You'd think that in all the discussion about Ayn Rand (widely known/loved/hated author of The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957), and originator of a philosophy she called Objectivism) that has been generated in American culture to date, the subject of the author's one cameo appearance in her novels would not have gone almost totally undetected in that discussion. But no. What we have here is a failure to integrate. On the one hand, we have all this discussion about the author and her novels, and on the other hand, we have near-complete ignorance among the populace as to where that author made a cameo appearance. But an analysis of that cameo appearance both (a) demonstrates the awesomeness of Objectivism and (b) points inextricably to a massive, gaping plot hole.
This may well go down as one of the biggest checkmates in history, for nearly everyone concerned. Not for me, though. I got here first. ;-) Anyway, the eventual outcome of said checkmating is going to be awesome, for all concerned.
The likes of Bill Maher are a triviality at this point, squashable little roaches. (Easy, just get 'em cornered, and drop something heavy on 'em. Reisman's Capitalism comes readily to mind.) Simply ask Leonard Peikoff what he thinks about Rand's Objectivist philosophy at age 78 or thereabouts, compared to what he thought about it at 19. He'll probably tell you that her philosophy is all about the fundamental need of mental integration for successful human living. You can also even ask Rand's former associate until 1968 (but hardly an "ex-Objectivist" - an impossibility given the right training, BTW; I've reached this absolutely certain conclusion inductively based on observation of countless real, concrete, serious students of Objectivism who are all perfectly normal, happy, and functional), Nathaniel Branden. Or Allan Gotthelf, for crying out loud. Bill Maher doesn't understand jack shit about Ayn Rand's ideas. Simple as that. Checkmate, asshole. (Now into Maher mocking sneery-voice mode.) Hey, here's a clue for you, asshole: Paul Ryan isn't Leonard Peikoff! I've got proof right here:
Paul Ryan:
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| "I'm congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin, chair of the House Budget Committee and the 2012 GOP Vice Presidential nominee." |
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| "I'm Leonard Peikoff, the foremost authority on Ayn Rand's philosophy. If you have questions about what Rand really thought, I'm the best guy to ask. I have written a book, Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (1991), which presents a fundamental, tightly integrated view of man and his relation to existence. My lecture courses are available for purchase for around $10 each, or roughly 40 cents an hour. The coming generation of highly-information-savvy college students interested in Ayn Rand's ideas are gonna just love these; I'd seriously and strongly urge today's philosophy professors to prepare themselves for the coming stampede. Bill who?" |
Methinks that the likes of Bill Maher are guilty of a psychological phenomenon known as projection, seeing as how the grotesque caricature involved resembles no serious adult students of Objectivism. So their attributions of whatever psychological shortcomings in their fantasy version of "Objectivists" come from somewhere within them. Maybe Maher at 19 was a clueless idiot, more or less like he is now? This is a much, much better, simpler explanation than that it's Rand and not Maher who's the asshole here. And if Maher's so great and intellectual and so concerned about the root of the country's ills, why doesn't he at least have Chomsky on his show as a regular, much less an actual student of Objectivism with a clue? (Don Watkins would be a great choice of guest for Maher's show, would he not. He's the one currently teaching the up-and-comers all about writing and communicating objectively and compellingly.)
(Also, I hate having to take "l"s out of "Mahler" just to spell this asshole's name right. Can we not have any more talk about him until he's been whipped into intellectual shape? Thanks.)
Reminder: 11 days to go before I go on strike. Pity about poor Catherine, though. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
