Nathaniel Branden interview with comment about Peikoff

[Alfonso Jones]

There's a new NB interview at http://www.rightsidenews.com/200912137761/politics-and-economics/nathaniel-branden-on-ayn-rand-her-philosophy-and-the-psychology-of-self-esteem.html.

A highlight:

Daily Bell: You are a libertarian (if an unenthusiastic one) whereas Rand's famous disciple Leonard Peikoff believes, apparently, in a pro-active, overseas, state-run military. How does Peikoff square an aggressive military endeavor like those managed by the American Pentagon (with 1,000 overseas bases) with Randian thought?

Branden: I am not a student of the writings of Leonard Peikoff. Viewed from my context, he is not a serious thinker.

Good one.

Bill P

[Alfonso Jones]

There's a new NB interview at http://www.rightsidenews.com/200912137761/politics-and-economics/nathaniel-branden-on-ayn-rand-her-philosophy-and-the-psychology-of-self-esteem.html.'>http://www.rightsidenews.com/200912137761/politics-and-economics/nathaniel-branden-on-ayn-rand-her-philosophy-and-the-psychology-of-self-esteem.html.

A highlight:

Daily Bell: You are a libertarian (if an unenthusiastic one) whereas Rand's famous disciple Leonard Peikoff believes, apparently, in a pro-active, overseas, state-run military. How does Peikoff square an aggressive military endeavor like those managed by the American Pentagon (with 1,000 overseas bases) with Randian thought?

Branden: I am not a student of the writings of Leonard Peikoff. Viewed from my context, he is not a serious thinker.

Good one.

Bill P

AARRGGHH! The software incorporated my end-of-sentence period into the URL.

Here's the link, hopefully now functional:

http://www.rightsidenews.com/200912137761/politics-and-economics/nathaniel-branden-on-ayn-rand-her-philosophy-and-the-psychology-of-self-esteem.html

Good fortune.

Bill P

[Chris Grieb]

The link works and it is a very good interview.

[Brant Gaede]

The link works and it is a very good interview.

His brain seems to be working as good as it did 30 years ago, plus there is a great economy of effort.

--Brant

[Alfonso Jones]

The link works and it is a very good interview.

His brain seems to be working as good as it did 30 years ago, plus there is a great economy of effort.

--Brant

Even the interviewer comments after the end of the interviewer about Branden's terseness.

An impressive survivor, who has accomplished much in his life. The whole NBI conceptualization and launch, turning Objectivism into something more than it had been, and then the post-1968 career.

Bill P

[Guyau]

Scott Smith writes:

“The insight . . . that from our point of view does not necessarily complement Austrian economic perspectives has to do with Rand's insistence that charity and private generosity is not necessarily moral and is in fact from her point of view immoral.”

The last clause of that sentence is false if one goes squarely by Rand’s writings. See further; also.

.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Stephen Boydstun

[merjet]

Adding to Stephen Boydstun's comment, charity.