10 principles of objectivism.
Posted by Bill_Futrell45 9 years ago to Philosophy
I memorized these 10 principles of objectivism in the 1980s after reading much of what Ayn Rand had written. They are a good concise summary of objectivism that helps me remain clear about objectivism and use it in my daily thinking.
I share it as my contribution to those new and old to objectivism. It is a beautiful philosophy:
1. Reality is what it is. Things are what they are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings, judgements or opinions. Existence exist. A is A.
2. Reason, the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by the various senses, is fully competent to understand the facts of reality.
3. Any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, mysticism or any claim to a non-sensory or irrational form of knowledge is to be rejected.
4. A rational code of ethics is possible and is derivable from an appropriate assessment of the nature of human beings as well as the nature of reality.
5. The standard of the good is not god or the alleged needs of society, but rather, man's life. Meaning that which is objectively required for a man/woman's life, survival and well being.
6. A human being is an end in him or herself. Each one of us has a right to exist for our own sake, neither sacrificing others to self or self to others.
7. The principles of justice and respect for individuality, autonomy and personal rights must replace the principles of sacrifice in human relationships.
8. No individual and no group has the moral right to initiate the use of force against others.
9. Force is permissible, but only in retaliation and only against those who have initiated its use.
10. The organizing principle of a moral society is respect for individual rights.
On the foundation of these principles, I would advocate a total separation of government and economics just as and for the same reason as there is now a separation of government and religion. For just as the government has no proper voice in the religious beliefs and practices of people, as long as no one else's rights are violated, the government has no proper voice in the freedom of production and trade between and among consenting adults.
I share it as my contribution to those new and old to objectivism. It is a beautiful philosophy:
1. Reality is what it is. Things are what they are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings, judgements or opinions. Existence exist. A is A.
2. Reason, the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by the various senses, is fully competent to understand the facts of reality.
3. Any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, mysticism or any claim to a non-sensory or irrational form of knowledge is to be rejected.
4. A rational code of ethics is possible and is derivable from an appropriate assessment of the nature of human beings as well as the nature of reality.
5. The standard of the good is not god or the alleged needs of society, but rather, man's life. Meaning that which is objectively required for a man/woman's life, survival and well being.
6. A human being is an end in him or herself. Each one of us has a right to exist for our own sake, neither sacrificing others to self or self to others.
7. The principles of justice and respect for individuality, autonomy and personal rights must replace the principles of sacrifice in human relationships.
8. No individual and no group has the moral right to initiate the use of force against others.
9. Force is permissible, but only in retaliation and only against those who have initiated its use.
10. The organizing principle of a moral society is respect for individual rights.
On the foundation of these principles, I would advocate a total separation of government and economics just as and for the same reason as there is now a separation of government and religion. For just as the government has no proper voice in the religious beliefs and practices of people, as long as no one else's rights are violated, the government has no proper voice in the freedom of production and trade between and among consenting adults.
Thanks for posting these.
Jan
Specifically, has force been initiated if a patently evil actor like Nazi Germany or Iran states that it is going to attack in the future and is engaged in internal preparation for war but has not yet launched a physical attack on its intended victim?
Must one give one's enemy time to prepare for a devastating first strike or is one justified in using force to stop the aggression before it occurs, by for example destroying its atomic weapons program before it gets the bomb?