I have to admit that for the longest time I dismissed Ayn Rand's philosophy as described by people I've known. It simply seemed too self serving and stark for my tastes.
Recently, I read a blog post of one of my favorite writers on Trading and Psychology, Brett Steenbarger. That changed everything! One paragraph helped me understand the power and pervasiveness of that philosophy (or that philosophy as Brett describes it.):
" The novelist/philosopher Ayn Rand considered the willingness to face and deal with reality to be among the cardinal human virtues. While other animals can survive through their ability to forage or hunt prey, the human animal can survive only through reason and the use of the mind. To blank out reality--or fake it--is to betray what makes us unique; it is a moral failing and not just a psychological one. "
Facing reality, not faking it, is very hard to maintain and rare amongst people.
Here's the article:
http://traderfeed.blogspot.com/2008/01/cardinal-virtue-of-trading.html
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1 comment:
I'm glad you found something to change your mind about, or at least interest you in, the ideas of Ayn Rand. She had quite a bit to say about ethics and the proper foundation for the development. I hope you will read a little more.
You might find some interesting quotes at:
http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/morality.html
Or maybe an interesting essay at:
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_intro
Happy thinking!
M
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