Objectivism: Assorted Commentary

 

 

 

Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism, purports to offer at least the outlines of a complete philosophical system. In my view, though it does have some philosophical importance, it is often and crucially mistaken on many of the issues. Somehow, I have ended up writing quite a bit, mostly critical, about it:

 

·        An Inconsistent Triad

·        Confusions About Sacrifice

·        Defining Self-Interest

·        Deriving 'Existence Exists'

·        Determinism, Free Will and the Knowledge Argument

·        The following article was published in the Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, along with two responses, from Robert Campbell and Chris Cathcart. Then, I was invited by the editor to respond to both of them.

Egoism versus Rights, in Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, Spring 2006.


Robert Campbell's Altruism in Auguste Comte and Ayn Rand, in Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, Spring 2006.


Chris Cathcart's Egoism and Rights, in Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, Spring 2006.


Defending the Argument, in Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, Spring 2006.


·        Happiness and Ultimate Goals

·        Is and Ought

·        Killing for Trivial Gains

·        Misusing Language: "Selfishness" and "Altruism"

·        No Unconditional Oughts?

·        Objectivist Epistemology: Strengths and Weaknesses

·        Possibility and Evidence

·        Rational Interests

·        Self-Interest and Time-Preference: A Puzzle for Egoists

·        The Rights (and Wrongs) of Ayn Rand

·        True, False, Arbitrary: ARIanese vs. English

·        What's Wrong With Egoism?

·        Who is an egoist? What are interests?

 

 

From Others

 

·        Merrill on ITOE--This was written by Gary Merrill.

 

 

 

 

Comments? I'd love to hear.