Is anyone here familiar with the philosophy of Ayn Rand? You may be more familiar with her literary work (Anthem, Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, We the Living) which has developed somewhat of a popular cult following. She is a modern rationalist, detests Kant and all subjectivism, solipcism, and idealism. Her philosophy, Objectivism, champions the preeminance of EGO.

My experience in this community seems to indicate that many of you consider a well-nourished EGO to be problematic and antithetical to the path of human progress. So I guess what I'm asking is, if you are familiar with Ayn Rand or her works, what is your reaction to her ideas?

[quote author=Timothy_417 link=board=5;threadid=2819;start=0#msg14223 date=1064763076]
My experience in this community seems to indicate that many of you consider a well-nourished EGO to be problematic and antithetical to the path of human progress. So I guess what I'm asking is, if you are familiar with Ayn Rand or her works, what is your reaction to her ideas?
[/quote]

hi Timothy,

I've only read Rand's "Virtues of Selfishness", years ago, and wasn't impressed with her at all. I know she has a following, and I know that I don't know enough about her philosophical ideas to be very critical. I'll try to remedy this lack of knowledge on my part, BUT.......I am not really anti-Ego. I think the Ego can and sometimes should be used as a tool, and that it serves a function in terms of helping us to function in this world (the experience of which we create in our mind, of course). However, what is important about Ego is its relation to an Ego-less base or source. That is, I would like to see more people anchor their Egos within the source, the Self...... that is, to understand their Ego in relation to the Self, and that the Ego is merely a construct, a fiction of sorts that causes untold suffering and has other dire consequences if we make the big mistake of identifying with it.

[quote]I think the Ego can and sometimes should be used as a tool, and that it serves a function in terms of helping us to function in this world (the experience of which we create in our mind, of course). However, what is important about Ego is its relation to an Ego-less base or source.[/quote]

Hm, this is very interesting. Maybe we should start a topic about the ego and its role, both biological and phychological, and what implication this has for philosophy. Or would that belong in a different forum?

I guess my first question would be, what does it mean to be an ego-less Self. Aren't the two terms oxymoronic? I can't seem to get my head around the idea.[quote][/quote]