Discussion of Modern Philsophers
Superpower07
10-10-2004, 21:34
Well, I'll kick it off with Ayn Rand
I just finished reading The Fountainhead, and I thoroughly enjoyed Rand's philsosphy in the book.
How do you all stand upon the whole 'Indvidual vs. the collective' debate?
I think that the individual comes first, but that does not mean I wouldn't help some with the collective - strive for your own excellence by yourself, and also help those who *truly* need it.
Von Witzleben
10-10-2004, 21:40
I prefer J.K. Rowling.
How do you all stand upon the whole 'Indvidual vs. the collective' debate?
I think that the individual comes first, but that does not mean I wouldn't help some with the collective - strive for your own excellence by yourself, and also help those who *truly* need it.
The individual and the collective are equally important and we all have an individual and collective aspect. If you sacrifice the individual, the collective suffers. If you sacrifice the collective, the individual suffers.
Nag Ehgoeg
10-10-2004, 22:26
Rand, like most modern philosphers, is a hack. All they do is rip of the great works of old. Now I havn't read his book but this Individual-Collective stuff sounds familiar... Almost as if... its been thought of before!
Superpower07
10-10-2004, 22:37
Rand, like most modern philosphers, is a hack. All they do is rip of the great works of old. Now I havn't read his book but this Individual-Collective stuff sounds familiar... Almost as if... its been thought of before!
Yes it has been thought of before - however it was always argued from the collective standpoint; Rand goes from the individual
AnarchyeL
10-10-2004, 22:53
Ayn Rand really knows how to write for teenagers.
Of course, only teenagers would believe her nonsense, so they are a good audience to write for. If she had tried to appeal to adults, no one would have ever heard of her.
Superpower07
10-10-2004, 22:55
Ayn Rand really knows how to write for teenagers.
Of course, only teenagers would believe her nonsense, so they are a good audience to write for. If she had tried to appeal to adults, no one would have ever heard of her.
She musta struck bulls'-eye with me; I'm 15!
AnarchyeL
10-10-2004, 23:00
She musta struck bulls'-eye with me; I'm 15!
I figured.
:)
If you like Rand, but want to get into some real philosophy, I might recommend Rousseau. But NOT the Social Contract, which is what everyone reads. Check out the Second Discourse... or, if you are feeling ambitious, try the novel Emile. Fundamentally, he differs dramatically with Rand... but I suspect that you will find his perspective interesting, and challenging as well.
Eutrusca
10-10-2004, 23:15
Well, I'll kick it off with Ayn Rand
I just finished reading The Fountainhead, and I thoroughly enjoyed Rand's philsosphy in the book.
How do you all stand upon the whole 'Indvidual vs. the collective' debate?
I think that the individual comes first, but that does not mean I wouldn't help some with the collective - strive for your own excellence by yourself, and also help those who *truly* need it.
Balance between opposites is the most effective technique, IMHO. That's one of the reasons the Constitution of the US has so many checks and balances. It was an attempt to strike a continuing balance between the rights ot the individual and the needs of society, among other balances.
Lithuanighanikhazistan
11-10-2004, 00:00
Though I don't agree with his religious inferences, I'll go with Albert Schweitzer as my favorite.
My favorite philosopher is Rem Saverem or maybe the Wachowski brothers.