Veritas Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 What is the relationship between what we know and what we will in Objectivism? To sum a platonic thought, "to know the good is to do the good". How is this in conflict with Objectivism? How does the will relate to our knowledge? In Christian thought (dogmatic christian thought) our will is depraved. They believe that our nature is incapable of naturally choosing that which is good on our own. They say that we do not have the will power to chose what we "know" is right. What is the objectivist response to this according to the philosophy of Ayn Rand? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPW Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 What is the relationship between what we know and what we will in Objectivism? To sum a platonic thought, "to know the good is to do the good". How is this in conflict with Objectivism? Because, according to Objectivism, to know the good is to do the good so long as one remains in focus. You have the ability to ignore and evade your knowledge. That is your power of will. How does the will relate to our knowledge? In Christian thought (dogmatic christian thought) our will is depraved. They believe that our nature is incapable of naturally choosing that which is good on our own. They say that we do not have the will power to chose what we "know" is right. That which is outside the provence of choice is outside the realm of morality. The moral is the chosen. But the Christians take this position for a very good reason. If their moral code is good, then what could explain people choosing to do otherwise? It must be their will that is evil. They blame man rather than their moral code. The blame is misplaced. It is the ethics of altruism that should be condemned, not man. The problem is not that man is evil, but that altruism is unpracticable -- it is set against the requirements of human life. That, and not man's "innate depravity," is why men do not practice the Christian ethics. Don Watkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMeganSnow Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 Will is a term from Romantic philosophies that is usually used to supplant the concept "whim". Objectivism uses the term volition, which is more accurate. Use of the word "will" in this context tends to indicate that you think actions don't necessarily have a basis in reason or reality, that they are motivated by something else entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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