U2 - Class 8 - Objectivist Theory Flashcards
Objectivist Theory Ayn Rand
“Atlas Shrugged”
“The Fountainhead”
The Objectivist Theory
Objective Theory
Basic question (of any ethical theory): What is ethical? What is right, and what is wrong?
Rand’s focus: How do we know what is right and what is wrong?
We need a standard.
“The standard of value by which one judges what is good or evil is …”
How do we know what is right?
moralists…
philosophers…
mystics…
How do others answer this question?
According to Rand, why are they all wrong?
Moralists - based on individual morals/feelings
The whim of a person. A “whim” is a desire experienced by a person who does not know and does not care to discover its cause”
Philosophers - leaders of thoughts.
Gives us standard and directions but they’re playing with the will of God
Didn’t like how they shifted the way people thought
Mystics - The avowed mystics held the arbitrary, unaccountable “will of God” as
the standard of the good and as the validation of their ethics. The neomystics
replaced it with “the good of society,” thus collapsing into the circularity of
a definition such as “the standard of the good is that which is good for
society.”
Common problem - they aren’t rand..rand focused a lot on individuality but these are based on community
Not based on objective fact. All of these are subjective.
survival
How do we know what is right? We need a standard that is based on “a metaphysical fact, on an unalterable condition of man’s existence.” (p.10)
What is an objective standard that nobody can deny?
“An organism’s life is its standard of value: that which furthers its life is the good, that which threats it is the evil.” (p.13)
rationality
Does it mean that survival can justify anything? Is life always better than death? What kind of life is worth living?
How are humans different from non-humans? What distinguishes us as humans?
objective theory
Basic question (of any ethical theory): What is ethical? What is right, and what is wrong?
Rand’s focus: How do we know what is right and what is wrong?
We need a standard.
“The standard of value by which one judges what is good or evil is man’s life, or what is required for man’s survival qua man.” (p.19)
man’s survival qua man
“The objective ethics proudly advocates and upholds rational selfishness, which means the values required for man’s survival qua man.” (p.19)
“Man’s survival qua man means the terms, methods, conditions and goals required for the survival of a rational being through the whole of his lifespan–in all those aspects of existence which are open to his choice.” (p.21)
If everyone is acting selfishly, how do people work together? How can a society exist?
“Rational interests of men do not clash–that there is no conflict of interest among men who do not desire the unearned, who do not make sacrifices nor accept them, who deal with one another as traders, giving value for value.” (p.27)
“The principle of trade is the only rational ethical principle for all human relationships… it is the principle of justice.” (p.27)
what is a trader
“A trader is a man who earns what he gets and does not give or take the undeserved… He deals with men by means of a free, voluntary, unforced, uncoerced exchange.” (p.27)
giving back to the 1%
Why does Harry Binswanger (in Forbes) argue that “the community never gave anyone anything”?
“When some individual person–a parent, a teacher, a customer-gives something to someone else, it is not an act of charity, but a trade for value received in return.” (Binswanger in Forbes)
Do you agree that “anyone who earns a million dollars or more should be exempt from all income taxes … the year’s top earner should be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor” (Binswanger in Forbes) ?
a drowning man
You see a drowning man in a lake, and you happen to be on a rowboat alone. You are physically capable of rescuing him.
Which is ethical?
a) ignore him b) rescue him only if he pays you
A, Ignore him and row away
Trade option
B. Rescue him only if he agrees to pay you $1 million
Trade option
Rand answer
discussion question 1: According to Rand, what is wrong with the three major schools of ethical theories: the mystics, philosophers, and moralists?
All altruistic.. Other interests before yours
All based on whim.. Subjective standard
discussion question 2: what does rand mean by “man’s survival qua man”
Methods and conditions of survival throughout their life
What it takes to survive during someone’s life
Survival as a human rather than survival as an animal
discussion question 3: how does rand critize utilitarianism
Objectivism is more about happiness. It is about success and ultimate rationality
discussion question 4: How is Rand’s support of capitalism different from Nozick’s support of capitalism?
Rand likes capitalistic economies because you can improve and grow. Maximize their potential. Nozick liked capitalism because of the free market because individual negative rights are protected but that doesn’t mean they are allowed to achieve their best. He only cares about freedom.
