Source link: http://archive.mises.org/16786/ayn-rand-online-course-at-the-mises-academy/
Ayn Rand Online Course at the Mises Academy
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The Ludwig von Mises Institute
Tu Ne Cede Malis
Advancing the Scholarship of Liberty in the Tradition of the Austrian School
{ 18 comments }
Nooooooo! Please LVMI don’t go there! Don’t reduce yourself to such absurdity! The profit motive is not worth it. What would Murray Say?
What would Murray say? You should read the letter he wrote to Rand after reading Atlas Shrugged, which is archived on this site.
Say what you will about Rand, but she was in some ways the Princess of Peace. Atlas Shrugged, unlike FountainHead, extolled nonviolent protest and the withdrawal of the sanction of the victim. She had issues, for sure, but her ideas are worth exploring, even if only to use that exploration as a starting point to something real.
As to what Murray would say, I have hanging in my office now his letter to Ayn Rand after he read Atlas Shrugged. In it, he expresses sincere admiration for her brilliant plot and brave message.
Transitioning From Objectivism To Subjectivism!
Bridging this chasm is a necessary part of the transition to the broad ideological change from socialism and positivism to classical liberalism.
It will be interesting to see Objectivism handled from an Austrian perspective.
Frankly, as a ‘card carrying’ Objectivist (or rather Randroid as some out here prefer to call me) who is also a self-professed Austrian, I see no contradiction between the two. It would, however, be interesting to see how Austrians understand Rand (whose Ideas flow almost seamlessly into Austrian Economic theory and provide it a strong epistemological foundation)
What is the Austrian perspective on Objectivism?
Well, take the course and find out!
I will wait for an answer to my inquiry on anarchy and anti-intellectual property rights below. Why? Because unless I am mistaken, there is no one person or philosophical position that comprise the Austrian perspective. Therefore, it will be the instructor’s opinion.
I will stand corrected on that if someone can indicate where or with whom the perspective is currently residing.
Agreed, I can’t say that there is a single person that can definitively represent “the” Austrian perspective entirely, but many people consider David Gordon to belong to the Austrian school, and I assume many of the students taking the course will also self-identify with the Austrian school. Thus, the course, and the discussions that occur in the lectures (I don’t know if you’ve taken Mises Academy courses before, but there is ample opportunity for interaction with other students if you wish it), will tend to reflect the current trends in thought within the Austrian school. Hence, taking the course should provide you with “an” Austrian perspective.
You are right, of course, that the instructor’s opinions will heavily sway the direction of the course, but in general it is very difficult for Mises Academy instructors to get away with making unfounded assertions in class. You are also right that there seems to be a great variety of opinions about the issues you mentioned. Surely this suggests, though, that the student body will be roughly equally diverse of opinion? If these are the sticky issues, these will be the issues concentrated on most heavily in the course. Might be fun.
Would would Murray say? Probably that he’s glad this course is being taught by a great Rothbardian? Why wouldn’t you examine the ideas of an influential thinker? You only have a reason to be upset if you think the course won’t examine her ideas *critically* — and there’s no reason to think that David Gordon wouldn’t do that.
I don’t find your podcast on Zune. Why don’t you place the mises audio on zune podcast?
It makes sense to me. Atlas Shrugged is but a sign post on the way to understanding liberty. Bring ‘em in and set ‘em free.
I would like to ask the instructor: what are you positions on anarchy and intellectual property rights?
Since Ayn Rand rightly holds the advocating of anarchy tantamount to promoting theft and murder, and intellectual property rights sacrosanct to be protected by government, and since I see a vast spectrum of positions at this Institute on these subjects, I would like to know the view of the instructor.
http://thinkprogress.org/?p=159391
AYN RAND teaparty/glennbeck/paulryan’s BIBLE = “THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS” declared ALTRUISM to be “ EVIL” opposed Medicare and all forms of government support for the middle-class and the poor, and condemned Christianity for advocating love and compassion for the less fortunate
Ayn Rand condemned Christianity for promoting irrational beliefs that must be held by human beings at the peril of eternal hellfire — not to mention actual fire in the public squares of Europe. Her positions on love and compassion are important as well; she was opposed to the use of guns to further them.
I think this is a great course for Mises acadamy, I know that I first heard of Austrian economics because of Rand and many others must have as well. I was a traditional objectivist for a long time, but Rands ideas on IP and foriegn policy didnt seem to match up with her epistomology/metaphysics, and in Rothbard I found positions on these issues which were closer to my understanding of them. Overall, Rand was right on most things, especially religion vs reason, while Rothbard and the Austrians are closer to my ideas on others.
J Chancey
“Rands ideas on IP and foriegn policy didnt seem to match up with her epistomology/metaphysics etc”.
Yes. I came to that conclusion as well.
It was also reading of the the on-going factionalism and the rich excoriation the various Objectivists lavish upon each other, the strange behaviours and the logical inconsistencies, etc etc etc that served as a warning that all was not well within Objectivism and with Objectivst thinking.
Despite the controversial nature of her work and life, despite the personal oddity of some of her acolytes, despite the difficult behaviour that crept in from time to time (and has continued to pop up in the movement since) Rand contributed mightily to the cause of individual freedom. She contributed to philosophy as well. Not to be forgotten that.
Sione
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