Philosophy: Who Needs It

One of my favorites of Rand's non-fiction books. It was compiled mostly from her newsletter, The Ayn Rand Letter, right before the end of her life and shows her rallying yet again to present her thoughts in a very clear and concise overview of, "the supremacy of reason". I particularlly like chapter 4, "The Missing Link" about the anti-conceptual mentality and it's roots. And chapter 7, "Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World". Also chapter 13, "The Stimulus and the Repsonse" about "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" by BF Skinner who was declared the world's leading intellectual influnece during my public high school education, most unfortunately, while Rand herself was banished. Rand's clarity of mind, precision with concepts, and specific use of words is extraordinarily sharp here as she debunks one philosophical fallacy after another. She's highly consistent throughout this book as she addresses many of the fundamental moral issues that still remained with regard to a better understanding of her Objectivist philosophy. This' her last and final appraisal of our culture and it also shows her eloborating her essential arguments on what she still considered the most important issues.

This is the best starting point if you want to understand Objectivism. I do not agree with everything Ayn Rand ever said, but I do agree with a lot of it. I studied her philosophy for a number of years and researched many of her critics--of which there is no shortage. I have never found a legitimate argument against her philosophical ideas. I do not agree with her on the death penalty or gay marriage, but those topics are not something she spent much time convincing people of because it was more of an opinion than a search for or discovery of truth. The only counterpoints I have seen on her philosophy were bogus--they were all arguing with straw men and patting themselves on the back for being so clever. There are three camps of Ayn Rand critics: those who haven't understood her, ad hominem, and those who are simply wrong. Nathaniel Branden's criticism of Objectivism wasn't released until 1984 almost two years after her death. I think it's because he knew she would have taken his lunch money and gave him a wedgie. If I can refute every point he made with ease, she would have made it look like an art form.I think some people are intimidated by her staunch rationality, her black and white thinking. Ayn Rand's writing perspective (her voice) is very strong: some folks take it to mean "I am right and you are wrong!" She was a severe rationalist, so people more attuned to their feelings and emotions will have more trouble accepting her ideas; while fellow rationalists will absorb it and relate far more readily.Here's a free one: she never said to repress emotions. She said they are not good indicators for making choices. Of course if you're deciding what color bridesmaid dresses to get for your wedding, go ahead and think about it with your emotions--I'm sure green does make you FEEL different than brown. However, if you are investing in a company or signing a congressional act into law, for god-sake, don't let it be swayed by the color of the logo or how it makes you feel--it should be an act of the rational mind weighing all the concretes.If you read this book with the intent of acquiring knowledge, you will not be disappointed. There are not many books I can point to and sincerely say that it "changed my life," but this is one of them.

After reading Atlas Shrugged and finding an author and philosophy that fit my personal morality and basic premises of thought - I needed to know and understand more. Ayn Rand is putting a technical understanding to my way of life and thinking... It is very refreshing and inspiring to find such eloquent explanations and theory to a system that I had simply assumed because it felt right. Without the technical foundation, I frequently come to the same conclusions and ends, but the journey has been more difficult. I feel like her life study of putting together her philosophy of Objectivism is helping to clarify my own thoughts and reasoning - so that the path of my journey is being clarified. It is also an excellent lesson that gives me a better way to express my core logic and thoughts to others more effectively - hopefully to combat the many issues we are facing today!

therefore i bet this book will be a worthwhile read for me

I like Ayn Rand's philosophy as it was expressed in her novels very much but this is another case. In this selection of articles, discussions and essays A. R. shows what philosophy is about. If you are philosopher, you could find some challenging ideas here. If you are not, you could start to trust in philosophy after reading this volume. A. R. argues ambisiously that everybody either needs philosophy or has his/her personal philosophy already developed. Philosophy in Rand's meaning is something deeply rooted in our everydays lives. Still, she does not consider philosophy just generalizations arising from hurly-burly of everyday lives. She offers another picture of philosophy - it is serious way of thinking on what we strive for, on our needs, on our likes and dislikes, etc. Such a philosophy is serious enterprise - and can be very helpful to everybody, as A. R. argues.Tha essays includes into this volume also throw light to some parts of her novels. I would suggest reading both of them, novels and this "Philosophy". At least try to read this volume shortly after reading her Atlas Shrugged.

Yeah, she's weird, but although the stuff she wrote and delivered to audiences (many college and the like) spans from the 1960's in some cases, the information appears relevant today. Not finished with it yet, but found good stuff in it, although when she writes for instance, that (in the 1960's) the USA was on its last leg, as it were, obviously she was wrong. Also recommend her novel Atlas Shrugged (and expensive one) as a well-written insight into the ways of powerful men and blind followers. It is a gripping tale, but strangely relevant again for the times in which we live. We folks really do have to open our eyes to the excesses of control and the small minds of many within leadership roles.

Corresponde ao descrito

Ayn Rand identifica los principios detrás de las ideas que se mueven en los círculos intelectuales de Estados Unidos.Saludos.

Philosophy, we need it.

A must read book for all the younger generation ... It portrays the philosophy in a magical way. You would love it if you pick this ...

If you feel like a boat adrift in a sea of other people's ideas, start here. When you have read only a few pages of Rand's work, even though you may agree or disagree with her philosophy, you close the book and find you view the world around you in totally different ways.