Rand v. The Rebbe

[Call]

Originally Posted by Tikva

I don't think there are any Chabadniks on here, so you don't have to worry about offending people here.

I believe that there are a lot of folks posting here who have no concern about offending other Jews posting here. Jay himself didn't get such a nice reception.

[Call]

I probably don't really understand Ayn Rand's philosophy, but what I take from it for practical application is essentially a political prescription, whereas the Rebbe was, it seemed to me, more in the religious or philosophical arena. The former I see as fairly limited, and essentially negative, which is to say telling us how we should NOT restrict a person's positive impulses, whereas the Rebbe was more telling us what our positive efforts should be.

Jay, feel free to enlighten me on Ayn Rand if you consider it appropriate.

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by Call

I believe that there are a lot of folks posting here who have no concern about offending other Jews posting here. Jay himself didn't get such a nice reception.

When one goes around lying and defaming other posters it shouldn't be surprising to not get a nice reception.

[HarryRSpooner]

Call, you're right I didn't get such a nice reception. It's kinda like when you go to a new Shul and you inadvertently sit in someone's spot and they bark: "get outta my seat kid." As far as I'm concerned it's water under the bridge. It makes me feel like I'm back at a State College with the ritualistic hazing.

Arguably, Ayn Rand advocated a bit more than a political prescription. You could take her "philosophical" approach of rationalism or as she "rebaptized" objectivism to a whole way of life rooted in using logic as the basis of decision-making. The other precept is self-interest and ambivalence toward altruism. Collectivism especially of the involuntary kind is also loathed by Rand. It's diametrically opposite of the communitarianism found in large segments of Judaism. Tzedakah is also not considered noble or noteworthy in Ayn Rand's "religion."

[Call]

Jay,

Thanks. That is probably approximately what I had in the back of my mind regarding her "prescription." But Judaism also legitimizes self-interest, even formally. And accepting logic as a basis of decision-making still doesn't, IMO, tell you what you're working towards, and what our "purpose" is on earth. "Collectivism especially of the involuntary kind is also loathed by Rand" sort of hints at a political proscription, and, at least in my mind, still leaves a lot of ground uncovered.

I guess what I'm saying is that I still don't see a direct conflict between Rand and the Rebbe, even though ultimately there might be one.

[HarryRSpooner]

Sidebar: the ignore list works great: "MOD CUT"

Call: Yes you're right about self-interest. Ultimately, even doing the Mitzvot is arguably in a person's self-interest. Maybe, that's how the do are reconciled.