The interplay between Reason, Productivity, and Self Esteem

Ethics
1

I’m currently reading “The Philosophical Thought of Ayn Rand,” which is a collection of scholarly critiques of objectivism. One of the essays talks about how according to objectivism, you can’t have productivity without reason. But one scholar asks the question of whether it would be possible to have self esteem without productivity. He gives an example of a young man who devotes his 20’s to amassing wealth in order to play golf leisurely for the rest of his life. The man is successful, earns millions of dollars, and at age 30 starts playing golf. He’s shown that he’s possesses reason, productivity and self esteem. He’s planned his long term happiness, he’s not lazy or a hedonist…he’s not being selfless, he’s selfishly making himself happy. What do you guy’s think? In order for this example to be valid, we’ll have to assume he doesn’t want to be a professional golfer, or teach golf, or own a golf course, he just wants to play. He’s not productive..but is he happy/egoistic?

I’d say that I think this example is a bit too far fetched, and inches closer to belonging in the lifeboat category, because it doesn’t seem likely to me that said man will not get tired of golf after 5 years, and want to move on to something else.

2

The point is that any self-esteem he has was built in his pre-golfing days. So, the objection that one cannot have self-esteem without productivity falls flat. He really couldn’t. What the example really asks is how long one can coast along without being productive. Of course self-esteem is not going to disappear overnight – the guy knows himself and has proved it in concrete terms, so he’s not going to forget it.

As you say, the golfer is going to be increasingly bored – aka unhappy. He could go on like that if he has some type of purpose in his life: say some cause or charity that he’s supporting and thinking about, or some studies he is pursuing, or even some friend or family he is helping with something. If he truly has no such purpose, he cannot stay happy for very long. It’s simply a fact of human existence that can be induced from numerous observations. If he is spending some time thinking about his future, and some concrete things he is going to be doing during his “come back”, that would be different. If he does not even have this much going on in his brain, there is going to come a point where his unhappiness leads to self-doubt about whether he really still “has it”.

3

I also think that the wealthy golfer will sooner or later feel the urge to start working in something else.

But is this just a matter of changing activity or a matter or making money again?

What if the golfer stops golfing and starts drawing cartoons in Monte-Martre in Paris and earning only some coins now and then? Or taking photos in safaris and posting them on Flickr for free?

What does productivity mean?

If I spend my time teaching Spanish to students and getting paid for it I know I am doing a productive work.

If I spend my time teaching Spanish for free (because I have inherited a million dollars from my uncle or so) am I doing a productive work?

In both cases, I am generating something new (knowledge in the minds of my students, which in turn will be used by them to generate more wealth in the world).

Spending hours in this Forum and in the ARI website reading about Objectivism for the sake of learning, discovering, expanding my understanding, and changing my life, is productive work?

I imagine my wife asking me “Stop navigating in the Internet and do some productive work!” meaning “Do something that brings more money to this home”.

Certainly, my familiy is not starving and we are fine economically for Mexican standards… but we could always be better.

I could answer my wife: “Hey, I am not watching a talk show on TV or soccer game like many other husbands you know! I am not playing domino with my friends in a bar, while drinking a Corona! Iam learning Objectivism, for atheist’s God sake!”

By which criteria could we define whether an activity is productive work or not?

4

The bigger question is, why did he choose golf? Also, what would playing leisurely golf mean? Does that mean building golf courses with his wealth? Is he going to design golf courses for his leisurely play? Either of those options would mean he is being productive. Sometimes people think being “productive” is just doing “work” for money, but it’s actually just a matter of creating and using your mind.

5

I’m currently reading “The Philosophical Thought of Ayn Rand,” which is a collection of scholarly critiques of objectivism. One of the essays talks about how according to objectivism, you can’t have productivity without reason. But one scholar asks the question of whether it would be possible to have self esteem without productivity. He gives an example of a young man who devotes his 20’s to amassing wealth in order to play golf leisurely for the rest of his life. The man is successful, earns millions of dollars, and at age 30 starts playing golf. He’s shown that he’s possesses reason, productivity and self esteem. He’s planned his long term happiness, he’s not lazy or a hedonist…he’s not being selfless, he’s selfishly making himself happy. What do you guy’s think? In order for this example to be valid, we’ll have to assume he doesn’t want to be a professional golfer, or teach golf, or own a golf course, he just wants to play. He’s not productive..but is he happy/egoistic?

I’d say that I think this example is a bit too far fetched, and inches closer to belonging in the lifeboat category, because it doesn’t seem likely to me that said man will not get tired of golf after 5 years, and want to move on to something else.

How is he successful, and how does he earn millions of dollars, if his only passion in life is golf. And since when is golf not a competition, that you strive to become better at, compared to your old self and other people? I have a feeling this scholar doesn’t understand two important aspects of his story: what it takes to be a businessman and make millions, and what it takes to play and enjoy golf. He’s obviously misrepresenting both, the first as a passionless enterprise one does out of some moral obligation, the second as a magical activity that automatically results in complete happiness.

6

By which criteria could we define whether an activity is productive work or not?

It is productive if and only if it contributes to achieving your values–assuming that your values are:

  • based on life as a standard;
  • existential values (as opposed to merely valuing some pleasant sensations or emotions).
7

I have a feeling this scholar doesn’t understand two important aspects of his story: what it takes to be a businessman and make millions, and what it takes to play and enjoy golf. He’s obviously misrepresenting both, the first as a passionless enterprise one does out of some moral obligation, the second as a magical activity that automatically results in complete happiness.

I agree, those are just the kinds of premises that would make one posit something like this. Good philosophical-detective job! :slight_smile:

8

It is productive if and only if it contributes to achieving your values–assuming that your values are:

  • based on life as a standard;
  • existential values (as opposed to merely valuing some pleasant sensations or emotions).

So are you saying that you think this golfer has no existential values or that he does?