Favorite Philosopher

[KeeptheChange]

Jesus Christ or maybe Ayn Rand.

[KeeptheChange]

Jesus Christ or maybe Ayn Rand.

A little too stupid, I think. Going to have to try harder, o ye of little trolling skill.

Um.  Wait.  They are NOT philosophers?  I have read the writings of both.  Now, one could argue that Rand was simply a novelist.  That's like saying T.S. Elliot was just a poet.  The teachings of Christ have changed my life and so have the writings of Ayn Rand.  Well, I have to admit...I haven't read "The Fountainhead" yet.  But "Atlas Shrugged" is precisely what my life needed at the time.  (And quite frankly, it has the underpinnings that this country needs in order to turn our nation around.)

But by all means -- continue to accuse everyone you disagree with of being a troll. It's much easier than engaging actual ideas.

[KeeptheChange]

Jesus Christ or maybe Ayn Rand.

A little too stupid, I think. Going to have to try harder, o ye of little trolling skill.

Um.  Wait.  They are NOT philosophers?  I have read the writings of both.  Now, one could argue that Rand was simply a novelist.  That's like saying T.S. Elliot was just a poet.  The teachings of Christ have changed my life and so have the writings of Ayn Rand.  Well, I have to admit...I haven't read "The Fountainhead" yet.  But "Atlas Shrugged" is precisely what my life needed at the time.  (And quite frankly, it has the underpinnings that this country needs in order to turn our nation around.)

But by all means -- continue to accuse everyone you disagree with of being a troll. It's much easier than engaging actual ideas.

The teachings of Christ and Ayn Rand are pretty much in direct conflict with each other.

Not really.  Rand never condemned charity.  In fact, she would say that if giving to the poor makes you happy or fulfilled, you owe it to yourself to do it.  The idea is that no one should be FORCED to hand over their hard-earned money or do anything charitably. Jesus taught that good deeds should come from the heart and not at the point of a sword.  I think the two dovetaile very nicely.  And both show the current, slouching-toward-socialsm culture of the United States to be a case of "The Emperor Has No Clothes".

[KeeptheChange]

When did Rand adovate greed?  She said a person should make himself happy but that his right to be happy ended where someone else's began.  Seems consistent, both with Jesus and the Constitution.

I am sure some people use Rand (and Jesus) to justify all kinds of bad behavior.  But for the sake of this discussion, let's just leave it that both philosophers are among my favorite of all time.  That was the original question.