Dan Barber

Aaron, So we don't owe you a hundred bucks? (I have this running joke, if you can offend me, I'll pay you 100 bucks.) No, I didn't think you were angry, perhpas disappointed or unchallenged intellectually, perhaps, as is sometimes the case; not enough single chicks? But definitely not angry. I ve seem my share of that, believe me. Thanks for the compliment! I agree, we are not your ordinary objectivists. Perhaps due to objective based theoretic work, we have enough of our emotional needs fulfilled, were we are able to finally look outward for the values in others too. This is success, as far as I'm concerned! Thank you Dan

Hello Jenna, We started the group with a handful of Objectivists who were like you; ready to "apply" what they had learned. Take the training wheels off. And open the circle a bit. See if the objective principle has enough integrity to stand up to the ultimate test in the free market of ideas. Inviting those that were interested in a reason based moral community to celebrate life, achievement, heroes, friends, life’s milestones, etc. All the good things that a church community does, without the supernaturalism. YES we are constantly criticized for the church like part of the organization. Specifically the once a month FORum we hold in a Unitarian Church. But I look at as re-claiming valuable concepts that super naturalists have no patent on. The results has been many years of very fulfilling and challenging discussions at every event we host. up to 22 per month! Not just a bunch of head nodding agreement, or the inevitable tweaking of very minute details about what Ayn Rand meant when she said this or that. Which keeps things very fresh! The basic idea that, through relationships people eventually consider new perspectives and eventually accept better systems for personal flourishing. I'm sorry there isn't one in your area, but we have all the systems in place for you to start one. www.fellowshipofreason.com I recommend moderating a small philosophy cafe in a local bookstore, talk about the different branches of philosophy and develop a bond with about 10 people who want to take it to the next level. Please contact me personally if serious about this. autodoc@earthlink.net Sorry Barbera for temporarily hijacking this thread. Back to the regularly scheduled programming! Dan

Hello Aaron, There are basically 2 main influential groups that drive the direction of F.O.R. Right now it is a balance between the two. So depending on who you talk with in the group, you have an equal chance to get either side of the coin. In one camp, we have many who use the term personal flourishing though "applied objectivism". In the other you will hear personal flourishing though a classic philosophical education. (They might think Rand was at best, a hack philosopher) Thus the emergent term is eudiamonism. The better way to handle this is to find out if their is something valuable to their perspective, rather than walk away angry. This serves the individual best. After all the common denominator of us all is; the desire to live the examined life. I don't think there is any one leader that wants to turn the group into a pure objectivist group. But we do support anyone bent in exploring that fine moral direction. I think of us as a supplement to any reason based activist group out there, or a fine wine to go with a nice objectivist meal! Speaking of wine, why don't you come up to the lake this weekend and enjoy an adult beverage with us and we can discuss the benefits and plans for the future of F.O.R! Dan Call me 770-595-6106

Thanks for the welcome Michael, I read all that I can on all the discussion groups. Distilling the valuable stuff from the immature. You have quite the task on your hands. Nice job with this site! I'm proud to contribute to it. We (F.O.R) have our own dynamics. We continually get motivated objectivist joining us who like what we are doing, but want to influence us to become more of what they long for; a living breathing objectivist group in Atlanta, which it is not. It is applied objectivism. Thus we garner people from a larger pool of philosphy. And this has its own challenges built into it. Challenges that have the effect of honing and polishing the current leaders of the group. Which achieves the desired effect! Bottom line we are not an activist organization, thus people with any agenda except their own personal flourish-ment will be disappointed. People seem to join groups sometimes, to get others to do what they are not strong enough to handle by themselves. BTW. That picture was taken at a Halloween party, and rumor has it, that is the only day when I can safely show my true colors, <wink> Dan

I think the single biggest plague is the death of the leader. Ms. Rand Another credible enough leader has not come along and evolved the philosophy enough, for it to stand on its newest legs yet. We have plenty of good enough parott-ers, to keep status quo. We are all in the noble process of evolving it. All this fracturing and bickering is actually the facilitator of the needed changes. One day we will look back (if we are still alive) and see that the next stage in the development of a newly respected objective moral system was built though all the turmoil and the pain. I'm sorry that so many must suffer for such a worthy cause. Dan