Let's be honest, Ayn Rand isn't that bad

More Than Mortal · December 16, 2014, 04:51:54 PM

I've just started reading Atlas Shrugged. I'm not too far into it - only about 100 pages, but come on. It isn't shit-flingingly awful. It doesn't seem enough, for most people, to just criticise her philosophy but they have to criticise her as a writer as well.

She isn't that bad. I'm actually enjoying the book; it flows nicely, I like the characters and the imagery is good. She's by no means great, but she's certainly good.

I'm no Objectivist, but it seems like there's a cult of hatred around her as much as there is a cult of personality. It's all very polarised, but it seems to me that Rand doesn't deserve all the hatred (and adoration) she gets.

I mean, hey, Alan Greenspan was an Objectivist, so it can't all be bad.

Lemy the Lizerd · December 16, 2014, 04:54:29 PM

Something something greedy something hypocrite smoking is bad for you

BasedLove · December 16, 2014, 04:54:45 PM

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Verbatim · December 16, 2014, 04:57:42 PM

I don't know. Anyone who says that selfishness is good pretty goddamn evil if you ask me.

challengerX · December 16, 2014, 04:59:00 PM

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The Lord Slide Rule · December 16, 2014, 04:59:11 PM

Never read her but I certainly don't ride the haterwagon.

Verbatim · December 16, 2014, 05:00:34 PM

I've been misspelling/leaving out words in my posts all the time lately. I'm going insane.

But yeah, does she not have a book entitled "The Virtue of Selfishness" or something like that?

More Than Mortal · December 16, 2014, 05:04:06 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 16, 2014, 04:57:42 PM

I don't know. Anyone who says that selfishness is good pretty goddamn evil if you ask me.

And I think altruism is stupid.

Ultimately, however, it's a game of semantics. People will always act within their self-interest; they simply cannot do otherwise.

Mad Max · December 16, 2014, 05:15:23 PM

Most people find Rand to be babby's first (x). That said, I haven't read any of her work.