Why do philosophers ignore Ayn Rand?

[starblade_enkai]

It is clearly evident that not only are Ayn Rand's teachings sensible, at least in terms of people, or at least most people, being able to relate them to something completely knowable, but they are quite unique in that no philosopher before has made it a point to stand up for everything she is proposing. So why is it that philosophers pretend she

Comments

[hollowman]

>>Read Ayn Rand's ethics. Usage of force brings a disvalue (IE vice) that on principle counters any superficial value you might obtain through force.<<

Well, you can feel free to explain that to the next guy who tries to rob you. I doubt he will take the time to explain to you how idiotic that statement is, but maybe you'll work it out yourself later, while he enjoys a good steak at your expense.

>>So you basically admit that we've never had a capitalist economy, yet you know so much about it.<<

The same way we know anything we have not experienced exactly - by applying what we do know and extrapolating from this knowledge. This is how we can arrive at knowledge beyond our direct experiences.

>>Also, an economy can only exist where actors possess volition.<<

Nonsense. Volition is of no utility when examining economic systems. Economists will be the first to tell you this - we deal with the market and the actors therein as abstracts, and they act as abstracts. Individual volition is lost within the herd. In anycase, people are not reasonable creatures - they react as much on instinct as any deer or wolf, they just talk more about it.

>>It is in your interest to treat people how they deserve to be treated, because rationality is the chief virtue and that, along with other things, proves that justice is a virtue. As for money in circulation, what about inflationary periods where so much money is in circulation that it can't be backed up?<<

More of this nonsense - look, if you want to base your ideals on theory and how people "ought to" behave, you might as well go be a Marxist somewhere. This is the real people, where people do things based on their own internal logic, and not whatever random statements Ayn Rand makes. All your neo-hippie libertarian idealism aside; justice is a virtue as long as it serves an individuals purpose - after that, they'll tear you apart. Ask Ayn Rand how well telling people how they ought to behave and ignoring how they actually do behave works - she should know, she grew up in communist Russia.