[MD] Intellectual activity

[Platt Holden]

DMB, Alice, All:

I'm amused to note that critics of Ayn Rand invariably knock her 
writing or her personality, but few want to deal directly with her 
ideas. Same with Crichton's "State of Fear."

I also note in passing that in Chambers' critique of Rand, he blasts 
her for being anti-religious and a celebrant of a Marxian  "godless 
world." Pirsig is also anti-religious and believes in a godless world, 
as do many who contribute regularly to this site.

Also like Pirsig, Rand is no fan of pragmatism. And like Pirsig, Rand 
presents a morality founded on reason, not religion or social 
tradition. 

So in the realm of idas, Rand and Pirsig share some common ground, 
including the most important idea of all -- individual freedom from 
oppressive social values. 

Dismissing Rand as a kook is like dismissing Pirsig as a cult figure. 
Since both attack some sacred cows, the boo birds come out in droves.  

Platt


[Alice]
> Oh great, another Ayn- slammer.
> 
> "To Chambers the book was a literary and philosophical nightmare. Its
> plot was 'preposterous', its characterization 'primitive' and
> caricatured, and much of its effect 'sophomoric'. It was not, in fact, a
> novel at all, but a 'Message': the anti-religous gospel  of 'philosophic
> materialism', in which 'Randian Man, like Marxian Man, is made the
> center of a godless world'.
> 
> I was eighteen when I read "Atlas Shrugged". I did not attend the 
> "university", but was instead working and I would read it on the bus. At
> first it was intriguing because I had never been exposed to such ideas
> before and it ran counter to what my generation was espousing in the
> seventies.But  she just wouldn't let up. All of the good guys were great
> looking strong, beyond brilliant and brave, while the bad guys were
> stupid and evil. The dialogue was made up of five page soliloquys. It
> really was, as Ian likes to say,"unsubtle" to the point of  absurdity.
> 
> I know people were caught up with it and it has made a renaissance
> lately. Maybe it's because I was not a "student" that I could see
> through it.
> 
> But,  I think everyone should read it.
> 
> I just read "State of Fear" by Crichton. So many people loved it that I
> thought I'd give it a try. I had the same feeling as I had reading Rand.
> 
> Alice