10

When a Russian Woman Sliced and Diced

Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 1 month ago to Philosophy
39 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

Let us return to those thrilling days of yesteryear when Ayn Rand answered questions in person to doubters and mockers. She was asked at a Random House sales meeting by one of the book salesmen if she could present the essence of her philosophy while standing on one foot She did as follows:
"1.Metaphysics: Objective reality
2. Epistimology:Reason
3. Ethics:Self Interist
4. Politics: Capitalism."
Translated into simple language it reads: ""Nature to be commanded must be obeyed or Wishing won't make it so."
2. You can't have your cake and eat it too."
3." Man is an end in himself." "4. Give me liberty or give me death."

She went on::
"1.Reality existsas an objective absolute -- facts are facts , independent of man's feelings, wishes,hopes, or fears.
2. Reason ( the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man's senses)is man's only means of perceiving reality,his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.
3. Every man is -- an end in himself, not the means to the end of others, He must exist for his own sake neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to him. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
4. The ideal political economic system is laissez-faire capitalism.It is a system where men deal with one another not as victims and executioners nor as masters and slaves but as traders , by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit"


All Comments


Previous comments...   You are currently on page 2.
  • Posted by 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I just realized while listening to the recording of your post that A.R. sounded just like my Grandpa Sherman. Only, he was a baritone and sh was an alto.Notice how precise her sentences and their construction was. If she didn't have the accent, you probably would notice to a greater degree how idiomatic she was.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    You cannot smell with your foot, however, your foot can smell. A contradiction? Not if you shared a barracks with 50 stinky feet.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    FYI: She was standing next to a desk.As she stood on one foot, she put her left hand on the desk. It still was an impressive performance.In all the various tomes I saw her, I cannot recall her having the slightest hesitation when answering questions.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    I saw that toward the end...hmm, "While standing on Both sides of the fence"...I have a sense, that there are at least a few of those acting these days.

    Was just reading Q drop from yesterday...A whole lot of indictments already...the most, of course, in the state dept.++ two former sec's of state.
    Not to mention a prediction of 3 arrests for treason, coming to a swamp near by...
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Dobrien 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    In the video she says "which is why philosophy cannot be discussed while standing on one foot
    Nor on two feet While standing on both sides of every fence."
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    Still didn't see her standing on one foot, but thanks for the video ref. Dob.

    Listened again to the one about faith/conviction. One, blind belief, the other an opinionated belief.
    I have a tendency to stay away from both. I observe and try to do so objectively. However, with ideas, theories or concepts, my observations could be wrong just as blindly believing or belief's in one's own opinion but I think one can easily see and except, without cognitive dissonance an error in perception and adapt; as opposed to an error in conviction, blind or otherwise.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by 7 years, 1 month ago in reply to this comment.
    It's the left foot. It is always the left foot..What other foot would it be when you hear "He really put his foot in it."
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Solver 7 years, 1 month ago
    This is great and very understandable. It would interesting to see if the essence of other philosophies could ever be described this way.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 1 month ago
    Nice bit of Randian history Herb. Thanks
    But, you neglected to tell us: Which foot did she stand on?
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by 7 years, 1 month ago
    So it was when A.R. ran the gauntlet and proved to be sharper than any of those around her who woul try putting her down.Her ideas were well thought out and her presentation contained an unarguable moral authority that no one could argue without winding up bloody.
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo