J.S. McGowan

Oh, I don't know that much about his political views... iv only shimmed his autobiography. The only material of his that I have read is about his views on religion. Would you regard Hitchins as a worthy character to uphold as a hero for the avocation of rationality and objectivist ideas?

Your comment seems to be a bit negative about human homosexuality. the majority of homosexuals I have met are very nice, healthy and successful people. Are you not prehaps generalizing? Im sure there is a high correlation between substance abusing, mentally ill, promiscuous homosexuals and homophobic prejudice.

I agree. Is this a public school? I am surprised that the teacher is allowed to give her opinion as teachable fact. Here the teachers are not allowed to state personal religious or political convictions as part of the lessons. Here's another rejoinder: "Yes, it is my opinion which is based on provable facts and science. Yours isn't," I go to a Private christian ethos school. Lucky me Oh and thanks for the youtube video ninth doctor. Even though Hitchins is a bit of a socialist. i cannot help but like him.

I make sure to tell them that I am speaking Hypothetically :-)

A teacher today said that Homosexuality is a personal life choice and that it is unnatural... I said that you get Gay Animals to which she said, "animals only act in such a way when there is no females available to mate with..." any comment on her response or the topic in general? :-)

Haha Thanks Adam. That be a mighty fine response. :-)

When ever I have discussions with people. I always get people blurting, "well that's just your opinion..." It seems that statement is made with the intention of invalidating what I have said. Its as if the people I argue with believe in multiple realities stemming from ones opinion... today for example: I got told off by my peers for challenging a teacher about her ideas on homosexuality, my peers told me that I mustn't challenge her because she is religious and I mustn't try to break down the foundations that she has built her life upon. When I said that I was just presenting scientific fact: they said that science has value in my own personal opinion and that the teacher upholds religion and that i mustn't challenge her beliefs because i might hurt her feelings... any reply or statement or idea that i propose is answered by "well that's just your opinion..." and I just don't know what to say...

I love Karl Pilkington, he is fantastic. I have seen most of the ricky gervais show and I have seen all of the Idiot Abroad. Im surprized no one else has posted some form of praise to the monumental figure that is Pilkington...

Thanks Michael, I enjoyed reading your post. It made alot of sense to me. :-)

I'm just a bit confused on determinism. How can the environment that one is born in not have a determining influence on a persons character... I understand that one can say that the person has made a volitional decision to go along with the social norms... but that doesn't satisfy me as a good enough explanation. If one sees mankind as being born tabula rasa (another issue I am skeptical about) how can one say that external influences do not dictate a mans character? The amount of psychological damage that has been done to the majority of South Africa over the centuries, seem to me, almost uncorrectable and I find it difficult to comprehend the amount of reparation that can cover the damage.

thanks Mr Marotta. you provided links to interesting reads :-) I'm still uncertain about Rorschach. but i certainly have gained some insight. One question I have remaining is: whether Rorschach's martyrdom can be compared to Kira Argounova's in We the Living?

what im gathering from these responses is that reparation is necessary but has been fulfilled. I doubt any Objectivist would agree with the policies of BBBEE (Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment) but when I see what goes on here in South Africa I cannot help but feel doubt about objectivism's denial of determinism: the situations that the majority face here seem almost impossible to transcend above...

I know that the Government is socialist. but what i am wondering is whether economic retribution, of some form, is justified because of what apartheid did to the country...

This is a question I have had for a long time that I have wanted to be answered by a more senior objectivist: in South Africa we have the Reconstruction and Development Program and the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment policies. These are put into place to redistribute wealth in post apartheid South Africa. I know these policies are immoral but when i take into account the sins of apartheid I can not help but wonder whether it would go against causality for "all to be forgiven". My question, for someone willing to give me an answer, is whether some form of retribution for the racist policies of the white nationalist government of South Africa is necesary and morally justifyable.

yes thats the opinion on 1984 that i heard.. it was one of Peikoffs Podcasts. I remember now but can the regime in 1984 be regarded as advanced and technologically capable? in the book the regime was barely able to maintain adequate lifestyles for its people. the majority live in abject poverty and the party members live on pathetic rations. I think the fault of the book is that it gives too much psychological power to the "Big Brother" regime. I don't think any totalitarian dictatorship could maintain the level of fanaticism that is in 1984. i think people would become distant and impartial and hence the regime would have no grounding in the public mind and would collapse.

Is Rorschach as an objectivist superhero as a result of his uncompromisable dedication to a black and white moral code? in the comic and movie: he doesn't seem to be be persistent with his morality: he brakes a bystanders fingers to coerces people into giving him information (that doesn't seem to be very objective but rather the act of a brute) when he kills the kidnapper in the movie and the book he appears to be driven more by emotion than thought, and is it "objectivist" to make oneself a martyr? Ayn Rand has specified that it is OK to lie when one is faced with death... Id like to hear what other people think about this though. At present I am unsure of whether Rorschach can be considered an objectivist...

cool id be interested to hear

I have read anthem and I enjoyed it alot. especially the anthem part

im just curious as to what ayn rand would have thought of Brazil. Plus i do think that plots should ultimately have some moral value. and im wondering whether the fact that sam lowry ultimately went crazy rather than give up his values gives Brazil value in the eyes of the Objectivist philosophy. I think it does... Im reading We the Living at the moment and doesnt its main characters/ heroes die in the end? doesnt that contradict ayn rand usual plot premise? (I cant say to much on the topic as i have not finished the book yet )

Hey just joined OL. Names Jacob. Im 17. I live in South Africa. Iv never actually met another objectivist so i thought joining a forum was the next best thing. "Converting" people to Objectivism is proving second too impossible here :-( I feel bad for asking (because i dont want to sound like an born again evangelist :-P) : but how does one go about opening other people up to objectivist ideas? When I speak about my views in class i get rolling of the eyes and general bad looks from my peers (especially in the history class)

Am I wrong in saying that Ayn Rand didnt like 1984... do you think she also would not have liked Brazil? they are both very similar in plot: but in 1984 Winston at the end comes to love Big Brother whereas Sam Lowry ends up going insane (so he doesnt really compremise his values...)

this is a question iv had on my mind for a long time that i have wanted to be answered by a senior objectivist. In South Africa we have the Reconstruction and Development Program and the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment policys: these are put in place to redistribute wealth in South Africa. I know they are wrong but when I take into account the sins of apartheid I wonder whether it would go against causality for "all to be forgiven". My question, for some one willing to put an answer in black and white terms, is whether or not some form of retribution for the racist policies, of the white Nationalist Government, needs to take place in South Africa and whether retribution (of some form or another) is moraly justified?

unfortunately chatzaf: im originally from the UK and I only moved down here 4 years ago. I have managed to retain my British "icksint" :-) Il defenitely have a look for that thread bout south African constitution and Il look into that book adam- thanks.

Has anyone seen the movie Brazil? I really enjoyed it. But it had a pretty morbid plot and I dont quite know what moral it is trying to impart. id like to know what other people think of it.

hey adam.nice to get a speedy reply I study history, Business studies and art.