| Friday, May 02, 2003 |
 |
Problems with OPAR
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:50 AM
On the Nathaniel Branden Forum, I posted this snide comment in response to the usual urban legend that Ayn Rand designated Leonard Peikoff as her intellectual heir:
If my memory serves me, Rand did publicly designate Branden as her intellectual heir -- but she never did so with Peikoff. That's a title that he chose to assume himself after her death. (It's one of those "If I repeat it often enough maybe it will be true" sort of things, I think -- and many people seem to have bought it.)
In any case, even if Rand had designated Peikoff as her "intellectual heir," I think she would have taken it all back upon reading OPAR!
In response, Alya asked me what problems I see with OPAR (a.k.a Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand). Here's my reply:
On a casual reading, OPAR is fine. But many of his discussions, when examined in depth, turn out to be just plain wrong. Upon such close inspection, I've found his treatments of honesty, of the pre-moral choice to live, and of philosophy of mind to all be terrible. (Sadly, these are three of the five issues I've looked at in detail. As for the other two, productiveness and volition, I'm just not entirely certain of my worries.) The details:
Honesty: Peikoff treats all dishonesty with others as if were a form of self-deception so as to make his "war against reality" argument apply to dishonesty with others. He offhandedly claims that lying to protect privacy is moral -- in direct contradiction to the correct and Rand-endorsed comments by Nathaniel Branden in Basic Principles of Objectivism.
Choice to Live: The choice to live is pre-moral in Objectivism, as it is the foundation of all other moral (hypothetical) imperatives. But Peikoff serves up a morally condemnatory evaluation of suicide in OPAR. Tara Smith gets the issue right in Viable Values, as does David Kelley in his review of OPAR.
Philosophy of Mind: His discussion is completely incoherent and betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of even the basics of analytic philosophy of mind. (I do think that analytic philosophy of mind is a huge mess, but it is not guilty of the errors Peikoff attributes to it.) I have some more detailed comments on this issue toward the end of my paper "Mind in Objectivism." (I was, mind you, generous to Peikoff in those comments.)
More generally, the OPAR doesn't meet minimal philosophical standards for clarity and fairness (to opposing views) -- unlike other excellent Objectivist works like Viable Values and Evidence of the Senses. (If only TOC would finish and publish The Logical Structure of Objectivism, although that may be fairly unlikely at this point.)
BTW, chapter-by-chapter commentaries on OPAR were published on MDOP back in 1992. They are worth checking out at http://www.olist.com/au.html.
I also wrote some critical comments on OPAR in this post asking why people often recommend Peikoff over Rand to those learning about Objectivism and this post on the problems with his discussions of free will and honesty. Reading that, I remembered my objection to his discussion of free will: "His discussion of free will, for example, makes little sense devoid of the usual context of the necessity of thinking to human survival. As a result, Peikoff's discussion leaves the distinct impression that there is a duty to think." Yup, that's it!
Link / Noodles / Trackback
|
 |
| Wednesday, April 30, 2003 |
|
Republican Dreamin'
By Diana Hsieh @ 10:15 PM
Even in their wet dreams, the Republicans never imagined something so wonderful as the possibility that Lyndon LaRouche might be included in the nationally broadcast presidential debate on May 3rd. Apparently, various South Carolinian and other Democratic Party activists, including Joycelyn Elders, want him included. Frankly, I'm very interested in Kerry's and Leiberman's response to the man's take on energy policy:
Now, the point is... Now, this goes back to a piece of scientific idiocy, which was understood already -- the problem was understood by Plato, already. The concept of power, as opposed to that idiot Aristotle's concept of energy. So, when people talk to you about nuclear energy, or solar energy, they're Aristotelean idiots, who shouldn't be talking. They should be monkeys, and not talk. They can chatter, but not talk.
Because, the issue here is power.
Now, power is reflected in various ways in terms of energy, relative to what people call energy. Power had two features, generally, descriptively, in the form of energy. This is not where power comes from, but this is what power reflects, in terms of energy language. One, is energy flux density. What is the intensity of energy, apparent energy, per square kilometer, cross section area of motion? It's called energy flux density.
Now, compare the energy flux densities of various modes of power generation. Solar power is the least efficient. As a matter of fact, the use of solar power is insane. Because solar power has a very important use on this planet. Light. Light. What we want is more vegetables. We want more foliage. We want the deserts to bloom. What we want to do, is we want to get areas which are too hot, to cool down. We want more moderate weather. We want to turn the deserts into areas where people can live, under normal conditions.
But wait, there's more! He lost me somewhere around the proposal about mango trees, I admit.
I'm sure he won't be included... but oh what a thought!
