Jump to content
Objectivism Online Forum

Stumbling in

Rate this topic


Recommended Posts

Greetings, all.   I am relatively new to Rand and Objectivism, having read Anthem a couple of years ago and The Fountainhead only the day before yesterday.   I have been progressing toward this area of thought for a few years, after learning to reject state economies in favor of markets, and after developing via Thoreau, Gandhi, and the Stoics a moral code that is virtually identical to the libertarian nonaggression principle. I used to find some meaning in being a "Humanist", but it's been years, and I only mention it here because Rand's book brought back the spirited optimism I used to have before working with the public ground it out of me. But I digress!    Anyhoo,   I'm here to learn more. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to the Forum, Questor. How much of Ayn Rand's non-fiction have you read? The two novels you sited are excellent, but the broader scope of Objective is not related to stoicism, humanism, nor libertarian politics, although I might understand how someone would make comparisons. I don't know if Ayn Rand ever commented on Thoreau or Gandhi, but she certainly disapproved the transcendentalist and Buddhist schools of thoughts. However, if you have specific questions related to Objectivism, this is the place. And I would strongly urge you to read some of the many non-fiction works, if you have not already.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, Questor said:

a moral code that is virtually identical to the libertarian nonaggression principle.

Sounds like you think for yourself. All reason leads to the same fundamental ideas. Sure, different ideas must be tested and validated by science, but many things have been tested and demonstrated not to work.

That optimism you talk of is very important. I think too many lose it due to inaction and lack of constant growth. I think internal honesty is essential to keeping that flame alive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, Repairman said:

Welcome to the Forum, Questor. How much of Ayn Rand's non-fiction have you read? The two novels you sited are excellent, but the broader scope of Objective is not related to stoicism, humanism, nor libertarian politics, although I might understand how someone would make comparisons. I don't know if Ayn Rand ever commented on Thoreau or Gandhi, but she certainly disapproved the transcendentalist and Buddhist schools of thoughts. However, if you have specific questions related to Objectivism, this is the place. And I would strongly urge you to read some of the many non-fiction works, if you have not already.

The only bit of her nonfiction I'm aware of is The Virtue of Selfishness, but I will do some doing and see what else is out there. I have a copy of her letters.   What I took from Thoreau was a belief in self reliance, and a conviction ("On Civil Disobedience") that one  should do what is right, as opposed to what society expects.  Gandhi reinforced those; self-reliance was part of his platform,  and his code of nonviolence made me think about the use of force for the first time.   

11 hours ago, Mindborg said:

Sounds like you think for yourself. All reason leads to the same fundamental ideas. Sure, different ideas must be tested and validated by science, but many things have been tested and demonstrated not to work.

That optimism you talk of is very important. I think too many lose it due to inaction and lack of constant growth. I think internal honesty is essential to keeping that flame alive.

I embraced freethought back in 2006, although the practice took me away from other 'rationalists' who followed the progressive party line on various issues.  Reading The Fountainhead has made me aware of a core problem with that community, as well as others...they are all obsessed with the opinions of others. 

14 hours ago, softwareNerd said:

Welcome to the forum. 

 

Thank you. I must say, the background here is especially pleasing, this image of a city at dawn..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Questor said:

Thank you. I must say, the background here is especially pleasing, this image of a city at dawn..

Looks like Hong Kong, but I could be wrong.

8 hours ago, Questor said:

The only bit of her nonfiction I'm aware of is The Virtue of Selfishness, but I will do some doing and see what else is out there. I have a copy of her letters.   What I took from Thoreau was a belief in self reliance, and a conviction ("On Civil Disobedience") that one  should do what is right, as opposed to what society expects.  Gandhi reinforced those; self-reliance was part of his platform,  and his code of nonviolence made me think about the use of force for the first time.   

Capitalism the unknown ideal is very good.

I also really love Nathaniel Branden's material. He's got a long seminar on Objectivism with a lot of explanations that are implicit in Atlas and Fountainhead.

8 hours ago, Questor said:

I embraced freethought back in 2006, although the practice took me away from other 'rationalists' who followed the progressive party line on various issues.  Reading The Fountainhead has made me aware of a core problem with that community, as well as others...they are all obsessed with the opinions of others.

Seems to be the issue all over. Living up to other people's expectations, instead of worrying about internal convictions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hi:) As a personal moral code,  I embrace the virtues described by Nathaniel Branden in his "Six Pillars of Self-Esteem. " The hardest ones for me are self-acceptance,  self-responsibility,  and acting upon my best thoughts. How about you? 

Edited by Mike Joyous
Spelling
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...