Comments on: Bringing Objectivism into the Culture (Show 060)

By: Paul Hsieh

Paul Hsieh — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:08:02 +0000

In Colorado, we found that by focusing on a specific issue of importance to people (health care), we could really inject our ideas into the debate.

The Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine (FIRM) is not an Objectivist group, but a an ad hoc group of the type recommended by Ayn Rand in “What Can One Do?” (Philosophy: Who Needs It). The founder Lin Zinser, is an Objectivist, as are several members. Here is what we accomplished in our first year.

http://www.westandfirm.org/blog/2008/02/year-end-results.html

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:14:13 +0000

There’s no doubt that progress, whatever the degree, has been made, continues to be made, and can be made further — and I think that’s worth fighting for, even if the ideal isn’t fully realized in our lifetime. Don’t you?

Also, I do not think that spreading Objectivist ideas is a difficult task because it can be done by any person in a variety of ways, some of which have been described above. It can be as simple as writing a letter to the editor or sharing a book with a friend. You don’t have be a professional philosopher refuting every claim.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:15:48 +0000

Younger and newer Objectivists tend to be more optimistic about efforts to spread the philosophy to the masses than older ones. I think this is for two reasons. First, younger Objectivists tend not to appreciate that Objectivism is 50 years old already. It hasn’t exactly taken the world by storm these last 50 years and that creates serious doubts as to whether it will have better luck in the next 50.

Second, newer Objectivists haven’t had much personal experience trying to spread it themselves. It isn’t easy. I’m sure you’ve told your friends and family all about it. Any converts yet?

Objectivism is repulsive to most people. Maybe you guys will succeed in changing their minds.