On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:10:44 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:55:47 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:


I knew a Branden in boot camp, but maybe it was Brandon.
We never used first names, so I have no idea on that.
Too busy boating right now to look in the boot camp book.

--Vic


I believe the Branden referred to here was a follower of Ayn Rand,
originator of the most turgid bits of pseudo-philosophy and prose ever
perpetrated on mankind. Or close to it.

I started reading Atlas Shrugged once. Started. Quite a contrast in
the work of a Dostoevsky writing Crime and Punishment, and a Rand
writing her crap, though both were essentially writing about nihilism.

Um..not really.

Nihilism isn't a central feature of either novel. As defined nihilism
isn't redemptive in any sense as it is mostly about self and the
worthlessness of human endeavor - other words life has no worth, no
truth and no type of social action is worth more than any other.

C&P is a tale of redemption - salvation through suffering - the idea
that This is the notion that suffering cleanses the spirit allowing
for salvation in the eyes of God.

Atlas Shrugged is pure, unadulterated New Wave bull**** years ahead of
it's time. While it has some notable passages which might lead one to
think of nihilism, it is really about perception of reality which is a
feature of nihilist thought, but where nihilism distates that self
worth isn't real, Objectivism is all about self worth and perception
of reality - truth to the individual and society of individuals.

Damn - I hated philosophy class. :)