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A.A

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Well, I guess I’ll officially introduce myself, shall I?

My name is A.A (actually, those are just the initials of my name), and I am a third year student of general history in a university in Israel. As I`ve written on another topic, I plan to try and apply to a university in the US.

I first got acquainted with Ayn Rand about 7-8 years ago, when I was 17-18. I always advocated capitalism, and I was always an individualist by nature, but Rand`s books opened my eyes, so to speak, as for some of the logical implications of those beliefs. I can’t say that she "completely changed" my intellectual life (as some do), but she certainly made them easier. I also greatly appreciate her ability to explain, in such an articulate manner, the views that are sometimes hard to explain in today’s culture. Anyway, I’ve read almost all her fiction and non-fiction books.

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Hi JJ,

My main interests in philosophy:

I still remember the first time I read about a "respectable" philosopher. I was about 14 years old, and I read about Descartes` philosophical journey. I remember how I was excited to read about his "I think therefore I am" revelation, and the disappointment I felt when I read his "proof" for the existence of god.

I kept reading about classical philosophers, who dealt with metaphysical issues, and I liked the sort of intellectual way of their thought, but I realized that the bottom line is that their conclusions had nothing to do with the world in which I am leaving.

So, my main interest in philosophy is the political philosophy, and the way it affects actual events (I am using the common language, of course; Ayn Rand did not believe in this dichotomy and neither do I).

My favorite recreational activity? First, let me say I had to check the meaning of the word in the dictionary, so thank you for introducing me to a new word in English. I don’t know- reading, watching TV, that sort of things.

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Hi A.A.,

Where in Israel are you? I was born in Haifa but live in Canada now. I am curious to know how you came across Ayn Rand. I know she was very popular in Israel in my parents' generation (I'm 22), both of my folks read her novels in their youth, but she seems rather obscure today.

So you're studying general history? Do you have a particular era/civilization that you prefer? Any way I can persuade you to take up Classics (Greece & Rome, what I study)? :D

Cheers,

Alon

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Hi A.A.,

Where in Israel are you?  I was born in Haifa but live in Canada now.  I am curious to know how you came across Ayn Rand.  I know she was very popular in Israel in my parents' generation (I'm 22), both of my folks read her novels in their youth, but she seems rather obscure today.

So you're studying general history?  Do you have a particular era/civilization that you prefer?  Any way I can persuade you to take up Classics (Greece & Rome, what I study)? :D

Cheers,

Alon

Hi Alon,

I am a Tel-Aviv born and raised, and am currently still living there. I am studying history in the Tel-Aviv University. My main interests are the history of the United States, it’s intellectual origins, and Europe in the 19th century. The classics don’t attract me very much, sorry. I hope you won’t take it personally.

How did I come across Ayn Rand? Well, I read an article in "Yediot Ahronot" when I was about 15, that concerned Ohad Kamin, a rebel against taxation who went to prison for it. The article mentioned Ayn Rand, the philosophy of whom Kamin advocated (to best of my understanding, he and ARI don’t get along these days, but that’s beside the point). I took a note to myself to checkout the name, since Kamin`s premises looked acceptable to me. About 2-3 years later I ran into Atlas Shrugged, and here we are. My environment (my parents etc.) is certainly not a fan of Rand. If your parents were, you got a different education than I did, that’s for sure.

A.A

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  • 2 weeks later...

Welcome to the forum, A.A. :nuke:

My environment (my parents etc.) is certainly not a fan of Rand. If your parents were, you got a different education than I did, that’s for sure.

It is surprisingly common for Objectivists to have conflicts with their "environment", escpecially family. It is because the tenents of Objectivism are so clearly incompatibly with that of altruism, which permeates modern societies. So whatever you want to talk about, most everyone here will understand what you're saying.

~Aurelia :angry:

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Well, I guess I’ll officially introduce myself, shall I?

My name is A.A (actually, those are just the initials of my name), and I am a third year student of general history in a university in Israel. As I`ve written on another topic, I plan to try and apply to a university in the US.

I first got acquainted with Ayn Rand about 7-8 years ago, when I was 17-18. I always advocated capitalism, and I was always an individualist by nature, but Rand`s books opened my eyes, so to speak, as for some of the logical implications of those beliefs. I can’t say that she "completely changed" my intellectual life (as some do), but she certainly made them easier. I also greatly appreciate her ability to explain, in such an articulate manner, the views that are sometimes hard to explain in today’s culture.  Anyway, I’ve read almost all her fiction and non-fiction books.

Hello A.A.

I've been to Haifa before and made a trip to Nazareth with a family that some friends of mine and myself met. Beautiful country. Is their anything you would like to read more into as far as objectivism is concerned?

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  • 1 month later...
Hi Alon,

I am a Tel-Aviv born and raised, and am currently still living there. I am studying history in the Tel-Aviv University. My main interests are the history of the United States, it’s intellectual origins, and Europe in the 19th century. The classics don’t attract me very much, sorry. I hope you won’t take it personally.

How did I come across Ayn Rand?  Well, I read an article in "Yediot Ahronot" when I was about 15, that concerned Ohad Kamin, a rebel against taxation who went to prison for it. The article mentioned Ayn Rand, the philosophy of whom Kamin advocated (to best of my understanding, he and ARI don’t get along these days, but that’s beside the point). I took a note to myself to checkout the name, since Kamin`s premises looked acceptable to me. About 2-3 years later I ran into Atlas Shrugged, and here we are. My environment (my parents etc.) is certainly not a fan of Rand. If your parents were, you got a different education than I did, that’s for sure.

A.A

Hello AA,

For interesting and inspiring "intellectual origins" of American political thinkers I recommend the site "Inquestofliberty" then go to "Champions of Liberty" and hear a bio of Lever John Lilburne. Rand did not create a hero this big!

Voluntaryist

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Hello AA,

[...] Lever John Lilburne.  Rand did not create a hero this big!

I am not sure I understand. Are you saying that the moral stature of Lilburne is greater than the moral stature of Ayn Rand's fictional character, John Galt?

If so, why do you think so?

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Greetings A.A.

I hope you find this forum useful; I certainly have.

Have you ever been to the US or travelled outside of Israel?

----

btw ,Voluntaryist, I googled John Lilburne - Im getting a Puritan leader of the Levellers from 17th century?? Who is this guy - how is he relevant/heroic?

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Greetings A.A.

I hope you find this forum useful; I certainly have.

Have you ever been to the US or travelled outside of Israel?

----

btw ,Voluntaryist, I googled John Lilburne - Im getting a Puritan leader of the Levellers from 17th century?? Who is this guy - how is he relevant/heroic?

Levellers? Early socialists, thought everyone should be "levelled" into equality.

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Rand did not create a hero this big!

Voluntaryist

Many years ago, when I considered myself a libertarian, I met libertarians who were "voluntaryists." They were quiet, peaceful -- and anarchist. Is that what "Voluntaryist" means to you?

One dictionary usage of "voluntaryist" is to label individuals in the past who supported only private aid to churches not state aid.

Voluntaryist, what is your philosophy?

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The article mentioned Ayn Rand, the philosophy of whom Kamin advocated (to best of my understanding, he and ARI don’t get along these days, but that’s beside the point). I took a note to myself to checkout the name, since Kamin`s premises looked acceptable to me.

Beware of Kamin. He is no Objectivist, and from stories I've heard he is not someone you want to hang around with at all (not just philosophically speaking).

Other than that - welcome to the forum!

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