Tangent on Ayn Rand and Randians
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.”
as to this from the review on Rand:
“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.”
It seems like Rand may be a borderline Asperger’s syndrome type, perhaps? Limited use/function of emotions, fixation on simple, mechanized systems for living, inability to actually relate to other people except as gadgets, not really “getting it” emotionally or socially. Then she just transfers these personal inabilities into her writing and makes 2-dimensional characters who act as persons in a system that they can’t ultimately deal with.
Though I could just be spinning my wheels.
Ray,
For starters, I reject the established framing of Aspergers “syndrome”, which seems to be result from a neurocentric and almost chauvinistic perspective. People with Aspergian traits (like myself) do not have a disorder or syndrome, such people are merely different from a neurological standpoint. All neurological makeups have their pros and cons and none of them are inherently superior to others.
Secondly, not all descriptions of people with Aspergian traits are accurate. A common portrayal seems to suggest that such people lack emotions or are at least emotionally cold and distant. That is not the case, and such a view is rooted in a superficial examination of such people’s external behaviors. (you can’t judge a book by it’s cover)
The other traits you list also show a lack of understanding of people with Aspergian traits. Where in the world did you pick this stuff up from? I’m not trying to be confrontational or anything, but your description most definitely rubbed me the wrong way.
As someone who knows little about Rand herself, I wouldn’t even begin to ponder whether or not she may have had certain Aspergian traits. I suppose it is a possibility though.
It would be one thing if Rand could have repressed her emotions successfully, but one has only to read the stories of her encounters with non-believers to see how wildly her anger could flash. Same goes to the 100th degree for many (not all, of course) Randians.
Psychological profiling of authors, based on their work is a popular parlor game, or a career path for English majors. It isn’t too far fetched to imagine that writers use the material closest at hand to fill out their characters and spin out plots.
But that doesn’t seem to be the major complaint about my Rand comment.
I think the response by “freeman” indicates a hypersensitivity to any notice or comment on anything related to Aspergers, probably from having to deal with people who don’t “get it” or who try to distance themselves from “diseased” people, or those who mainly just don’t understand anything outside of their own limited reference area.
Many Aspergers folks are capable of operating in our general social mix with only limited problems. Many even find a level of success, probably from being able to focus intensely on one area for a prolonged time. The pianist Glenn Gould, the animal researcher Temple Grandin, and quite possibly even Microsoft’s Bill Gates are Aspergers’. It has been noted that when Gates was hit with a cream pie in Belgium, he froze in place, acted lost and was completely knocked out of the expected routine: go into big building, talk to people who clap, leave…
Anyhow, I know a woman, and have corresponded with her for some time, who has three sons with varying degrees of Autism, including a high functioning Asperger’s. She is a subject of study by the CDC, since she has three kids with a particular disorder–though the use of the term disorder may be irritating. In order to understand her situation better, I did some amateur research on Autism and Asperger’s. There are plenty of books on the subject and even web sites these days that go into great detail on a wide variety of diagnostic subjects, physical or mental. Many just want to sell you something, but there are also those from advocacy organizations and public health institutes…etc.
And by the way, it’s poor form in arguments or discussions to demand credentials from someone with whom you disagree: “where did you pick this stuff up?” This tends to limit discussion on any subject either to people with a very personal experience with something or to professional researchers.
If Rand were a better writer, we wouldn’t have had this exchange.