Link / Noodles / Trackback
|
|
|
The Russsians Will Save Us
By Diana Hsieh @ 11:13 AM
Den Beste always seems to be ahead of the curve in his political analysis, which is why I find this commentary particularly noteworthy. Apparently, Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg are gunning for an EU-controlled military force independent of NATO. They've already decided to create a military command. The problem, Den Beste notes, is that there is little to command, as none of these countries have a substantial military. For various economic reasons, a buildup of forces seems unlikely. So, what shall be done? Den Beste writes:
But never fear! Paris is on the case, and has a solution. Europe needs an independent military which is capable of "counterbalancing" the US, but doesn't want to pay for it. Europe needs a nation which actually has a force large enough to be credible, which can become a partner in Europe's defense so as to protect Europe from American aggression. (Which is to say, Europe needs a new free ride.)
In short, Europe needs Russia to come in to Western Europe and save it from America.
Which is why French defense minister Michèle Alliot-Marie is in Moscow right now, trying to talk up the idea. Russia can supply the troops, France can supply the commanders and the wisdom. Western Europe will finally be liberated from oppressive and cruel American military occupation through the agency of the friendly and solicitous Russian Army.
I do rather wonder just how this idea is going to play in places like Prague and Warsaw and Bucharest, who have a somewhat different opinion of the Russians than the French evidently have.
Indeed.
Link / Noodles / Trackback
|
|
|
Morally Sickening
By Diana Hsieh @ 10:48 AM
In response to Virginia Postrel on the abuse of the word brave, Glenn Reynolds writes:
What really interests me is that people think that they've made a moral argument against genetic engineering when they say that the idea "sickens" them. The idea of sodomy "sickens" some people, too. So does the idea of interracial marriage.
So you feel ill. Why should I care? After all, pompous, empty-headed moralizing sickens me, and nobody's stopping that.
As Glenn would say: Heh.
Link / Noodles / Trackback
|
|
| Monday, April 28, 2003 |
|
Rapists on Campus
By Diana Hsieh @ 10:46 PM
This delightful news tidbit just arrived in my inbox.
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 22:37:15 -0600 (MDT)
From: Vital Student E-memo <memofrom@Colorado.EDU>
Subject: Crime Alert
TO: All Boulder Campus Students
FROM: CU Police
SENDER: Jacqueline.Johnson@Colorado.EDU
DATE: 04/28/03
SUBJECT: Crime Alert
Dear Students:
We are writing to provide an update on investigations into recent assaults in Boulder and to ask your help if you have any related information. The University of Colorado Police and the Boulder Police are investigating three recent assaults upon women which occurred recently in Boulder.
On early Sunday morning, April 20, 2003, at about 1:30 a.m., a woman was sexually assaulted north of Norlin Library on the Boulder campus. In that incident, two males accosted the victim. One male sexually assaulted the woman while the other stood by as a lookout.
The suspects were described as being white college-age males. The male who acted as a lookout has brown hair. The male who assaulted the victim has red hair. A composite drawing of the male who sexually assaulted the victim is available at the UCPD web site, www.Colorado.edu/police.
On Saturday morning, April 26, 2003, at about 3:00 a.m., a woman was attacked by two unknown assailants on the Boulder Creek bike path near Boulder High School. Witnesses in the area heard the victim scream, and came to her aid. The witnesses chased the two suspects, but were unable to catch them.
The suspects were described as being white males, both about 5 feet, 6 inches tall. One might have been wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt. Baseball caps were found at the scene which may belong to the suspects. One cap was a blue and orange Miami Dolphins cap and the other was black with the letter -A- on it. Photographs of the hats and additional information is available at the Boulder Police website: www.ci.boulder.co.us/comm/pressrelease/2003/0428.html.
On Sunday morning about 2:00 a.m., a woman reported that she was physically assaulted by a lone male in the Hill area. The attack occurred in the west alley of the 1100 block of 13th Street, behind the Sink. The suspect was described as a white male in his early twenties, and was -short and skinny.- He was wearing a black shirt with an unknown logo on it, and khaki pants.
We encourage all citizens, including our students, to exercise safety precautions that can help prevent an attack. These include using free escorts available by NightRide/NightWalk which can be reached by calling (303) 492-SAFE, walk with friends at night time, carry a safety whistle, and be aware of surroundings. A map of emergency telephones on campus is available at the UCPD website, www.colorado.edu/police/safety/et.html. Safety whistles and copies of UCPD's Safety Information and Resource Guide are available without cost at UCPD, 1050 Regent Drive.
They want me to carry of safety whistle! A safety whistle! I'll be sure to blow it loudly while waving the "UCPD's Safety Information and Resource Guide" in any attacker's face.
