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I will never understand why Ayn Rand is so admired by my fellow conservatives
Posted on 9/28/14 at 4:36 am
Posted on 9/28/14 at 4:36 am
Aside from the fact that she hated conservatism, let us remember that much of her philosophy actually was the opposite of conservatism.
1) Ayn Rand despised altruism, yet an important tenet of conservatism is the admiration of voluntary charity, community, and association.
2) Ayn Rand believed men were able to achieve perfection (her definition of a perfect person was one who simply used his or her mind to its fullest capacity, and one who rejected all faith), while conservatism is intensely aware of man's imperfectability.
3) Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations. She is actually very Marxist in her thinking in this regard.
The unfortunate thing is that it is only a recent phenomena of conservatives praising this pseudo-philosopher. Read up on what William Buckley and Whittaker Chambers, editors of the National Review, had to say about her in the 1950s. Conservatives at first were horrified of her ideas, and rightly so.
How the hell did a godless, militantly anti-community and anti-faith woman become admired by a political ideology that in reality is worlds apart from her?
1) Ayn Rand despised altruism, yet an important tenet of conservatism is the admiration of voluntary charity, community, and association.
2) Ayn Rand believed men were able to achieve perfection (her definition of a perfect person was one who simply used his or her mind to its fullest capacity, and one who rejected all faith), while conservatism is intensely aware of man's imperfectability.
3) Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations. She is actually very Marxist in her thinking in this regard.
The unfortunate thing is that it is only a recent phenomena of conservatives praising this pseudo-philosopher. Read up on what William Buckley and Whittaker Chambers, editors of the National Review, had to say about her in the 1950s. Conservatives at first were horrified of her ideas, and rightly so.
How the hell did a godless, militantly anti-community and anti-faith woman become admired by a political ideology that in reality is worlds apart from her?
19
Posted on 9/28/14 at 4:52 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
Because she gives people affirmation that they are, indeed, individually great.
It's fun to think of yourself as a hero.
It's fun to think of yourself as a hero.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 5:23 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
This should be good. 
Posted on 9/28/14 at 6:06 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
because the right wing bible thumping sheeple are as stupid as the left wing bible kicking sheeple? 
Posted on 9/28/14 at 7:58 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:Mainly because she was such a breath of fresh air when juxtaposed with expanding Socialist and Communist philosophies of her time.
I will never understand why Ayn Rand is so admired by my fellow conservatives
quote:No.
Ayn Rand despised altruism
Rand despised those who intimated altruism as requirement or expectation. Her view was "poverty, ignorance, illness and other problems of that kind are not metaphysical emergencies," and self-responsibility was requisite. She had it that "one’s sole obligation toward others, in this respect, is to maintain a social system that leaves men free to achieve, to gain and to keep their values.”
She believed "by the metaphysical nature of man and of existence, man has to maintain his life by his won effort," and in instances where altruism interfered, it was immoral. In simple terms, someone who expects a helping hand must look first to the end of his own arm.
quote:Tying religious philosophy with politics is not Constitutionally conservative.
Ayn Rand believed men were able to achieve perfection (her definition of a perfect person was one who simply used his or her mind to its fullest capacity, and one who rejected all faith), while conservatism is intensely aware of man's imperfectability. Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations.
OTOH, though one could argue many things about Rand, questions of philosophical morality are not one.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 9:32 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
I don't personally know one single person that has ever quoted her or used her as an example when it comes to politics or conservative views.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 10:02 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
I attribute her popularity to her effective critique of the Soviet Union and showing the parallels to the New Deal and the sickness of socialism and marxism. From that point when someone is able to diagnose the problem so effectively, most assume her solution is just as valid and are willing to consider her other arguments.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 10:18 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
She's also an absolutely horrible writer. It makes me question the intelligence of people/politicians when they claim her books to be their favorites.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 10:38 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
She is actually very Marxist in her thinking in this regard.
