In what way do you relate to Ayn Rand's experiences
I relate to her childhood experiences since they mirror my own experiences and actions exactly.
In this interview she says that she was the smartest in her class,
- that she did not have to make much of an effort to excel in school, All she had to do was read ahead once,
- that she was bored in class and wrote novels behind her textbook.
She found writing novels challenging and I assume worthy of her intellect and much harder than reading ahead in a text book.
Like her my childhood "Novel" was ahem ... not worth mentioning. Also I wrote in such small letters that even with glasses I can''t read my writings.from that time. lol .
She says the object of a Philosophy is to understand the nature of existence. Religion too is a philosophy.
I also have tried to point out here that Religion is a philosophy and as She says it is immoral to accept it on "faith" but if arrives at through reason there is nothing wrong about it or to discuss it.
In this interview she says that she was the smartest in her class,
- that she did not have to make much of an effort to excel in school, All she had to do was read ahead once,
- that she was bored in class and wrote novels behind her textbook.
She found writing novels challenging and I assume worthy of her intellect and much harder than reading ahead in a text book.
Like her my childhood "Novel" was ahem ... not worth mentioning. Also I wrote in such small letters that even with glasses I can''t read my writings.from that time. lol .
She says the object of a Philosophy is to understand the nature of existence. Religion too is a philosophy.
I also have tried to point out here that Religion is a philosophy and as She says it is immoral to accept it on "faith" but if arrives at through reason there is nothing wrong about it or to discuss it.
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Some people here view Ayn Rand's writings as a Religion and respond just like a theist.
All people not just theists fall prey to emotion and respond based on any wrongly perceived challenge to their opinion which they cling to as reality rather than trying to see objective reality. .
If you don't regard yourself as an end it itself, and do not think rationally as required to know and choose, you will not attain self-esteem.
You should read Ayn Rand's Philosophy: Who Needs It? and the essay "Philosophy and Sense of Life" in her The Romantic Manifesto.
You misinterpreted what i wrote. I wrote that one can come to those principles by RATIONAL means and NOT by faith.
Perhaps people who don't bother to understand what is written and just go off on a rant based on viewing through their own bias and not seeing the objective reality of what is written don't belong here or in any discussion anywhere. .Especially ones who judge and pull the "You don't belong here" or You are violating the rules" card. Even if I was championing faith, which I am not, you should still be able to carry on a rational discussion and not just Knee-Jerk, emotionally based demeaning rejection and dismissal.
Philosophy is not a matter of "what you think of others rather than yourself". Proper social relations are not a primary, they are a consequence of ethical standards for making choices of all kinds for one's own life, which in turn depend on rational methods of thinking, which in turn requires an objective view towards reality.
Religion, faith, and putting others above oneself are all the opposite of Ayn Rand's novels and philosophy.
It isn't just false premises that make it impossible to argue with a theist -- a rational person can correct false assumptions and wants to -- the theist does not. You can't argue with a theist because you can't argue with the arbitrary.
Religion is mysticism, not "lumped", and the attempts at its rationalization are not reason, they confuse reason with turning, in the name of "reason", what is not reason into a handmaiden of faith.
Religion is rejected by rational people because of what it is, not a mindless "trigger". There is no reason to "open" one's mind to it. Rational people have active minds, not minds "open" to variations on what is known to be false.
Claiming to have "arrived" at religion in the name of "reason" rationalizing it does not change the content of the religious beliefs and is not like the way Ayn Rand pursued philosophy. Such rationalization of religion does not "relate to Ayn Rand's experiences".
I must completely reject you defense of basing one's life on faith rather than on reason and philosophy. That is the basic choice each individual human has to make, if wishing to live the best life that an individual is capable of achieving.
Do you not kill other humans because a god or gods forbid it or because you think that using force against others is counterproductive from the point of view of you trying to live the best life you can achieve in a human community?
To be honest, I think that you are confused and do not belong here. Unless, of course, you seek learning. To me, you sound proselytizing.
I am convinced that objectivist philosophy is infinitely better guide for rational humans than any faith.
Of course, we can debate this ad infinitum, but I have better things to do. It is your basic responsibility to find your way in your own life.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Maritimus
Even Aristotle believed in their gods and yet his writings on reason are well...arrived at through reason. . lol.
The 10 codes of morality, for instance which Moses brought out can be arrived at through Reason and do not need faith or god except Perhaps one depending on how one interprets it.
Don't Murder except in self defense.Good idea otherwise no one could live with anyone else.
Don't steal (collectivism is based on theft),
Manage Jealousy and don't covet which is making plans based on Jealousy to take your neighbor's spouse, employees, property, reputation etc.. (socialism and all Collectivist ideologies are based on Jealousy.that all should be equal in results and it is only fair that there are no rich. capitalism is evil etc.)
Pay attention to your Father and Mother and history and learn from their mistakes and good ideas. It does not mean blindly obey once your reasoning faculties develop. Only when you are very young when you have to take everything on faith since you have no experience or knowledge yet.
Would you or Ayn Rand reject those principles just because they came through a religion?
The one that is Translated as I am the Lord your God ...etc. is actually about rejecting all forms of servitude to earthly power, Kings, Governments. Monarchs, etc. on faith. That part is reasonable and prevents Collectivist governments and un-reasoned Altruistic slavery to the collective on faith.
The founders of the USA used reason that we have individual rights and that government is only legitimate and only has power if it is given to the government by the people.
So maybe we can discuss things that are related to religion without lumping everything in a religion as Mysticism, lack of reason and faith alone. Can we stop letting "Religion" be a trigger word for closing our minds?
And how you interface with others is a by-product of the values you hold. Of utmost importance is "what you think of yourself". Only be being a person of self-esteem who chooses rational values can you interface well with others.
Being an altruist does not work for oneself.
"...so they do not know that their premises do have to be true..."
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