Christ. I want my Ruger to protect myself from rapists on campus, not a god-damned useless fucking safety whistle. But the university forbids students with concealed carry permits from carrying on campus, even though state law permits it. So let's just say it outright: The Administration of the University of Colorado at Boulder is objectively pro-rape.
Link / Noodles / Trackback
|
|
| | |
Blog Stuff
All Comments
Trackback
NoodleFood XML
Good Stuff
Meredith Brickell Ceramics
Paul Hsieh's GeekPress
Front Range Objectivism
Ayn Rand Institute
Archives
03/03/2002 - 03/09/2002
03/10/2002 - 03/16/2002
03/17/2002 - 03/23/2002
03/24/2002 - 03/30/2002
03/31/2002 - 04/06/2002
04/07/2002 - 04/13/2002
04/14/2002 - 04/20/2002
04/21/2002 - 04/27/2002
05/05/2002 - 05/11/2002
05/12/2002 - 05/18/2002
05/19/2002 - 05/25/2002
05/26/2002 - 06/01/2002
06/02/2002 - 06/08/2002
06/09/2002 - 06/15/2002
06/16/2002 - 06/22/2002
06/23/2002 - 06/29/2002
06/30/2002 - 07/06/2002
07/07/2002 - 07/13/2002
07/14/2002 - 07/20/2002
07/21/2002 - 07/27/2002
08/04/2002 - 08/10/2002
08/11/2002 - 08/17/2002
08/18/2002 - 08/24/2002
08/25/2002 - 08/31/2002
09/01/2002 - 09/07/2002
09/08/2002 - 09/14/2002
09/15/2002 - 09/21/2002
09/22/2002 - 09/28/2002
09/29/2002 - 10/05/2002
10/06/2002 - 10/12/2002
10/13/2002 - 10/19/2002
10/20/2002 - 10/26/2002
10/27/2002 - 11/02/2002
11/03/2002 - 11/09/2002
11/10/2002 - 11/16/2002
11/17/2002 - 11/23/2002
11/24/2002 - 11/30/2002
12/01/2002 - 12/07/2002
12/08/2002 - 12/14/2002
12/15/2002 - 12/21/2002
12/29/2002 - 01/04/2003
01/05/2003 - 01/11/2003
01/12/2003 - 01/18/2003
01/19/2003 - 01/25/2003
01/26/2003 - 02/01/2003
02/02/2003 - 02/08/2003
02/09/2003 - 02/15/2003
02/16/2003 - 02/22/2003
02/23/2003 - 03/01/2003
03/02/2003 - 03/08/2003
03/09/2003 - 03/15/2003
03/16/2003 - 03/22/2003
03/23/2003 - 03/29/2003
03/30/2003 - 04/05/2003
04/06/2003 - 04/12/2003
04/13/2003 - 04/19/2003
04/20/2003 - 04/26/2003
04/27/2003 - 05/03/2003
05/04/2003 - 05/10/2003
05/11/2003 - 05/17/2003
05/18/2003 - 05/24/2003
05/25/2003 - 05/31/2003
06/01/2003 - 06/07/2003
06/08/2003 - 06/14/2003
06/15/2003 - 06/21/2003
06/22/2003 - 06/28/2003
07/27/2003 - 08/02/2003
08/03/2003 - 08/09/2003
08/10/2003 - 08/16/2003
08/17/2003 - 08/23/2003
08/24/2003 - 08/30/2003
10/05/2003 - 10/11/2003
10/12/2003 - 10/18/2003
10/19/2003 - 10/25/2003
10/26/2003 - 11/01/2003
11/02/2003 - 11/08/2003
11/09/2003 - 11/15/2003
11/16/2003 - 11/22/2003
11/23/2003 - 11/29/2003
11/30/2003 - 12/06/2003
12/07/2003 - 12/13/2003
12/14/2003 - 12/20/2003
12/21/2003 - 12/27/2003
01/04/2004 - 01/10/2004
01/11/2004 - 01/17/2004
01/18/2004 - 01/24/2004
01/25/2004 - 01/31/2004
02/01/2004 - 02/07/2004
02/08/2004 - 02/14/2004
02/15/2004 - 02/21/2004
02/22/2004 - 02/28/2004
02/29/2004 - 03/06/2004
03/07/2004 - 03/13/2004
03/14/2004 - 03/20/2004
03/21/2004 - 03/27/2004
03/28/2004 - 04/03/2004
04/04/2004 - 04/10/2004
04/11/2004 - 04/17/2004
04/18/2004 - 04/24/2004
04/25/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/02/2004 - 05/08/2004
05/23/2004 - 05/29/2004
05/30/2004 - 06/05/2004
06/06/2004 - 06/12/2004
06/13/2004 - 06/19/2004
06/20/2004 - 06/26/2004
06/27/2004 - 07/03/2004
07/04/2004 - 07/10/2004
