Comments on: Reflections on the current state of Objectivism http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/605.php Mindfulness and Individualism Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: David Euchner http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/605.php#comment-60643 David Euchner Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:39:45 +0000 http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/605.php#comment-60643 Well said. And Svein's comment is also well said - I was also going to say that for me at least, it's not "Eastern" in itself but rather "Eastern" in a sense of "not Western, i.e., not rigid or formulaic." Western ideas have won out in just about all areas of endeavor because they are based in reason. But everyone has a blind spot, and if you don't occasionally turn around to see what's behind you, you might get run over by a Mack truck. There's a fine line between philosophy and dogma, and this is true for all sets of ideas, whether it's Western or Eastern, no matter the discipline. For example, I run into this on a daily basis in law, since precedential cases are, practically speaking, dogma. But there is great value in precedent because this means the people of any given jurisdiction know (or at least have an opportunity to know) what the law is. Due process requires this protection; otherwise, any judge could say "I don't like that rule so I'm going to do what I want instead." I gladly choose the system we have. But I also think a little bit more more judicial activism and a little less blind adherence to dogma is healthy. Well said. And Svein’s comment is also well said – I was also going to say that for me at least, it’s not “Eastern” in itself but rather “Eastern” in a sense of “not Western, i.e., not rigid or formulaic.” Western ideas have won out in just about all areas of endeavor because they are based in reason. But everyone has a blind spot, and if you don’t occasionally turn around to see what’s behind you, you might get run over by a Mack truck. There’s a fine line between philosophy and dogma, and this is true for all sets of ideas, whether it’s Western or Eastern, no matter the discipline.

For example, I run into this on a daily basis in law, since precedential cases are, practically speaking, dogma. But there is great value in precedent because this means the people of any given jurisdiction know (or at least have an opportunity to know) what the law is. Due process requires this protection; otherwise, any judge could say “I don’t like that rule so I’m going to do what I want instead.” I gladly choose the system we have. But I also think a little bit more more judicial activism and a little less blind adherence to dogma is healthy.

]]> By: Svein Olav Nyberg http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/605.php#comment-60642 Svein Olav Nyberg Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:26:03 +0000 http://www.muditajournal.com/archives/605.php#comment-60642 Well stated, Joshua. I am not a follower of Rand per se, but of "the other egoist philosopher" Max Stirner, who is perhaps a bit closer to Eastern ideas. But though I agree with your assessment of the state of Objectivism, and also notice that the valuable ideas for actual life often have come from the East, this "East" is not an East-in-itself, but rather an "East" that you have managed to navigate without falling into the worst pitfalls precisely because of your Objectivist grounding. If "East" had been your primary motivation, it would have been all too easy to pick up not just the positive psychology from Buddhism, Taoism and the like, but also the superstitions - both the factual superstitions and the normative (moral) superstitions. As for the next release ... there won't be any. After the forest fire, new saplings grow, and Mudita is indeed one of the healthiest. Consider writing a book about this integrated life philosophy, Joshua. Well stated, Joshua. I am not a follower of Rand per se, but of “the other egoist philosopher” Max Stirner, who is perhaps a bit closer to Eastern ideas.

But though I agree with your assessment of the state of Objectivism, and also notice that the valuable ideas for actual life often have come from the East, this “East” is not an East-in-itself, but rather an “East” that you have managed to navigate without falling into the worst pitfalls precisely because of your Objectivist grounding.

If “East” had been your primary motivation, it would have been all too easy to pick up not just the positive psychology from Buddhism, Taoism and the like, but also the superstitions – both the factual superstitions and the normative (moral) superstitions.

As for the next release … there won’t be any. After the forest fire, new saplings grow, and Mudita is indeed one of the healthiest. Consider writing a book about this integrated life philosophy, Joshua.

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