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In Defence of Ayn Rand #5: Is, Ought & Ethics



Uploaded by: PaulMcKeever
Video Description:
A response to Stefan Molyneux's video, in which he argues that Ayn Rand failed, in respect of her ethical system, to find a way to derive (a) what one "ought" to do, from (b) the facts of reality (i.e., what "is").


Tags for this video: Atlas Ayn David ethics fact Galt Hume is- John morality Objectivism ought philosophy Rand Shrugged value

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Array ( 8 months ago by Unplasticated)
BETRAYED?
Uh-huh. Branden has a life too, you know.
SICK?
Ever heard of old age?
DEPRESSED?
Someone's too much into gossips, I believe...
Not a day to her life? No joy?
Well, seems someone is omniscient too, here. :P
Happiness, dumbfuck ... ( 8 months ago by Unplasticated)
Happiness, dumbfuck. Why are these seemingly-knowledgeable-AR-haters worse than the ignorant AR fanatics? :|
Array ( 8 months ago by Unplasticated)
LOL.
Dude, try to act on something to know what it is. I can't help but say how dumb you sounded.
What's your ... ( 7 months ago by Youhavethebody)
What's your definition of "proof."
To clarify, I think ... ( 7 months ago by Youhavethebody)
To clarify, I think PaulMcKeever meant "moral values" when discussing human beings, since values apply also to animals, plants, and micro-organisms.
For humans, values stem from the nature of reality, and also the choice to remain alive. A brain dead human being can no longer choose to live, in my understanding, so it can have no moral values. Such a human can no longer act to gain things, so for there are no ways either. His life can benefit from someone continuing to feed him [continued.]
To clarify, I think ... ( 7 months ago by Youhavethebody)
To clarify, I think PaulMcKeever meant "moral values" when discussing human beings, since values apply also to animals, plants, and micro-organisms.
For humans, values stem from the nature of reality, and also the choice to remain alive. A brain dead human being can no longer choose to live, in my understanding, so it can have no moral values. Such a human can no longer act to gain things, so for there are no ways either. His life can benefit from someone continuing to feed him [continued.]
The essence of my ... ( 7 months ago by burch9030)
The essence of my criticism is that, as Hume noted, you cannot derive an Ought from an Is. Objectivism wants to skimp that rule by making Is statements about *knowledge of* Ought (e.g.
"only rational beings recognize that they have goals and values"), but I don't find a strong foundation for talking about that Ought in the first place.
Objectivism isn't alone--my big philosophical question right now is, What is the basis for value?
The bridging of the ... ( 7 months ago by Youhavethebody)
The bridging of the "Is/Ought" or specifically "Fact/Value" is done through induction from observations about reality and the recognition of a person's choice to live or not, not through deduction.
For a clearer picture of this, I suggest Dr. Tara Smith's book "Viable Values: A Study of Life as the Root and Reward of Morality."
I hardly think Objectivism "skimps" this dichotomy.
"What is the basis ... ( 7 months ago by Youhavethebody)
"What is the basis for value?"
Honestly, Objectivism is the only philosophy that I know of which goes into any depth into what the basis of values are. Rand gives her answer in "The Objectivist Ethics."
Its interestiing ... ( 7 months ago by freezzertime)
Its interestiing how Ayn Rand's philosphy is perverted.
Well, there are a ... ( 7 months ago by PaulMcKeever)
Well, there are a lot of perverts out there to do it...and they have a motive.
Great job Paul.... ... ( 6 months ago by DavoT2)
Great job Paul....ole mate Stef like many others, hasn't fully understood Objectivism, and in Stef's case, he seeks to make money from his ignorance.
Array ( 4 months ago by trinalesins)
i'm only 15
and still struggling to understand Ayn Rand
however i'm working on it
however, i do enjoy your interpretation
and you defend your point fully
thank you
You're quite ... ( 4 months ago by PaulMcKeever)
You're quite welcome.
It is so ... ( 3 months ago by Kurtyoungblood)
It is so enlightening to have someone as knowlegable as you correct and inform others (including myself).
Ouch - " ... ( 3 months ago by Kurtyoungblood)
Ouch - "knowledgeable"
Wouldnt waste my ... ( 2 months ago by Easydollars)
Wouldnt waste my time trying to understand Ayn Rand. She is Satan dressed as a woman .
In the beginning, ... ( 1 month ago by Zerofire18)
In the beginning, he seemed like an objectivist and afraid to admit that he may have been a bit convincing. Near the end however, words like "Cult" and other cues made me think this guy isn't what appeared to be. When he mentioned something about acting amorally as an instinct and how it counters Rand's words on man not having automatic knowledge, in my mind I saw what you, again, so eloquently said Paul M. That "sufferin is the default" of not acting morally. Thanks again Paul.
Paul McKeever, just ... ( 1 month ago by Zerofire18)
Paul McKeever, just wanted to take this opportunity to say that of all the objectivists on YouTube, you are one of the most rational. I mean no disrespect to other objectivists out there. Everytime there is an attack on objectivism I look for your response. You never attack the person, you just simply pick apart thier flawed arguments. Rand says man is a heroic being, again you have proven yourself as one. Keep up the good work.
So, even if life is ... ( 1 month ago by NathanZimmerman)
So, even if life is a necessary precondition for having other values, that does not show that we should value it. In fact, there is no contradiction in valuing death once you are alive--being alive is a causally prior event that enables values. It is NOT an state with propositional content that could somehow bring about contradiction in what you choose to value.
Thus, there is no link from is to ought in Rand's works. Obviously people HAVE values, but that's not the question.
2:25, Your defense ... ( 3 weeks ago by DaveDoggOwns)
2:25, Your defense does not apply universally.
good comment - id ... ( 1 week ago by 23Memes)
good comment - id like to see an answer to this one myself. Primarily out of fascination with the language (in this case English) and interest in the often mistaken assumption that words actually *are* the things they represent. I watched both of these vids with interest and I await more posts which do not just react linguistically to the logic of others, but also contribute to a new understanding.
ooh sorry - my ... ( 1 week ago by 23Memes)
ooh sorry - my praise was to NathanZimmerman's comment.
I would like to be ... ( 3 days ago by onotheo)
I would like to be as eloquent in my speech too (oh, I really am not talkative). I wonder in what manner would Roark answer the questions, that is if he bothers.



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