Inverted Randian Objectivism

[Whit]

OK, there is ALOT of stuff that could be said about Ayn Rand and Dudeism, but I think that if she were here she would 1. Love the movie. and 2. Hold The Dude up as a example of one of her Supermen, all be it in an unconventional form and be sincere about it. Think about it, he is a guy who lives completely in the moment, serving his own goals as judged by his own value set, defends his own right to property and integrity with equal and unconventional aplomb and is a man who operates pretty much his entire life in the world of creative people. He is himself a creative (tv writer) who has ensconced himself in the luxuries that he values off of the fruits his own creative efforts and his value to others (the dance recital).

There is a lot more to nuance to her works than simple procapitalist screedsmanship,{although there is some of that in there too}....   

I spent several years working over her material and have personally rejected Objectivism in its full form due mostly to its virulent antireligiosity,and overarching vibe of negativity, but the woman had ALOT to say that is of value to a person on the quest of self actualization.

[Rev. Ed C]

I think the problem with Ayn Rand and The Dude is... he does things for other people that is not for his own pleasure/need.  The Dude is a natural altruist, but he balances it with some natural selfish endulgance, but never at the expense of others (well, maybe just one rich man's rug...)

I personally think Ayn Rand is the Anti-Dude, if ever there was one

[Whit]

Naw, Mitt Romney is the Anti-Dude. Ayn and Maude are cut from the same allegorical cloth. Allied to The Dude and even agree with him on a lot of things but definitely in it for themselves and walking the righteous walk in a way that is incomprehensible to anyone not in their same skull space.... Now the lesson here is how to handle people like that. She eventually becomes The Dude's Special Lady. He accepts her, even her selfish parts and loves her in his own way, without ever giving up his integrity to do so. They accept and respect each other because of the common value held between them. Reverence for Individuality.

[Rev. Ed C]

Ayn Rand's moral philosophy has more holes in it than my colander

She had an affair with a married man, as it was her persuit of happiness.  When he decided to take up with ANOTHER woman, she was enraged, as it was him actively destroying her happiness... but he did it to persue his own personal happiness, and her trying to snag him back was her working against his happiness, which made her a hypocrite, as your own persuit of personal happiness shouldn't detract from anyone else's... which in itself is an act of altruism, which is apparently a flawed system according to her... *head explodes*

She was just a selfish bitch who believed children were a needless drain on their parents... that's an evolutionary fail

Regardless of the character of The Dude, I believe altruism is part of being a Dude.  If you're selfish, or just simply "not a nice person", you're not a dude, your just an arsehole

Whatever Randian aspects there are in Maude, and that The Dude accepts in Maude, when I say Anti-Dude, I say that Randian philosophy is directly at odds with the Dudeist philosophy, for the most part.  Ok, individuality, good, but, lack of altruism, bad.

I see what you're saying... but I respectfully disagree.  Ayn Rand may have stood for individuality and persuing one's own happiness, but in a cold, loveless world.  I mean, being an individual does not a Dude make.  Just look at Boris Johnson

[Whit]

Yeah, we are totally gonna have to agree to disagree on this one. But I have a bigger point here I view Dudeism as an ecumenical and inclusive way of life. Noone has a monopoly on wisdom or foolishness so the best you can do is listen to everybody and take the parts that you like, and dump the rest. Just by virtue of her volume of work Ayn Rand has quite a bit to offer if you are willing to  ignore the obvious inanities. As per her personal life, I can't think of a single philosopher who has ever lived in complete congruity with their own work, with the possible exception of Diogenes.

[Rev. Ed C]

That's cool.  I'm always willing to learn the best wisdom from anyone