From: Valuemetaphysics@aol.com
Date: Thu Jun 10 2004 - 11:23:54 BST
Dear forum,
The basic principles of Ayn Rand'sObjectivism, which is recommended by Platt
Holden as deep intellectual enquiry, can be summarised as follows:
Metaphysics
Reality, the external world, exists independent of mans consciousness, independent
of any observers knowledge, beliefs, feelings, desires or fears.
This means that A is A, that facts are facts, that things are what they are and
that the task of mans consciousness is to perceive reality, not to create or
invent it. Thus Objectivism rejects any belief in the supernatural and
any claim that individuals or groups create their own reality.
Mark 10-6-04: The MOQ begins with Quality. The first metaphysical distinction
made is between static and Dynamic. Thus we can clearly see that Ayn Rand's
Objectivism, which is hailed by Platt Holden as deep intellectual enquiry, is
incompatible with Objectivism, because Objectivism holds that Reality is fact
and not value. Facts are there to be discovered by rational enquiry.
ZMM indicates problems with rationality, in fact, it is identified as a ghost
in ZMM.
Epistemology
Mans reason is fully competent to know the facts of reality. Reason, the
conceptual faculty, is the faculty that identifies and integrates the material
provided by mans senses. Reason is mans only means of acquiring knowledge.
Thus Objectivism rejects mysticism (any acceptance of faith or feeling as a
means of knowledge), and it rejects skepticism (the claim that certainty or
knowledge is impossible).
Mark 10-6-04: Ayn Rand's Objectivism is again incompatible with the MOQ
because it rejects mystic reality as source of empirical experience. Objectivism
has as one of its tenets the assertion that, that which may be known exists
prior to enquiry. Everything that may be known can be known.
However, the MOQ insists that DQ cannot be known.
Human Nature
Man is a rational being. Reason, as mans only means of knowledge, is his
basic means of survival. But the exercise of reason depends on each individuals
choice. Man is a being of volitional consciousness.
That which you call our soul or spirit is your consciousness, and that which you call
free will is your minds freedom to think or not, the only will you have, your only
freedom. This is the choice that controls all the choices you make and determines
your life and character.Thus Objectivism rejects any form of determinism, the
belief that man is a victim of forces beyond his control (such as God, fate,
upbringing, genes, or economic conditions).
Mark 10-6-04: Ayn Rand's Objectivism is once again incompatible with the MOQ,
for the MOQ suggests that DQ is the source of freedom from static patterning.
Ayn Rand's Objectivism insists that 'mind' is that which is free to make choices.
So far, Ayn Rand's Objectivism, which is recommended by Platt Holden, is
clearly a Subject-Object Metaphysics with a sharp Mind-Matter Metaphysical
division.
Biological Quality and Social Quality are not even recognised as sources of
Dynamic influence upon Human nature in Ayn Rand's SOM Objectivism as
recommended by Platt Holden.
Ethics
Reason is mans only proper judge of values and his only proper guide to
action. The proper standard of ethics is: mans survival qua man i.e., that
which is required by mans nature for his survival as a rational being (not his
momentary physical survival as a mindless brute). Rationality is mans basic
virtue, and his three fundamental values are: reason, purpose, self-esteem.
Man every man is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he
must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor
sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self-interest,
with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life. Thus
Objectivism rejects any form of altruism the claim that morality consists
in living for others or for society.
Mark 10-6-04: All the terminology here, ethics, rationality, virtue, end
(final cause), happiness (eudaimonia), etc. are Aristotelian. Ayn Rand insists
that it is to Aristotle, and Aristotle only that she is indebted for her main
philosophical influence. (Atlas shrugged.)
Indeed, 'Man is a Rational animal' is Aristotle's definition of Man as placed
within his own systematised categories of species, genus, etc.
