Andrew Klavan and Bill Whittle Pretend to Analyze Ayn Rand-Rand is worse than nonsense

Posted by Zenphamy 9 years, 7 months ago to Philosophy
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Another critique of Rand by individuals that claim to understand Rand, but argue from the position that the only 'proper' morals are from God and that any other moral, even if right, derived from just reasoning are nonsense and Utopian.

From the TOS article refuting that critique: "Klavan claims that Rand is “nonsense . . . because she is an atheist, and yet she thinks that there is an absolute moral standard by which to live, which is the absence of force.” Klavan then claims, “Once you remove God, you’re living in a relativist universe,” without objective moral standards.", even going on to pontificate;
"..Klavan summarizes his basic view of Rand: “She’s not nonsense; in a way she’s worse than nonsense. She’s a great deal of good sense, surrounded by absolute nonsense.”and,
"Next Klavan claims that Rand “confuses seflessness . . . with altruism.” He continues, “The difference between selflessness and altruism, is that selflessness doesn’t exist. Everybody is acting for personal gain, even if that personal gain is joy.” Klavan equates altruism with “doing good for people,” which, he says, allows a person to “experience joy.”"

The article links to the Klavan and Whittle discussion and to the TOS answer.

Klavan particularly, and Whittle complicitly, mis-state and mis-characterize Rand's statements while both claiming to fully understand Rand.

What a load of crap--but illustrative of those that really lack understanding, even though having read Rand, but have to fall back to 'God says'.
SOURCE URL: http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2014/09/andrew-klavan-bill-whittle-pretend-analyze-ayn-rand/?utm_source=TOS+Commentary+%26+Announcements&utm_campaign=007ffcb3e5-September_10_2014_Blog_Commentary9_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6e1a126b97-007ffcb3e5-317566077


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  • Posted by LetsShrug 9 years, 7 months ago
    Somewhere, not too long ago. Whittle was doing an interview and explained that he used to be an atheist, but wasn't any longer. I raised an eyebrow at that as well. (Can't remember where I saw this tho.) Disconnect. "Doing good for others allows a person to experience joy"..um... they need to define both "good" and "joy" because I think both of their meanings (the way they intended it) is based in guilt and obligation.
    I had a pan handler trying to hit me up for change a couple weeks ago in a parking lot. My response was, "No. You need to make your own way in life." I didn't 'help' him by giving him unearned money, but I might have 'helped' by giving him free advise...but neither of those would have given me an experience of "joy". Approaching someone in a parking lot with your hand out is intrusive and a form of bullying in my opinion. Forced, unwanted interaction who's only intent is to guilt others into 'helping' him.
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  • Posted by cranedragon 9 years, 7 months ago
    I found Klavan's rant to be uninformed and insulting -- and cancelled my subscription to pjtv. They can publish whatever they want; but I don't have to buy it.
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  • Posted by Solver 9 years, 7 months ago
    Sad. I tend to like much of what Bill Whittle says, but this was just two religious buddies hitting straw-man after straw-man and claiming to easily defeat Objectivism.
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