Ayn Rand was a free market capitalist. If you are going to call her a Marxist you might as well go ahead and call her a Martian.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 10:51 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:If Christian conservatives were bothered by picking and choosing parts of a book that appealed to their worldview and ignoring or handwaving the parts that contradicted it they wouldn't be Christians.
How the hell did a godless, militantly anti-community and anti-faith woman become admired by a political ideology that in reality is worlds apart from her?
This post was edited on 9/28/14 at 10:52 am
Posted on 9/28/14 at 10:55 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
You're attempting to tie religious philosophy to conservative political philosophy and both are stand alone philosophies. The mistake is insisting the religious defines the political and vice versa.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 12:10 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:Wrong.
1) Ayn Rand despised altruism, yet an important tenet of conservatism is the admiration of voluntary charity, community, and association.
quote:Wrong.
3) Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations. She is actually very Marxist in her thinking in this regard.
The problem with Rand was that her writing style was atrocious. Decent points; weak books.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 12:27 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
what you actually know about Ayn Rand could literally fit on the head of a pin.
you do seem to be good at regurgitating the right wing gobbeldy asian of the Robertson-Buchanan crowd of religious idiot zealots that need everyone to agree with them.
grats on your stupidity of what Rands philosophical tenets are, meritocracy is it's own reward and doesn't need approval from idiots like you to substantiate it, no wonder you are so confused and simultaneously afraid of it.
quote:more like focuses on why everyone should agree with your concept of what is "spiritual" or moral.
the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations.
which is why "conservatives" aren't really for individual freedom, you are part of a group think collective of right wingers with no real concept of individualism, you need a religion to bow down to because, let's face it, that's what you are good at, submitting to state condescension where the state and your religion are much the same.
quote:
Conservatives at first were horrified of her ideas, and rightly so.
yes, conservatives who are used to being led around by their nose are horrified at the thought of having to think for themselves or that someone else might choose to do so rather than go along with your "all for the greater glory of god" bs.
Yep, we know right wing statists like you are every bit as dangerous as the left wing variety, and are in so many ways, very much alike.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 2:34 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
yet an important tenet of conservatism is the admiration of voluntary charity, community, and association.
lol
quote:
Ayn Rand was a materialist, while the conservative mindset often focuses on spiritual and moral foundations. She is actually very Marxist in her thinking in this regard.
conservatism is nothing if not materialist Posted on 9/28/14 at 3:14 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
The unfortunate thing is that it is only a recent phenomena of conservatives praising this pseudo-philosopher.
That's because modern conservatism stands for shaming the poor and casting those who make less money as unproductive and useless members of society.
- perfectly in line with Rayndian thinking.
This post was edited on 9/28/14 at 3:15 pm
Posted on 9/28/14 at 4:46 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Rand appeals to people who think they are better than the rest of the population.
Posted on 9/28/14 at 9:54 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:My dislike of Ayn Rand aside, why do you use the word conservative in the OP when you are specifically describing Republicans?
How the hell did a godless, militantly anti-community and anti-faith woman become admired by a political ideology that in reality is worlds apart from her?
Posted on 9/29/14 at 9:49 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
my fellow conservatives
I've always assumed you were one of the uber-liberal alters who has tried very hard to create a "conservative" image.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:21 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
altruism
Because it rarely if ever exists. Look at anyone who does charity. It is in reality marketing/self-promotion and/or for self-fulfillment/purpose/enjoyment. Not charity.
Posted on 9/29/14 at 10:35 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
John Oliver did a pretty similar piece on her.
LINK
1. Pro-choice
2. Atheist
3. Hated Reagan
Yeah, it is curious that some conservative politicians hold her up in such high regard. My guess is the majority of conservatives don't know much about her.
LINK
1. Pro-choice
2. Atheist
3. Hated Reagan
Yeah, it is curious that some conservative politicians hold her up in such high regard. My guess is the majority of conservatives don't know much about her.
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