Allan Gotthelf interview

[Victor Pross]

Allan Gotthelf talks about his book, "ON AYN RAND"

http://www.prodos.com/archive079gotthelf01.html

Topics covered include:

*“On Ayn Rand” – at the time of the interview – was the latest addition to the Wadsworth Philosophers Series.

*The Benevolent Universe Premise and the Heroic View of Man.

*What value is central to Ayn Rand’s view of a hero?

*What is reason?

*What are emotions?Is there a connection between the two?

*Are reason and emotions at odds with each other? Are reason and passion mutually exclusive?

*Reason and self-esteem.

*The actress who didn’t believe she needed philosophy. Why was she wrong? What’s the danger in consciously discarding philosophy?

*How should a person gain his philosophy?

*What is philosophy?

*What is the meaning of life? And is mysticism required to answer this question?

*What is “value”?

*What does human survival require?

*What does it mean for a human being “to live”?

*Selfishness: what is it according to Ayn Rand? Contrasting it with the Nietzchien view.

*The harmony of rational interests.

*In Ayn Rand’s novel, "The Fountainhead," Howard Roark gives up a job that would bring him wealth and fame. How was that, by Ayn Rand’s philosophy, a selfish act?

*How did Allan Gotthelf first meet Ayn Rand? And what were her first words to him?

Dr. Gotthelf’s achievement with “On Ayn Rand”.

*How Dr.Gotthelf came to write the book.

*How the book is meant to be used?

*The origin of Ayn Rand’s name - and a correction.

*What were the first two titles that Ayn Rand chose for The Fountainhead before she settled on the published name? Why didn’t she use those names? Why was she never perfectly satisfied with the name The Fountainhead?

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Edited January 22, 2007 by Victor Pross