she seems to be against is the praising of self-sacrifice as a virtue.
Posted by Ben Nadel on Jun 16, 2007 at 8:23 PM
>>Bullshit. The highest virtue of human existence is to help other people.
Well, that's bullshit too. There is no "highest" virtue for humanity. (By whom exactly was it determined? How? And for whom?)
I hope you realize that Ayn Rand, though fun to read once, is a joke within philosophy. Straw man rhetoric about about freedom vs. tyranny doesn't have much profundity - unless you're an American president perhaps ;-)
If I ever recommend one book to anyone interested in philosophy it is The Gay Science. Freud said you could read it forever because after each section you could put it down and think about it for a lifetime. At the very least you come away with newfound respect for both good writing and the question mark.
Posted by ziggy on Jun 17, 2007 at 3:13 AM
"Ayn Rand preaches that the highest virtue of human existence is to be productive." Bullshit. The highest virtue of human existence is to help other people.
And to help other people, one must to be productive. I can't see a way to help other people without being productive, it is impossible. Anyway understanding Ayn Rand objectivist philosophy requires from a person to be extremely "objective" to reject EVERY form of lies.
I recommend to read some non fiction books on views close to Ayn Rand views, by Rothbard, Mises and Hazlitt. And a novel by Hazlitt (Time Will Run Back) and then, well why not a very short - but undisputed in every positive way - writing from Thomas Jefferson known as the Declaration of Independence.
Posted by Andras Ludanyi on Jun 17, 2007 at 8:26 AM
"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."
I believe this is a quote of Ayn Rand. And I think the tail end of this statement is the viewpoint where folks are uncomfortable.
Posted by Calvin on Jun 18, 2007 at 8:39 AM
yes, it would seem so.
it would also seem contrary to a guy speaking wise words about two thousand words ago...
(note: I am NOT religious and abhor organised worship but that doesn't mean that there's not good ideas there - lets keep to society and humanity, OK?)
Posted by barry.b on Jun 18, 2007 at 8:58 AM
Probably a quote from Rand because it's a illogical bastardization of Kant's Categorical Imperative ("Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means"), which is in turn an abstraction of the Golden Rule, which in turn was invented to keep people in a group in order. None of the formulations are "objective" in any way.
Posted by ziggy on Jun 19, 2007 at 12:24 AM
Maybe it's an abstraction of the philosophy of Mr. Spock: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one"
Posted by jim collins on Jun 19, 2007 at 12:28 AM
The problem with understanding this is seems to be the following (fact): feelings of community and altruism are the results (not the cause) of social cooperation. And I really admire Mr. Spoke, but... his quote is somewhat inaccurate, it is missing the fact that no subjects can be objectively compared without the quantity and the subjective value element. So, it can be reasonably debated only if we know what kind of needs of a many vs. what kind of needs to a one. I hope anyone of you will agree with me that in a gladiator arena the entertaining needs of the many (the crowd) isn't more important than the life need of the (gladiator), or the needs of the slave-owner family (the many) isn't more important than the needs of the slave (the one).
And one more thing, Ayn Rand wasn't a perfect person, nobody is, but that isn't a reason to not analyze her thoughts and if one find logic, reason behind them... well at least to try to understand the World, and not to accept illogical, unreasonable and stupid doctrines we are bombarded continually with, all day and night by the media.
Posted by Andras Ludanyi on Jun 24, 2007 at 8:12 AM
Ben,
I liked this particular post and wanted to recommend Nigel Warburton's Pod Casts on Classical Philosophy. You may find some introspective bits in there. I bought his book because of the podcasts. While I work, I listen to these pod casts and then later drive home and consider things and ideas.
Food for thought...
Posted by Frank Tudor on Jun 28, 2007 at 5:35 PM
@Frank,
Thanks, I will look him up (unless you can provide a direct URL).
Posted by Ben Nadel on Jul 1, 2007 at 9:47 PM
Here you go..
http://www.nigelwarburton.typepad.com/
in iTunes you would have to search for his name.
:)
Frank
Posted by Frank Tudor on Jul 1, 2007 at 11:39 PM
Wait!
What am I thinking. If you need introspection this is all you really need.
http://www.totallynsfw.com/videos/videos_babe_shaking_her_big_booty/
P.S. (It's obviously not safe for work).
Enjoy!
Frank
Posted by Frank Tudor on Jul 2, 2007 at 12:39 AM
@Frank,
First off, that was exactly the right way to start off my week :)
Also, not yet on the iTunes train (still rock the WinAmp). But, I think I might sign up for Audible.com of these days and I think you need iTunes for that.
Thanks for the link, I will take a look at his stuff.
Posted by Ben Nadel on Jul 2, 2007 at 7:39 AM
ziggy says...
Probably a quote from Rand because it's a illogical bastardization of Kant's Categorical Imperative ("Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means"), which is in turn an abstraction of the Golden Rule, which in turn was invented to keep people in a group in order. None of the formulations are "objective" in any way.
misvision says...
1- bastardize is barely a word.it screams "i'm a backwoods hillbilly with limited perspective" about those who use it.
2- this is not a golden-rule rip-off. it simply states that the more delicate qualities of humanity, such as self-sacrifice, should never influence motivation. It is not saying do unto others..., beacause then it would advocate self-sacrifice, and ayn is not about that. unless of course, you WANT someone to ruin their life for you.
3- I'm sorry i called you a backwoods hillbilly, ziggy, but i'm not taking it back!
4- FOOD FOR THOUGHT: if i am successful - and success just a dream... does that mean that i - am not what i seem???
Posted by misvision on Jul 2, 2007 at 11:28 AM
I found this great site with the top 100 eBooks all available as free mp3 download. Check it out.
http://www.BooksShouldBeFree.com
Posted by Betatrom on Sep 13, 2007 at 8:11 PM