Swifty

Stephen King in his book "On Writing" said that cigarrettes do help a writer's creativity. So its possible that they helped Ayn write "Atlas Shrugged". Nicotine is a stimulant and the deep inhaling and exhaling has been compared to meditation. The Japanese have a higher smoking rate and a longer life span on average. Eating unhealthy, not getting enough sleep, high stress levels all are bad for the body, but you wouldnt label someone immoral for any of them. I dont see why smoking would be any different. Smokers are made into second class citizens by the media and the non smoking public. But a whole bunch of things can kill you. I dont think smoking makes you immoral.

Thanks guys, I'll have to get that tape. I like the quote "Its not me who dies, its the world who ceases to exist". Maybe that was a joke.

What is the Objectivist view on death and the after life? Im going through the death of someone very dear to me. Im new to Ayn Rand's philosophy and was just curious if this has ever been discussed before. I know that Objectivist dont believe in God, so probably no afterlife. But Im not sure, I know that Nietzsche believed in Eternal Recurrance where everyone lives their life again and again. Do you think its a good thing to trick yourself into believeing things that make you feel better, for your own self interest? It might minimize the stress, mourning process. Or better in the long run to face the fact that death is the end of the ride. Thanks