Objections to Objectivism: critiques of Ayn Rand from a moderate O2O E04 - The Will of Society - guest Zach Schmitt
Apr 13, 2017
Zach Schmitt, a student of Russian literature and lay theologian, critiques Ayn Rand's Objectivism while contrasting her ideas with those of Walker Percy and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. He delves into whether individuals truly need societal judgment for self-discovery and questions Rand's claim of unattainable self-knowledge. The conversation also explores the balance between individualism and community, as well as the role of art in expressing truth against a backdrop of cultural influences. Schmitt's insights challenge the idea that autonomy must be devoid of societal connection.
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Knowing Oneself
- Ayn Rand believes man is an end in himself, achievable through reason.
- Walker Percy counters, arguing humans understand themselves less than the Andromeda galaxy.
External Purpose
- People's purposes often lie outside themselves, like family or faith.
- This external focus drives them, not self-interest, contrasting with Rand's view.
Slavery to Self
- Serving oneself exclusively leads to neglecting everything else.
- Rand's philosophy makes individuals slaves to their own reason, limiting their capacity for selflessness.
