Can you tell us some examples of initial conditions that require the oversimplification of problems?
Do you help organize a neighborhood watch? How to vote on a millage for a park in your neighborhood? Do you leave an inheritance to family, or give it to a cause, or both? Do you pick up trash on the sidewalk? The most selfish, or least altruistic approaches aren't clear.
Am I correct to think that you mean to say Ayn Rand has a clear idea of the correct action in such situations? That these problems can not be solved only by considering only whether a suggested solution is selfish or altruistic? If I am correct to say that then does this not beg the question?
- I'm sorry if I don't understand but aren't these examples of problems rather than examples of initial conditions that require the oversimplification of problems?
They are both, I suppose. I'm not sure that she would. I don't know. I gave them as examples where altruistic and selfish components are muddled, and the interpretation would differ between people.Am I correct to think that you mean to say Ayn Rand has a clear idea of the correct action in such situations? That these problems can not be solved only by considering only whether a suggested solution is selfish or altruistic?
- They are both, I suppose.
- I gave them as examples where altruistic and selfish components are muddled, and the interpretation would differ between people.
As I think about it more I think that an egoist would have a clear answer about what to do when faced with such problems. You seem to be saying though that this is the result of an oversimplification such as the initial condition suggested above. What I don't understand is how that is part of the problem in your opinion. When I read what you are saying it seems that you want to argue that problems are not as simple as egoists see them and that you support this by listing problems that you think are more complicated. That you perceive some problems to be more complicated is entailed in your initial stated opinion but it doesn't help me to understand why these problems are more complicated or demonstrate that they really are.
- As I think about it more I think that an egoist would have a clear answer about what to do when faced with such problems.
Let's be clear, that I'm talking about Objectivism, not Egoism. Egoism can incorporate relativism. Critical to my point, Objectivism suggests that there is a reality independent of perspective, and that knowledge of this reality is attainable (according to Ayn Rand), via the virtue of selfishness. But, if you were equating Egoism with Objectivism, I'd be curious as to what some of those clear answers to the problems I proposed might be; and, more importantly, what would be the rationale (satisfying the virtue of self-interest)?