There are ways to examine a controversial figure without poisoning a discussion ahead of time. One legitimate way of doing this is to
take one quote at a time and dismantle it as to "why"you disagree.
But, simply sneering and bad-mouthing is mere opinionating with bad manners thrown in!
A slipshod (and intellectually dishonest) way of dissing something is to cut and paste critics only. After all, who really CARES if you like or hate
something unless you're able to create a well-reasoned and factual rebuttal?
This fellow ZEN apparently has not actually READ what he dismisses. He's done zero research. He can't even pronounce Ayn Rand correctly.
In his rush to judgement he doesn't allow Ayn Rand to speak for herself because he is busy building a Straw Man substitute for what Rand approves and disapproves.
Cheap shots do not an argument make.
The Conservatives of her era were as put off by her as the Liberals because she called them out with surgical precision. Willam F. Buckley, a deeply religious Catholic, was offended by Rand's atheism. He never addressed her philosophy with honesty because of this. Privately, he was friendly with her and fascinated by her views.
Rand was Russian and had to teach herself English the hard way. Like Vladimir Nabokov and Joseph Conrad (non-native writers), she used the English language with great success; otherwise why would her books remain bestsellers half a century after their debut?
Essentially, Rand invented a way of communicating philosophy using fiction as the delivery system of ideas. Who before her did this and as well?
I liked the Fountainhead as a novel. I could not get the hang of Atlas Shrugged, so, I switched to the books-on-tape version and made it through.
My personal preference is for the straight philosophy books. Her ideas are like perfectly cut diamonds.
I would suggest anybody wishing to get an honest glimpse into the wonders of her mind, TRY THIS:
Wide-ranging “Playboy” interview now online
April 29, 2009 by Jeff Scialabba
On its website Playboy has posted its Interview with Ayn RAnd. In the interview, Rand discusses her work and some of the practical implications of her ideas. The frank, wide-ranging conversation is particularly notable for its breadth.
Among the topics covered: guilt, original sin, emotions, motherhood, religion, morality, romantic love, sex, hedonism, promiscuity, charity, compassion, literature, government, free will, foreign policy, nuclear treaties, politicians and others.
Rand’s words, as they so often do, resonate as if they were spoken yesterday.
http://www.ellensplace.net/ar_pboy.html
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