Jump to content
Objectivism Online Forum

Akston Quote

Rate this topic


Recommended Posts

By doing nothing, you have chosen one of the options.

I don't see it as "not choosing is also a choice". It just says one can't avoid the need to make choices in order to exist. You *have* to choose in order to eat and gather food, or act at all. Doing nothing requires no thinking, so it's not even a choice any more than a tree chooses to photosynthesize. However, unlike a tree, not choosing or acting passively will lead inevitably to your demise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fair. But I think we are in agreement in substance. Maybe it's more correct to say that what AR meant by that character's quote is that there is a need to make a choice, and if you don't make a choice you will face the consequences of the non-choice. Which is what you basically said. And I agree with that. 

Edited by secondhander
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't see it as "not choosing is also a choice". It just says one can't avoid the need to make choices in order to exist. You *have* to choose in order to eat and gather food, or act at all. Doing nothing requires no thinking, so it's not even a choice any more than a tree chooses to photosynthesize. However, unlike a tree, not choosing or acting passively will lead inevitably to your demise.

 

In a literal sense, a conscious human being actually cannot refuse to make a choice. Doing nothing is a choice, as it is derived from the process of not focusing on productive activity, or possibly focusing on not engaging in productive activity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whichever way is the correct way to parse it, I think the takeaway is that inaction is not neutral for a human (it is for a plant). The way I apply it to my life is to remind myself that there is no such thing as a morally neutral moment of time spent or decision made.

Edited by secondhander
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...