Quote:
Originally Posted by bookslover  Ayn Rand (not her real name, of course) (1904-1982): her "system," such as it is, is based on total and complete narcissism. Her ideal is summed up as: "it's all about me." She thought altruism was for suckers, Christianity was for suckers, etc.
All she really did was take self-centeredness to the next level. |
This philosophy is/was profoundly dominant in a college acquaintance of mine who remains the most thoroughly hedonistic, utterly selfish individual I've ever met. Some might say that ascetic virtue is promoted with Rand's philosophy, but all I saw was a depraved heart dramatically freed from inhibitions and the restraints of conscience.
In discussing Rand, I'd also note the sharp contrast between Libertarians in the stream of Rand and those drawing from the wells of classical liberalism or other strongly-restrain-the-government philosophies. While I am not libertarian in my political alignment, most of the justified criticism against libertarianism is a critique of the dominant wing's expression as applied Randianism