Ayn Rand
- Started
- Last post
- 78 Responses
- adamfinger0
Well, actually, my reference of her was in a negative light. I think there is a nonsensical and mythical "individualism" that permeates commercial branding and it's an attitude that has been adopted by many designers. It's not an individualism in its true sense, but rather one based around the ego and competition.
I'll elaborate if asked, but in short, I align my political views more so with socialism or libertarian-socialism (which is much different than the libertarian party itself).
- smedia0
Mysticism was one of the many concepts that Rand argued against. You are correct that she argued in favor of man's ego. What do you think the true deffinition of individualism is?
- Rightfrog0
The Fountainhead & Atlas Shrugged...
They are both incredible books...changed my life.
- adamfinger0
Well, individualism is very much rooted in a cultural context in the sense that our ideas and personalities are shaped by our environment. To turn inward towards the ego is to ignore the fact that we have social responsibilities. I don't think personal self-interest should dominate one's existence, especially when it reacts against collective and democratic decision-making.
- smedia0
Don't you think that personal self interest is responsable for many of the benificial technologies and products that we take for granted?
- pepe0
everyone wants to be a design superstar which is why her popularity for her emphasis on individuality esp. within creativity resonates.
i think the ego she talks about is the one that ignores the trends and debt to society that is really just fear. Her point i think in both cases is that the ego and capitalism is what got railroads built and buildings erected, as oppose to 'talking' about it and getting caught up in beauracracy.
That said and in the context of what she seemed to have meant, the idea of a forum like NT where designers talk and not do sorta defys her point. sorta interesting
- smedia0
good point pepe
- adamfinger0
Well, I think self-interest is important, but only when it's enterained in a collective framework--and that does not require bureaucratic measures.
Perhaps benificial technologies have resulted in self-interest, but I don't think it's fare to assume that self-interest (in the form of profit-motive, which I assume you are referring to) is the only factor pushing technological envelopes.
Self-interest, in the respect you are referring to, has resulted in the creation and marketing of a ton of artificial needs.
- ********0
Kruger Rand
- pavlovs_dog0
" Atlas Shrugged argue in favor of capitalism and the individual. I have notived a leftist trend in PVN. How can everyone here who believes in the left (i.e larger government, state run programs, etc.) enjoy Ayn Rands work "
Ah...
Rand argued for lassie faire capitalsim. One can support the open market without bieng that naive?
Absolute leftists (say Marx) seem to elevate the "hive" with ideological zeal...
Absolute rightists (say Rand) do the same to the individual.
...guess it'd be nice if society were so black and white. I'd say it obvisous that selfishness is hard wired, but alturism seems to be as well...
http://plato.stanford.edu/entrie…
Rand and Marx both share simplistic world views best left in the past.
The End.
- adamfinger0
Actually, I think Marx's worldviews were anything but simplistic. They were, however, written 150 years ago and therefore need to be re-evaluated and updated for today's times.
Also, claims of what is and what are not human nature should always be dismissed as we certainly don't have any evidence to prove that something, say selfishness or violent behavior, are innate.
Selfishness is arguably a characteristic fostered through competion, profit-movites, etc.
- pavlovs_dog0
Selfishness is hardwired. Fact.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beh…
But, it can be selfish to donte blood every week. How? Because of the postive feedback you get from the act.
God I love science. We'll leave the philosophical masturbations to the objectivists.
- adamfinger0
Selfishness in the form of self-satisfaction is certainly different than selfishness that positions oneself above others in terms of power and wealth.
- pepe0
you have to be selfish in some form to push say design to innovative levels, if you care about everyone equally with all their equally different and subjective opinions, you get lost in a spiral dialogue of nothing. Thats what seems like the point and difference between the two main sets of characters in atlas shrugged and fountainhead both described.
- adamfinger0
No, there is a big point that is being missed. I encourage innovative design that pushes the boundaries. But design, in and of itself, is meaningless. In graphic design, for example, what is the message being communicated? Is it pursuading people to spend their money on nonessential and artificial needs? Does it require allocating resources and if so, do these resources take way from projects that would otherwise benefit a larger population--say, healthcare or infrastructure?
- pepe0
design is meaningless by itself i agree. it is merely a vehicle of a message that is fabricated by whatever entity has something to offer. that vehicle can either be design for function, or design for communication (though the communication or lack there of, of the idea can dictate the function).
Communication design and advertising was once just and still is really just a single product and here it is, but now, it seems that trends and pop culture fuel lifestyles that corporations desperately try to tap into.
Whats interesting is these trends in design ie. paint splotches deer and black letter type, though trite act as a staple for corporations to latch on to, a happy and watered down medium if you will. Its amazing how much the 'happy medium' dictates visual design.
- discipler0
She falls into the error of subjective morality. She is contradictory in making objective statements about good and evil while rejecting an absolute standard of goodness to juxtapose evil.
The laziness and "meh" of post "enlightenment" existetialism, rubs me the wrong way.
- i_monk0
Is this thread for real? Only angry teens like Ayn Rand.