Life, Love, and Liberty

Ramblings on Rand and Randians from Lady Aster’s salon.

“My own thoughts on Rand and Randians:

Ayn Rand is a figure I came too because of Arthur Silber and Chris Sciabarra. Both of whom I consider very brilliant intellectuals.

It was an interesting change of outlook for me to even consider her because I started in radical politics and philosophy with anarchism of the socialist variety. I can recall telling a friend who had been inspired by her fiction that she was just another evil capitalist LOL.

After having a more open mind and actually exploring her writings; I discovered that there were things of value in them. Basically, I share Lady Aster’s appreciation for her ethical egoism put forth in her statement that “man is an end unto himself” (not that this idea is unique to Rand) though it may be better stated as “every individual is an end unto themselves” for purposes of gender neutrality. Coupled with the portrayal of figures aspiring to realize their individuality; she provides a rather colorful view of life.

At the same time, Rand’s application of ethical egoism to the wider context of politics and economics fails. Her formulation of ethical egoism is much better suited to an anti-corporatist mentality and mutualist conception of property rights. Corporate structures and absentee landlordism strike me as treating individuals more like means to your own ends. Landlords extracting rent on property are profiting at the expense of others. Likewise, in large hierarchical corporations, individuals end up being the means for the CEOs to realize their profits.

For example, the apologia for plutocrats represented by Galt’s Gulch in Atlas Shrugged. Not that demonstrating the importance of the mind in human existence was a bad thing but the notion that all of the businesses would completely collapse constituted an apologetics for plutocracy.

Aside from that, my biggest beef with Rand is less with her and more so with her disciples. The Objectivist figures who basically preach mass murder or nuclear genocide as “acceptable” in dealing with the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. I am completely disgusted by these figures beyond adequate words.

In fact, I hope to write a response of sorts to these figures for submission to Chris Sciabarra’s Journal of Ayn Rand Studies. Touching on the application of ethical egoism to questions of warfare is a part of this too. Notions that all concern for civilian deaths should be abandoned in the name of “egoism” strikes me as ridiculous. The only lives being treated as ends unto themselves in this situation are those of the individuals doing the slaughtering.

Finally, her character’s negative attitude towards emotions troubles me. I can recall reading a passage here or there in her fiction that had persons seemingly going out of their way to not feel.”

“Just to clarify, I meant to say I denounced Rand as just another evil
capitialist, not my friend.”

Antiwar.com’s annual fundraising drive is once again upon us. They usually have a decent time garnering the cash they need for survival of some kind.

This quarter, they’ve had a bit of trouble in bringing in donations as fast as they usually do.

Right now, they’ve got $14,000 left to go with little time to do it in.

Please donate if you find the site a valuable resource. I view it as an invaluable one myself.

On a related note, Jeremy Weiland raises a good question about where the money goes. It’d be interesting to see an accounting on the site (if such a thing is possible without violating anyone’s privacy) of this for purposes of providing more accessibility.

Some further things to cover: A hearty thanks to both Roderick Long and belledame222 for adding me to their blogrolls. I’m also still working on getting down a daily posting routine.

Stay tuned!

Via Daily Kos.

Bottom line is that there will be two carrier strike groups in the Gulf for late October and through November capable of starting World War III if Bush wants it bad enough.

Hat tip to Arthur Silber for alerting me to this.

What’s developing surely doesn’t look good for those of us interested in seeing the warfare state spare the Iranian nation.

I’ve left this blog dormant for far too long so I wanted to inform anyone who checks in here regularly that I still have plans to keep the site active. Indeed, I hope to start posting on a daily basis while also working on longer writings. Some of the pieces I have planned include a review of Keith Preston’s work and an essay on patriarchy’s similarity to empire.