Current Events > Wow atlas shrugged was amazing. Ayn Rand is one of the greatest thinkers ever

(+) Yeah! (+)

Jk.

That book was terrible.
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I was gonna comment with "said no-one ever."
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I never read it but I suppose she can't have been an idiot for her books to spark that much debate and thoughts
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frozenshock posted...

I never read it but I suppose she can't have been an idiot for her books to spark that much debate and thoughts

There is not much debate / thought on objectivism, people widely regard it as horseshit.

The book is predominantly referred to today as why high taxes are bad because the people who like the book can't distinguish fiction from reality.
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ChromaticAngel posted...

people widely regard it as horseshit.

And the people that don't have basically all been massive fucking hypocrites. *points with Paul Ryan and other Republicans*
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*monologue intensifies*
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I still don't know what objectivism is.
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Forlorn_Ass posted...

I still don't know what objectivism is.

"Fuck you I got mine" raised to the power of infinity.

Edit: Better answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVR2gZANx10
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I love how an atheist can inspire so many Christians with her ideas.
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What's it about?
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"I live in government housing"
-Ayn Rand's last words
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Atlas Shrugged was without question the most important and influential 20th century novel, and should replace lower tier "classics" such as lord of the flies and the great gatsby as required reading in high school.
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^ zer0 level trolling
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Forlorn_Ass posted...

I still don't know what objectivism is.

the pretentious nature of the name should tell you all you need to know
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John_Galt posted...

I'm too dedicated to my gimmick.

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John_Galt posted...

Atlas Shrugged was without question the most important and influential 20th century novel, and should replace lower tier "classics" such as lord of the flies and the great gatsby as required reading in high school.

"Wow, 4 years of High School went by so fast!"
"What did you do?"
"I read Atlas Shrugged cover to cover."
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http://the-toast.net/2014/05/27/ayn-rands-harry-potter-sorcerers-stone/
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but seriously, pretty much every legitimate school of thought since then has either dismissed or rejected Rand
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So I'm reading about objectivism here and there and what exactly makes this a shit philosophy?
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pinky0926 posted...

http://the-toast.net/2014/05/27/ayn-rands-harry-potter-sorcerers-stone/

this was great
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Forlorn_Ass posted...

So I'm reading about objectivism here and there and what exactly makes this a shit philosophy?

It's literally a more primitive philosophy than paleolithic tribalism. It's "every man for themselves." you know, the kind of shit someone screams when a ship is sinking and lots of people are about to die.
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Forlorn_Ass posted...

So I'm reading about objectivism here and there and what exactly makes this a shit philosophy?

you don't see what's wrong with believing that it's heroic to be a self-centered douchebag?
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Forlorn_Ass posted...

So I'm reading about objectivism here and there and what exactly makes this a shit philosophy?

she describes altruism as an "inherent evil".

also never forget that Rand herself went on social security and medicaid at the end of her life, even though her estate had more than enough to pay for things herself. she literally turned into one of the parasitic leaches she spent her entire life condemning when it was convenient for her pocketbook. she's a total fraud.
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pinky0926 posted...

http://the-toast.net/2014/05/27/ayn-rands-harry-potter-sorcerers-stone/

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/l-p-d-libertarian-police-department

clearaflagrantj posted...

pinky0926 posted...

http://the-toast.net/2014/05/27/ayn-rands-harry-potter-sorcerers-stone/

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/l-p-d-libertarian-police-department

that was amazing
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Bullet_Wing posted...

I find this quote funny

There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

lmfao
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“What is it, Potter?” Snape asked, irritated.

“What’s the value of these potions on the open market?”

“What?”

“Why are you teaching children how to make these valuable products for ourselves at a schoolteacher’s salary instead of creating products to meet modern demand?”

“You impertinent boy–“

“Conversely, what’s to stop me from selling these potions myself after you teach us how to master them?”

“I–“

“This is really more of a question for the Economics of Potion-Making, I guess. What time are econ lessons here?”

“We have no economics lessons in this school, you ridiculous boy.”

Harry Potter stood up bravely. “We do now. Come with me if you want to learn about market forces!”

The students poured into the hallway after him. They had a leader at last.

that's hilarious
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clearaflagrantj posted...

pinky0926 posted...

http://the-toast.net/2014/05/27/ayn-rands-harry-potter-sorcerers-stone/

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/l-p-d-libertarian-police-department

Lol at both of these
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ChromaticAngel posted...

Forlorn_Ass posted...

So I'm reading about objectivism here and there and what exactly makes this a shit philosophy?

It's literally a more primitive philosophy than paleolithic tribalism. It's "every man for themselves." you know, the kind of shit someone screams when a ship is sinking and lots of people are about to die.