07/11/2004 - 07/17/2004
07/18/2004 - 07/24/2004
07/25/2004 - 07/31/2004
08/01/2004 - 08/07/2004
08/08/2004 - 08/14/2004
08/15/2004 - 08/21/2004
08/22/2004 - 08/28/2004
08/29/2004 - 09/04/2004
09/05/2004 - 09/11/2004
09/12/2004 - 09/18/2004
09/19/2004 - 09/25/2004
09/26/2004 - 10/02/2004
10/03/2004 - 10/09/2004
10/10/2004 - 10/16/2004
10/17/2004 - 10/23/2004
10/24/2004 - 10/30/2004
10/31/2004 - 11/06/2004
11/07/2004 - 11/13/2004
11/14/2004 - 11/20/2004
11/21/2004 - 11/27/2004
11/28/2004 - 12/04/2004
12/12/2004 - 12/18/2004
01/02/2005 - 01/08/2005
01/09/2005 - 01/15/2005
01/16/2005 - 01/22/2005
01/23/2005 - 01/29/2005
01/30/2005 - 02/05/2005
02/06/2005 - 02/12/2005
02/13/2005 - 02/19/2005
02/20/2005 - 02/26/2005
02/27/2005 - 03/05/2005
03/06/2005 - 03/12/2005
03/13/2005 - 03/19/2005
03/20/2005 - 03/26/2005
03/27/2005 - 04/02/2005
Lasagne Blogs
GeekPress
Best of the Web
Instapundit
Volokh Conspiracy
Daily Dish
The Bleat
Impromptus
Manicotti Blogs
Anger Management
Absolute Reason
Ayn Rand Meta-Blog
GeekPress
Blog Without a Name
Brian Schwartz
Cox and Forkum
Dollars and Crosses
Ego
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
GMU Objectivist Club
Greedy Capitalist
Haight Speech
In the Mouth of Madison
Jerk Sauce
John J Enright
Light of Reason
Marshall Sontag Live!
Minority of One
Mudita Journal
Not A Blog
Noumenal Self
O.T.H.E.R.'s Blog
Poor and Stupid
Positive Liberty
Quare
Rule of Reason
Presence of Mind
Sid's Blog of Doom
Terrible Swift Sword
Venting Steam
Wickens.ca
Atlasphere Bloggers
Objectivist Bloggers
Conchiglie Blogs
Dynamist Blog
The Agitator
The Anger of Compassion
Asymmetrical Information
Armed and Dangerous
Banana Oil
Catallaxy Files
Charles Murtaugh
Citizen Smash
The Corner
EnviroSpin Watch
Eve Tushnet
The Fly Bottle
God of the Machine
Gweilo Diaries
The Idiot Villager
Intel Dump
Interrobang
Julian's Lounge
The Kolkata Libertarian
Liberty and Power
Locke, or Demosthenes?
McBlog
The Marmot's Hole
Natalie Solent
OxBlog
Raving Atheist
Reductio Ad Absurdum
The Right Coast
Right Wing News
Samizdata
Sargent Stryker
Secular Islam
Shoutin' Across the Pacific
Tom Palmer
The Truth Laid Bear
Two Blowhards
An Unsealed Room
VodkaPundit
Capellini Blogs
Critical Mass
Brian's Education
Cranky Professor
Discriminations
Highered Intelligence
SCSU Scholars
Tightly Wound
Spaghetti Blogs
Joanne Jacobs
EducationWeak
Home School & Stuff
Number 2 Pencil
Fettuccine Blogs
Apple Core
Assigned Seat
Assorted Stuff
Entry Year Teacher
Math Teacher
Ms. Frizzle
School Yard
Science Teacher
Teaching High School
Weblogg Ed
Write It
Linguini Blogs
Chez Miscarriage
Konkadoo
Loco Parentis
Rational Parenting
One Sixteeth
Our Homeschool Journey
Our Horrible Children
Penne Blogs
Brian Leiter
Rod Long
Brian Weatherson
Rigatoni Blogs
Criminal Appeal
Is That Legal?
Legal Theory
Lessig Blog
Mirror of Justice
Punishment Theory
Stephan Kinsella
Unlearned Hand
Macaroni Blogs
Adam Smith Blog
Brad DeLong
EconLog
Economist
Marginal Revolution
Rigatoni Blogs
The Loom
ScienceBlog
Orzo Blogs
Andrew Breese
Terry Foote
Ted O'Connor
Kirez Reynolds
Peter Saint-Andre
Mike Shapiro
Douglas Wagoner's Journal
Ramen Blogs
Dave Barry
Fark
ScrappleFace
Support
Amazon.com
|
|
