Mnrchst Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 (edited) I just finished reading through all of these. Great stuff. I put them in a good reading order. -- 1. Reformulation - living organisms and valuing. Rand's metaethics makes sense if we ditch the 'immortal robot' argument http://www.reasonpap.../10/rp_10_7.pdf 2. Criticism - Rand and is/ought problem. Rand doesn't bridge the gap. http://mises.org/jou...s/7_1/7_1_4.pdf 3. Criticism - role of consent in ethics. Rand's ethics are, by her own standard, reductionistically rationalistic and subjectivist. http://www.aynrandst...1_1gjohnson.pdf 4. Criticism - choice to live. Rand's assessment of the choice to live is terribly vague. http://www.aynrandst...1drasmussen.pdf 5. Criticism - rationality and survival. Rand's case for being rational repeatedly shifts back and forth between two different types of arguments. http://www.aynrandst...ars5_1emack.pdf 6. Defense (rejoinder to 5) - Despite a misstatement or two, Rand's case for rationality is sound. http://www.aynrandst...ars7_2fbubb.pdf 7. Defense (rejoinder to 4 and 5) - Rand's case for rationality is sound. http://www.aynrandst...s7_2tmachan.pdf 8. Criticism (rejoinder to 6 and 7) - Rand's case for being rational repeatedly shifts back and forth between two different types of arguments. http://www.aynrandst...ars7_2emack.pdf 9. Reformulation (rejoinder to 7) - Rand's case for rationality doesn't quite work, but does if we make it more Aristotelian. 10. Reformulation (rejoinder to 7, 8, & 9) - Rand's case for rationality works with a little tweaking. 11/12 . (brief comments) http://www.aynrandst...s8_2tmachan.pdf http://www.aynrandst...2drasmussen.pdf -- I tend to agree with the criticisms here. What I've gotten out of this is that it's probably the case that: * The 'immortal robot' argument doesn't work * The fact that someone contradicts themselves alone doesn't bridge the is/ought gap * Rand's ethics are rationalistically reductionist (as opposed to taking a holistic approach) * Rand's ethics are subjectivist (in an effort to be absurdly anti-paternalism) * Immoral behavior won't necessarily hasten one's death Edited October 9, 2012 by Mnrchst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeatherFall Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 It is true that immoral behavior will not necessarily hasten one's death. But that doesn't exactly speak to the Objectivist position. Quality of life issues are also a consideration; some profoundly moral behavior could actually lead to early departure. Of course, admitting this may introduce problems for the "immortal robot" parable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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