So, let’s just jump right in here. If one is a student of Objectivism, what reason is there to study Philosophy at university?
I would argue that if one is a student of philosophy at all, or anything really, there is no reason to study it at a university. The main reason to study philosophy at a university is that it is the first step on the career path to becoming a professional philosopher in the modern university system. If you have no interest in that, then there is no reason to study at a university.
Consider the cost of your education. Now consider the amount of time you would have to work paying back that money. Now imagine that you spent the time in college plus the time paying back the cost of college minus the time you would have to spend working to support yourself. Don’t you think you could learn more in that time? Especially if your topic was Objectivist philosophy.
Why study philosophy, if you’re an Objectivist? Surely after comprehensive induction and reading of Objectivist philosophy, you’re ready to face the big, wide world. I mean, once you fully comprehend the meaning of the axioms, then everything starts to flow from that, no?
First of all, as others argue, there is value in knowing what the other side has to say, so you can fully understand why they are wrong, and therefore why you are right. Second, there are areas of philosophy that Objectivists have not touched, and good work in philosophy done by non-Objectivists. Third, everything does not flow from the axioms. Forgetting Godel et al for the moment, all the truths of mathematics are consistent with the axioms of ZFC set theory, but that doesn’t mean that a mathematician can just learn the axioms and begin spinning out mathematical truths. Being a good mathematician, and especially a mathematician who can contribute to society outside of the academic circle-jerk, requires a broader conceptual understanding of the issues of math along with the formal understanding of definitions and structures. Likewise, to be a good philosopher (Objectivist or otherwise), you have to look at reality while keeping the axioms in mind, rather than just looking at the axioms.
But the thing is, I know Objectivism is right. I don’t know its every application for every situation, but the axioms and fundamentals are so immutably correct that I can’t imagine I should near to care about why other people hold the delusions they do.
If you are interested in improving the level of philosophical sophistication of the public (a good goal for a professional philosopher), you had better understand what leads people into having mistaken philosophical beliefs.
I shouldn’t take a degree to intellectually arm myself against others. That presupposes that my life should be some conflict of philosophies, constantly having to deal with all the moral subjectivists and the like. I don’t mean I won’t have to deal with them, I just mean I don’t think I should maintain as my focus the idea that I should have to accept their thinking on any level.
Like it or not, the world is full of moral subjectivists right now. You can’t live in an ideal Objectivist world, you have to live in the actual world, and in the actual world there is a conflict of philosophies for which you need to be intellectually armed.
Well, I plan on majoring in philosophy because I know I
Thus, I really want to understand what they are saying and derive meaning from their own texts, not an Objectivist’s or any other person’s interpretation.
Good plan. Objectivist writing on non-Objectivist philosophers is by-and-large horrible and innacurate.
Let me come to the defense of studying philosophy at university.
Your arguments are a defense of studying non-Objectivist philosophy, not studying philosophy at a university.