From: Max More (max@maxmore.com)
Date: Mon Jun 03 2002 - 23:28:08 MDT
At 02:26 PM 6/4/2002 +1000, Damien wrote:
> >which *part* of Ayn Rand's basic philosophy (not personality,
> >philosophy) do you despise? Is it her rationalism? Her anti-religious
> >views? Her realism? Her optimism ("benevolent universe")? Her defense of
> >freedom?
>
>Let me answer that equally rhetorically. Which part of, say, THE BOOK OF
>MORMON and Mormon practise (pace, John Grigg) do you despise, Max? Is it
>the emphasis on family and loyalty? The imaginative scope of its invented
>history? Its transcendent optimism (every saint a god in a new universe)?
>Its unabashed capitalist zeal? The audacious undergarments?
A well-aimed riposte, sir. Since I haven't read the Book of Mormon and
know only what I've learned from Mormon friends and ex-Mormons, I can't say
what I despise in it in detail. But of course you already know what I would
centrally dislike about it -- it's a work based entirely on irrationality.
It's *fundamentally* flawed in a way that Rand's thought is not. Reason,
realism, independence, and integrity are things I hold very close. I don't
believe the same applies to the Book of Mormon and certainly not to the
Bible, with which I am quite familiar. So your riposte, while well-aimed,
is parried.
Clearly, you have a very great distaste for her work. I think further
discussion of Rand is rather pointless. But I am serious when I ask for
alternatives to her presentation of these ideas. While Rand was helpful to
me, there may be better introductory and fundamental (sorry) works to
replace any one of hers with. It doesn't have to be Objectivist.
Onward!
Max
_______________________________________________________
Max More, Ph.D.
max@maxmore.com or more@extropy.org
http://www.maxmore.com
Strategic Philosopher
President, Extropy Institute. http://www.extropy.org <more@extropy.org>
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