Man gains enormous values from dealing with other men; living in a human society is his proper way of life—but only on certain conditions. Man is not a lone wolf and he is not a social animal. He is a contractual animal. - Ayn Rand

We have a semblance of this setup Ms. Rand speaks of by the formation and enshrinement of individual rights within the US constitution. Contract and voluntarily action is the way society functions best--in massive numbers, we're too diverse in individual values and pursuits to levy narrow minded ideology by government brute force. So the philosophy that allows the greatest freedom--within rational standards of not harming others--is the proper one to base society on.
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I think objectivism gets most of its critique, more than most philosophies, in the nitty gritty details. Which is fine, but doesn't decrease value from the overarching ideas and messages. Ones that persist to this day for a reason.
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Objectivism ironically requires the type of divine prescription that most premodern myths incorporated to ground their claims. Unfortunately, objevtivism doesn't refer to any such prescribed source, and so has virtually no way to back up its unempathetic sentiments.
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:3
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Dragonblade01 posted...

Objectivism ironically requires the type of divine prescription that most premodern myths incorporated to ground their claims.

Divine as like the supernatural will of the Judaeo-christian God?

Dragonblade01 posted...

Unfortunately, objevtivism doesn't refer to any such prescribed source, and so has virtually no way to back up its unempathetic sentiments.

An appeal to "divine prescription" as the cornerstone of any philosophy is typically scoffed at as irrational and improper to base legality on--look at how religious conservatives are laughed at daily. And now you want something called, "Objectivism" to be rooted in supernatural myths?
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DrizztLink posted...

I was gonna comment with "said no-one ever."

This

Most overrated book ever
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myzz7 posted...

Dragonblade01 posted...

Objectivism ironically requires the type of divine prescription that most premodern myths incorporated to ground their claims.

Divine as like the supernatural will of the Judaeo-christian God?

Dragonblade01 posted...

Unfortunately, objevtivism doesn't refer to any such prescribed source, and so has virtually no way to back up its unempathetic sentiments.

An appeal to "divine prescription" as the cornerstone of any philosophy is typically scoffed at as irrational and improper to base legality on--look at how religious conservatives are laughed at daily. And now you want something called, "Objectivism" to be rooted in supernatural myths?

I say divine, but I basically mean to refer to some greater truth that solodifies the ideology. Old ideologies primarily relies on divine inspiration of some kind or another. Modern ones typically rely on somethimg which appeals to our empathy or sense of rationality. Objectivism cannot do the latter because it doesn't feel good nor does it ground itself in any sort of rational construct (despite its claim). So it would need the former. But it cannot accept the former, and therefore falls to the wayside save for a selection of ideas which find their homes in other ideologies.
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Dragonblade01 posted...

I say divine, but I basically mean to refer to some greater truth that solodifies the ideology. Old ideologies primarily relies on divine inspiration of some kind or another. Modern ones typically rely on somethimg which appeals to our empathy or sense of rationality. Objectivism cannot do the latter because it doesn't feel good nor does it ground itself in any sort of rational construct (despite its claim). So it would need the former. But it cannot accept the former, and therefore falls to the wayside save for a selection of ideas which find their homes in other ideologies.

Those older ideologies have been, "be your brother's keeper as God commands," which is a truth of human psychology of aversion to the suffering of others--why it has been called "greater" truth was that it was allegedly prescribed by a supernatural force.

Common, modern ideology substitutes, "as society commands" to that maxim--the supreme fundamental retained is empathy with the crude appeal to the numbers game: the welfare of the whole over the dignity of the individual--that's there so-called rational testament.

Objectivism holds rationality as its top axiom and therefore rejects supernatural, older ideologies outright. What it then concerns itself with are not feelings of intuition or empathy as a primary but with reality as it operates. After establishing its metaphysical and epistemological base, It recognizes individual man as the fundamental and most important block in discerning proper political dealings--i.e. bill of rights, contracts respecting the individual, and so on. Empathy comes in at a lower concern for Objectivism and is certainly never treated as the progenitor for morality. An emphasis on empathy and obligation to others, above the importance of oneself, only leads to destruction of any good-will possible between men.
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Garbage philosophy aside the writing is horrid, the characters all awful caricatures, and the plot is completely absurd.
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Ayn Rand triggers me more than Trash Bros @Zack_Attackv1 @Zero_Destroyer

http://www.openculture.com/2014/06/flannery-oconnor-friends-dont-let-friends-read-ayn-rand-1960.html
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The only good thing Ayn Rand has ever done was inspire a great videogame.
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So, do they catch the murderer at the end?
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Get a load of Lorne Greene over here.
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ScazarMeltex posted...

Garbage philosophy aside the writing is horrid, the characters all awful caricatures, and the plot is completely absurd.

Also any pacing it may have had stops completely dead when the long-ass 'speech' starts.