tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post5413796624982889002..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: Quick Roundup 379Gus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-24963736027068807952008-11-18T06:37:00.000-06:002008-11-18T06:37:00.000-06:00Likewise. I'm glad to hear you arrived home safely...Likewise. I'm glad to hear you arrived home safely.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-91617334602986077422008-11-18T02:56:00.000-06:002008-11-18T02:56:00.000-06:00There is another phrasing that I dislike along the...There is another phrasing that I dislike along these lines:<BR/><BR/>"Only Objectivism has the solution/answer to..."<BR/><BR/>While this is eminently true in a lot of cases, it will IMO lose you a lot of audience; most people read that as a highly dismissive "No one else is worth considering on this issue". At least that's how I usually read it. I try to phrase it in a manner which reads as something like "So far, the Objectivist approach is the only one addressing all the points...."<BR/><BR/>Btw Gus, thanks for the meetup at the Ginger Man, Diana and I enjoyed it ... I wish we'd had more time to see more of the city. As it is, I get back to work in a few hours, and don't get another break until Turkey Day ;PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-76289413231933757612008-11-14T17:05:00.000-06:002008-11-14T17:05:00.000-06:00Tommy,I see why you would want to do that, but the...Tommy,<BR/><BR/>I see why you would want to do that, but there are better ways to indicate that you're arguing from an integrated body of ideas.<BR/><BR/>The problem with the phrasing "As an Objectivist" is that it is confusing because so many religious people use just such a formulation, and then to someone who has never seen a coherent body of rational thought (as opposed to a set of commandments), you SOUND LIKE you're guilty of the same type of thought process.<BR/><BR/>Sure, "As an Objectivist, I hold selfishness as a virtue," may be literally true, but why are you an Objectivist? Because the philosophy is supported by the facts and ties in with your previous thinking. "I am selfish because my life depends on me gaining the values I need from reality in order to live and flourish," is much more convincing and conducive to further discussion.<BR/><BR/>GusGus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-79993002040322056112008-11-14T15:55:00.000-06:002008-11-14T15:55:00.000-06:00I think it's a good thing to say "As on Objectivis...I think it's a good thing to say "As on Objectivist..." when making a point (pursuant to the previous comments, i.e. this is not the reason given for your assertions). It lets people know that there is an integrated framework of ideas from which you are basing your comments. (Of course, this requires that you truly do understand the philosophy and can legitimately say you are an Objectivist; but if this is the case, then I don't think you need to worry about merely arguing from intimidation, i.e. by using her name as your only defense.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-63213056438273207562008-11-14T13:54:00.000-06:002008-11-14T13:54:00.000-06:00Mike and Kyle,I fully agree with each of you on yo...Mike and Kyle,<BR/><BR/>I fully agree with each of you on your points. <BR/><BR/>Importantly, being able to articulate her ideas in one's own words is crucial to understanding them for oneself, which is the most important reason for gaining an understanding of it.<BR/><BR/>GusGus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-77195626501206207482008-11-14T10:45:00.000-06:002008-11-14T10:45:00.000-06:00While I think Stephen Bourque makes a good point, ...While I think Stephen Bourque makes a good point, it's also important not to go too far in the other direction. When I'm discussing philosophical or political issues, I argue the issues, but I also try -- at least once, often as an aside -- to indicate a connection between my views on the issues and Ayn Rand. This is particularly important if the person I am talking to seems intrigued by my position, because it gives them a pointer to follow-up on their own time.<BR/><BR/>We should not lean on Ayn Rand as a crutch covering an inability to argue issues from a first-handed perspective, but we shouldn't act like we're ashamed we owe her an intellectual debt either.Kyle Haighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608497826478356055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-78381061549545170622008-11-14T08:15:00.000-06:002008-11-14T08:15:00.000-06:00Good point about not incessently using Ayn Rand's ...Good point about not incessently using Ayn Rand's name in arguments and/or essays. I do think using it is ok when a quote source is required. But to advance the truth of her principles, one must be able to verify them using one's own process of logic. And when questioned on that, one's own ability to reduce to the perceptual level.Michael Neibelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15321103608597264855noreply@blogger.com