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Paul Ryan's mentor Ayn Rand believed Selfishness was a virtue. I don't believe she had any children, but I wonder what she would have told her children in elementary school about sharing.
It's down right scary that so many people like Paul Ryan believe in the philosophy of Ayn Rand. That's not the America I grew up in or want to live in. Ryan makes all his staff member read a copy of her book. But while Ryan worships her drumbeat of 'Selfishness is a Virtue' he seems to gloss over the fact that she didn't believe in God. That fact alone ought to put her whole philosophy at odds with Ryan's Catholic up bring. I don't see how he can claim to be such a good Christian and a disciple of Ayn Rand's at the same time.
Last edited by Wayland Woman; 08-29-2012 at 11:12 PM..
It's down right scary that so many people like Paul Ryan believe in the philosophy of Ayn Rand. That's not the America I grew up in or want to live in. Ryan makes all his staff member read a copy of her book. But while Ryan worships her drumbeat of 'Selfishness is a Virtue' he seems to gloss over the fact that she didn't believe in God. That fact alone ought to put her whole philosophy at odds with Catholic up bring. I don't see how he can claim to be such a good Christian and a disciple of Ayn Rand's at the same time.
Catholicism and Ayn Rand's philosophy can't be reconciled. They are completely incompatible. You can't believe in Rand's objectivism philosophy or believe selfishness is a virtue and be a Christian.
Rand essentially plagiarized Adam Smith and exchanged his concept of "self-interest" for "selfishness." Most people interested in economics become interested in Ayn Rand at one point or another but grow out of Rand's objectivism because of its inherent limitations.
Ayn Rand's argument is that there is no such thing as a selfless act, not that I agree with Paul Ryan or even remotely familiar with him. But I think people should be cautious about demonizing her based on a politician endorsing her philosophy. "Truth" be told all politicians follow an Aristotelian philosophy regardless of what they claim.
Lets discuss the Greek tradition of the "State" in America. I'm also open to learning a bit about this paul ryan character as well.
Rand essentially plagiarized Adam Smith and exchanged his concept of "self-interest" for "selfishness." Most people interested in economics become interested in Ayn Rand at one point or another but grow out of Rand's objectivism because of its inherent limitations.
You just voiced something that has bothered me about Paul Ryan. When he talks about Ayn Rand he sounds like a starry-eyed college student who hasn't grown up enough to see the real-life applications of Rand and how it doesn't lead to a good place.
And what did Ayn Rand accomplish? People never have an out of body experience and thus always commit acts of their own will? Never mind that its indistinguishable since most humans possess a piece of the human estate and are bred to suffer when considering its extinction. All humans have a family resemblance to oneself compared to annihilation. That is why we fear doomsday more than our own deaths which are in fact our own personal doomsday. So why do we fear one more than the other? Which one that is ultimately self doesn't matter. We do choose between the two.
All she did was redefine our existence under an umbrella of cynicism. Why not have an umbrella of optimistic lunacy and suggest that lions have compassion for the grass against the attacking Zebra?
It's down right scary that so many people like Paul Ryan believe in the philosophy of Ayn Rand. That's not the America I grew up in or want to live in. Ryan makes all his staff member read a copy of her book. But while Ryan worships her drumbeat of 'Selfishness is a Virtue' he seems to gloss over the fact that she didn't believe in God. That fact alone ought to put her whole philosophy at odds with Ryan's Catholic up bring. I don't see how he can claim to be such a good Christian and a disciple of Ayn Rand's at the same time.
So, now a Conservative is bad because they listen to other types of people's perspectives. I thought libs thought all conservatives were narrow minded Jesus freaks? Damned if they do and damned if they don't, right guys.
You just voiced something that has bothered me about Paul Ryan. When he talks about Ayn Rand he sounds like a starry-eyed college student who hasn't grown up enough to see the real-life applications of Rand and how it doesn't lead to a good place.
That was the impression I got watching the speech last night.
And no, you cannot subscribe to Ayn Rand's teachings and be a decent follower of Jesus. The two are complete opposites.
Never read much Rand. My main classical liberal nfluences are Friedman, Hayek, the Founding Fathers, a bit of Mill and Mises.
The bit I did read has led me to the same conclusion helenejen came to, just a slight twist on Adam Smith.
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I thought libs thought all conservatives were narrow minded Jesus freaks? Damned if they do and damned if they don't, right guys. 
