always_learning

One’s best = One’s maximum effort. (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary) Maximum effort requires not only physical labor but mental activity. In order for me to do my best I must try to be the best. My maximum effort requires that I learn everything I can to become the best that I can. This is who I am and I’d imagine all objectivists are the same way. One’s best is what they make it and is directly related to the extent of their goals. Eddies goals were nowhere near Dagny’s, therefore his best effort went only as far as it did. He could not bring himself to start a new railroad, he could only hang on to what was left of the original. That seams very typical of an average man to me, working hard at what he had already learned to do, keeping the railroad on track, he did not want to reach for the stars. BlackSabbath, I imagine you try to be the best at something in your life. That doesn’t mean you have to reach it, not everyone can be the best but everyone can try. The goal and the effort is what separate the Gaults from the Eddies.

BlackSabbath, It wasn't just that. He never had aspirations to be the best. He was a mediocre man and that was his fate. Also being a second hander and supporting the looter are one in the same. You are either for them or against them, there is no in between.

This is how the stock market works. You buy and sell stocks depending on what you think they will do (be worth more or less). There is nothing wrong with you knowing more than the other guy. Would you not play a basketball game against someone who you knew you could beat because you thought it was immoral? There is nothing wrong in being the best or the smartest. May the best man win!!!

I'm sure he did. Remember who we are talking about here.

The donation was not for the library, it was for him. It directly benifted him and his lifes work, the spread of objectivism. Yes, he did make a mistake and he is pissed aobout it, that much is obvious. I'm not too sure I buy the whole he was on his death bed mistake thing. I'm sure he has a legal heir lined up for when he does die. That being said if the donation was made on what he thought to be his death bed, I find it more probable that he had already made the decission to donate said articles to the library and decided that he better do so before he dies. It was a misstake but it was not because he was going against everything he lives by. As I said before, today, thanks to the internet and ARIs library, there are better places to dispaly such work. If I planed to donated something of the same nature the first place I would look would be to a private orginization, but if there were non, as there were not, I would have no problem giving them to a government on that did what I wanted them to do with them. The government did not, they came and stole the rest, and that is why peikoff is pissed.

I have not changes much since I discovered Objectivism. I'd say my beliefs have be given a backbone and from that I have refined them, and I continue to. I know understand why I believe the things I do, where before I found it difficult to piece together. I knew I was right, I just didn't understand how. Thanks to Objectivism I understand anything I want to. Just a note, since I became an Objectivist everything; school, work, the pursuit of my dreams, and life in general have become a lot eaiser. I just know what to expect, I know how everyting works.

Rand and Peikoff's plan is simple, to spread Objectivism for their sake. If the library of congress is the best place to keep such articles so they can be seen by many then thats what they will use. Obviously Peikoff's views on the matter have changed since his donation he says now that he will not donate their in the future, but at one time he thought it would be helpful to him. Plus ARI has their own library now, and with the wide spread use of the internet the libarary is nearly useless to him. I see nothing wrong with using a government entity in this case. The benefits out weigh the cost. The library sould not be their, but it is. If you don't use it, assuming it is the best, you are only short changing yourself. Public schools should not exist, but they do, are you not going to send your kids to school? I dont know about you but I dont want to pay for school twice, once in taxes, once to a private school. (note: if I have the extra cash I would, they are better).

It makes perfect sense to me that Rand and Peikoff would want to donate these articles to the Library of Congress. The Library is simply the largest and most accessible place to carry such articles. Rand and Peikoff both know that the works would see a much wider use there than anywhere else.

I agree with Ranger, if Gault had not taken the truck driver he may have become one of those who drove that motor of the world. Gault knew what he was doing.

Concerto of Atlantis, You already tocuhed on this yourself, only prime movers were taken to Gault's Gulch. Gault and his companions were not looking to help out others by taking them away, they were looking to stop the motor of the world. Eddie was not one of the sparks that drove that motor. He was usless to them. You also mention that you dislike his fate by asking how could such a rational man come to such an end. I don't see his end in the novel to be such a bad one. Nothing bad happens to him, everyone from Gault's Gulch is headed to take back the world, I'm sure is fate would have been quite nice. Eddie was a good hearted, hard working, self motivated individual but he was no Dagny or Gault. Guys like Eddie are a dime a dozen. Hes a great guy but so are the best of the average, right? Eddies is an average dude, hes is painted that way the entire novel. I never found myself wishing that Eddie would have been chosen to go to Gault's Gulch, but wishing that he would push himself a little further and become a greater man. I think Eddies is intended to be someone we can all relate to, that way we can see how nice it is to be a hard working man (or woman), but only an average one. To be greater you must want to be greatest. Eddie does not carry that charateristic. I think his fate in the book is very fitting. The truck driver is something I'll have to look into. I will say that that part was quite funny and if there is no other reason for him to be there its to make that joke possible. When writting a novel there are other things to look at besides the plot, like keeping the reader interested and keeping the mood the way you want it to be, etc.

Hey, I am Joe Johnson and I go to school at Washington State University where I study Graphic Design. I have been an Objectivist for over a year now. I attend Objectivist Society meetings at the University of Idaho (its only 8mi. away). I thougth this would be a great place to find a little extra intillegent conversation. I have to add this. My girlfriend and I had a real treat tonight, we got to see the Fountainhead in the theater. It was awesome.

Who needs who to survive?

I love anything that Rush made. I can't understand why anyone would dislike them. 2112 is one of my favorite rock songs. Its based on Anthem and is just wonderful. I also love Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Neil Young, Lynard Skynard, Meat Loaf, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, and The Eagles. All these guys are great artists, even if some of their lyrics are bad their music is great. Lyrics mean nothing, just music and vocals make it or break it. I listen to rock in my car and if im working on websites or just hanging out in my room. I just want to say Radiohead is awful. It is depressing and irrational and it hate it. I love Rachmaninoff of course, his 2nd is my fav. I like Tchaikousky, Mozart, Bach, Beetoven, Pachabel, Debussy, and John Williams (his work in movies). I always listen to Classical music if I am working on a piece of art, and I often listen to it if I'm doing web design or graphic design, depends on my mood. As for new music: -Funny punk music (like nofx, guttermouth, the bloodhound gang) because its funny and that is all. I have a good time singing these types of song with my friends, we get a good laugh everytime. -I don't mind stuff like Linkin Park and Evanscence, they are very strong, powerful and energanic. Wezzer is okay, they are fun spirted. -As for Rap, I think its good for parties, big parties that is, not much more. Rappers that I think are okay are 50Cent, the tittle of his ablum is "Get Rich or Die Tryin", he is very individualistic and I like that. Nelly, he is positive and fun. Stuff like that. I have to say as of recently I have checked out Self, and I enjoy them as well. I think I'll bye a CD of theres, any recommendations? I leave with a few words from Rush (Anthem lyrics) Know your place in life is where you want to be, Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me. Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round; Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down. Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind We marvel after those who sought The wonders of the world, wonders of the world, Wonders of the world they wrought. Live for yourself -- there's no one else More worth living for Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more Well, I know they've always told you Selfishness was wrong Yet it was for me, not you, I came to write this song