Politics
The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is that no man has the
right to seek values from others by means of physical force i.e., no man or
group has the right to initiate the use of physical force against others. Men
have the right to use force only in self-defense and only against those who
initiate its use. Men must deal with one another as traders, giving value for
value, by free, mutual consent to mutual benefit.
Mark 10-6-04: The term value here is used in a totally inappropriate way to
that of the MOQ.
The notion that men, (Humans?) are traders as primary social value is alien
to the MOQ.
The only social system that bars physical force from human relationships is
laissez-faire capitalism. Capitalism is a system based on the recognition of
individual rights, including property rights, in which the only function of the
government is to protect individual rights, i.e., to protect men from those
who initiate the use of physical force. Thus Objectivism rejects any form of
collectivism, such as fascism or socialism. It also rejects the current mixed
economy notion that the government should regulate the economy and
redistribute wealth.
Mark 10-6-04: Ayn Rand's Objectivism, as recommended by Platt Holden,
provides an incompatible basis for social articulation as Objectivism does not
recognise society as a separate stage of evolution distinct from Biological patterns
and Intellectual patterns.
Esthetics
Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artists
metaphysical value-judgments. The purpose of art is to concretize the artists
fundamental view of existence. Ayn Rand described her own approach to art as
Romantic Realism: I am a Romantic in the sense that I present men as they ought
to be. I am Realistic in the sense that I place them here and now and on this
earth. The goal of Ayn Rands novels is not didactic but artistic: the
projection of an ideal man: My purpose, first cause and prime mover is the
portrayal of Howard Roark or John Galt or Hank Rearden or Francisco dAnconia as an
end in himself not as a means to any further end.
Mark 10-6-04: The terms, 'first cause' and 'prime mover' are Aristotelian,
and taken out of context from Aristotle's 'Nichomacian ethics' and
'Metaphysics'. The prime mover, according to Aristotle, is THE source of all that changes,
more specifically, mind thinking as pure mind devoid of matter - pure
actualisation as opposed to pure potential (matter). This cannot be an individual,
except by use of hyperbole - e.g. One might say the same thing in MOQ, rather
ridiculously and to the detriment of the MOQ itself, "My purpose, DQ, is the
portrayal of Howard Roark or John Galt or Hank Rearden or Francisco dAnconia DQ
not as a means to any further end." This makes no sense, DQ cannot be 'mine.'
The Objectavist artistic description in terms of the ideal is Platonic and
incompatible with the MOQ. The MOQ does not regard ideal form as the Object of
artistic endeavour. Rather, Quality is the aim of art.
From this brief account of Ayn Rand's Objectivism and the MOQ, i feel it may
be legitimately concluded:
1. Ayn Rand is regarded by Platt Holden as his preferred philosopher. (The
difference between the MOQ and Ayn Rand's Objectivism is so severe as to make
them incompatible.)
2. Ayn Rand's main contribution to philosophy has been to take Unadulterated
SOM Aristotle and combine it with late 20th century capitalism to produce an
ethics of rational egoism.
3. Platt Holden does not understand the MOQ, and has not made any progress in
doing so over the last decade, preferring to insist that Ayn Rand's Rational
egoistic SOM Objectivism is better.
4. Platt Holden's insistence that Rush Limbaugh (a Radio and TV chat show
presenter, bigot, racist and misogynist) is an example high Intellectual Quality
(clearly cited by Platt Holden to be more so that MIT member Noam Chomsky)
raises troubling doubts regarding Platt Holden's ability to discern Intellectual
Quality.
5. Rand's philosophy and the MOQ are totally incompatible.
6. Platt Holden is not making a significant intellectual contribution to the
development of the MOQ, rather, he is undermining it by doubting Intellectual
Quality and aggressively arguing for the removal of Intellectual Quality and
suggesting Ayn Rand's Rational egoistic SOM Objectivist 'individual level'
should replace it.
Questions:
a. Why does Platt Holden contribute to the MOQ.org?
b. Is Platt Holden deliberately trying to undermine the MOQ for political
purposes?
All the best,
Mark
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