Ayn Rand

[asterroc]

I haven't ever read Ayn Rand, and I have no intention of doing so. However, I am told that the author of the series I am currently reading, Terry Goodkind, is heavily influenced by her works, and her concepts of "objectivism" and "enlightened self interest." Anyone care to explain these concepts to me in shorter form?

Comments

[sirroxton.livejournal.com]

Just a couple of tidbits to add to what has already been said.

Objectivism sees capitalism as a moral good. I mean, what's more moral than giving people what they want?

Rand once said that she preferred communists to the liberals of her day, "because at least they have an ideology." *shudder*

The "elites will do best" philosophy really encourages seeing the worse-off individual as being less deserving (rather than having fewer opportunities). To the extent that an Objectivist does not see things this way, he does believe that more opportunities would be available in a more Objectivist society. Consequently, when the subject of increased educational opportunities and social welfare for the underprivileged comes up, the Objectivist will say that the answer is less social assistance, not more.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

So you see Objectivism as a "blame the victim" approach?

[sirroxton.livejournal.com]

Only in part, but yes.

The other part is, "Yes, they got burned, and it's sad. It happened because we don't have Objectivist government. And we can't use government to help them because that would take us further away from Objectivist government." It's a dangerous and naive way of looking at problems.

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

It seems like something libertarians and conservatives might like.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I have a hard time differentiation between libertarians and objectivists, but some of them get really offended when you conflate their ideologies.