She was a great thinker for sure - but the world was so different then.
Rand's greatest contribution, IMO, is her notion of the unfortunately labeled "virtue of selfisness." You can build quite a useful and ethical philosophy based on enlightened self interest. It supports an economic system, capitalism, a political system, democracy, and it supports personal ethical and value system independent of Judeo-Christianity. The tends to trigger thoughts of hippies in folks for whom Rand doesn't resonate, which is why I find it unfortunate. I think she "enlightened self interest," my preferred label, is timeless.
referring to me as "you greens"
That's a thread tribal bonding technique. Anyone not engaging in mutual grooming activities is an outsider and outsiders get whichever label from the list of "others" happens to pop into the poster's head at that time. Stick around long enough and you get to be a green, liberal, socialist, anti-American, Democrat, and a bunch of others regardless of their aptness to either you or the topic being discussed. If you don't expect aptness, it's easier to ignore the labels. <g> |
