objectivism

Darlings,

I realize this isn't what Rand says. I am suggesting that it is a highly likely outcome for the type of society that she encourages. And yes, Peaches, I've read Atlas Shrugged.

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is snuggly

It's rather hard to say, isn't it? Nobody ever tried objectivism as the central theme of government, and so, while there is validity in the conjecture, we're a bit short of factual data.

What's interesting is that, bottom line, people do what they believe will benefit themselves first, and others later. Objectivism merely chooses to acknowledge that fact, rather than hide it behind high-falutin' words and phony ideals.

We don't know for a fact whether such a system will work or not. I suspect that the people involved in designing such a system would make all the difference - France is essentially socialist, and so is North Korea, but we would not call them equivalent, would we?

It doesn't matter. I rather like objectivism as a philosophy because it relies on the individual. It won't ever be a system of government, as far as I can tell, because of objections like yours; but the fact that it could be misapplied is not a valid argument against it. Anything can be misused.

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What would Godzilla do?

My problem is that my objections are not a potential outcome so much as the most ideologically consistant outcome. Law enforcement officers simply have no self-interest in turning down bribes and arresting billionaires.

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is snuggly

Sorry, I missed something here re: Law enforcement. The only way you don't get police officers accepting bribes is when you don't have billionaires offering them, or when you hire and train honest law enforcement.

I wouldn't be willing to state that all law enforcement officers are corrupt given a financial motive.

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What would Godzilla do?

...and more to the point, police officers who have taken the initiative and offered a reverse bribe or amnesty to the said "billionaire" who perhaps would have never considered the bribe if not for the "objectivousness" police officer...so to speak, thus creating the misplaced "Rayndian" Greed

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No one told you you when to run...you missed the starting gun

What is the objective, self-motivated good of honesty? And isn't 'corruption' a word used to describe one's failings in regard to others?

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is snuggly

I'll use your own point about game theory as regards your first question.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=corruption - I'm referencing definition 1, with respect to your second.

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What would Godzilla do?

If "good" is truly a self-motivating factor, then the realisation of such, is surely no more than an omni-objective "glimpse" into the hitherto acceptance of any and all ( ok, fair enough...most) understood and valued concepts pertaing to the valuation of the said individuals "need" to truly succeed within the compounds of their own exsistence...

"Good" can and will, always exist as will "bad" The only flucuation will be the definition....

Am I right in trying to fail?

Am I wrong in trying to make others succeed?

OBJECTIVITY ..indeed

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No one told you you when to run...you missed the starting gun

And yet again, a year on, I still can't get into Atlas Shrugged (or Fountainhead).

Jeez!

Maybe I should try Anthem like you suggest.

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