The Cardinal Values and virtues

[The happy Objectivist]

“To live, man must hold three things as the supreme and ruling values of his life: Reason - Purpose - Self-esteem. Reason, as his only tool of knowledge - Purpose, as his choice of the happiness which that tool must proceed to achieve - Self-esteem, as his inviolate certainty that his mind is competent to think and his person is worthy of happiness, which means: is worthy of living. These three values imply and require all of man's virtues, and all his virtues pertain to the relation of existence and consciousness: rationality, independence, integrity, honesty, justice, productiveness, pride.” -Ayn Rand

What do you think?

 

[FireDragon76]

For a woman, she sure wrote alot about what men should be like. Perhaps this speaks less to her philosophical insight, and more to her subconscious mind? After all, life can be hard when the very ideas about reality are rooted in childish narcissism, and love even moreso: she could never find a man worthy of her inflated sense of self.

 

[Tinker Grey]

For a woman, she sure wrote alot about what men should be like. Perhaps this speaks less to her philosophical insight, and more to her subconscious mind? After all, life can be hard when the very ideas about reality are rooted in childish narcissism, and love even moreso: she could never find a man worthy of her inflated sense of self.

Well, there was a time when it was common to refer to the human race as "Man".

 

[Astrid]

Well, there was a time when it was common to refer to the human race as "Man".

Kinds sinks the time travel / telepsychoanalysis.

 

[The happy Objectivist]

For a woman, she sure wrote alot about what men should be like. Perhaps this speaks less to her philosophical insight, and more to her subconscious mind? After all, life can be hard when the very ideas about reality are rooted in childish narcissism, and love even moreso: she could never find a man worthy of her inflated sense of self.

I see. Thank you for answering, Thank you FireDragon.

 

[The happy Objectivist]

Yes, that's how she means it. I use it that way too just because it gets too tiring to keep typing men and women.

 

[Whyayeman]

These are Aristotle's Cardinal Virtues:

Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Courage.

They will do for me.

 

[The happy Objectivist]

These are Aristotle's Cardinal Virtues:

Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Courage.

They will do for me.

Thank you for your response. Do you think that those values and virtues presuppose reason, purpose, and self esteem?

 

[durangodawood]

“To live, man must hold three things as the supreme and ruling values of his life: Reason - Purpose - Self-esteem. Reason, as his only tool of knowledge - Purpose, as his choice of the happiness which that tool must proceed to achieve - Self-esteem, as his inviolate certainty that his mind is competent to think and his person is worthy of happiness, which means: is worthy of living. These three values imply and require all of man's virtues, and all his virtues pertain to the relation of existence and consciousness: rationality, independence, integrity, honesty, justice, productiveness, pride.” -Ayn Rand

To live? She leads with that. But Im pretty sure many people are living self satisfied lives who subordinate those values to others.

 

[The happy Objectivist]

To live? She leads with that. But Im pretty sure many people are living self-satisfied lives who subordinate those values to others.

Thank you for responding, Durangodawood.

By life, she means to live a human life, of fully realized potential, of happiness. To her, life is an end in itself and happiness is one's moral purpose.

You are exactly right that there are many people who subordinate these values to others and appear to be satisfied, but I think they have been taught that this is moral. The dominant moral code of the world teaches them that to live for themselves is bad, and to live for others is good. So they find satisfaction in subordinating themselves.

Probably would be helpful to link to her lexicon so you can see what her definitions are.

—Ayn Rand Lexicon

 

[durangodawood]

Thank you for responding, Durangodawood.

By life, she means to live a human life, of fully realized potential, of happiness. To her, life is an end in itself and happiness is one's moral purpose.

You are exactly right that there are many people who subordinate these values to others and appear to be satisfied, but I think they have been taught that this is moral. The dominant moral code of the world teaches them that to live for themselves is bad, and to live for others is good. So they find satisfaction in subordinating themselves.

Probably would be helpful to link to her lexicon so you can see what her definitions are.

—Ayn Rand Lexicon

I think some people whos lives are guided by faith are genuinely satisfied. Sure we cant touch someone elses brain and know that objectively. But I feel like Ive got an honest sense of it from certain autobiographical reports.

In other words, they are not faking satisfaction while secretly suffering for faith inside.

 

[The happy Objectivist]

I think some people whos lives are guided by faith are genuinely satisfied. Sure we cant touch someone elses brain and know that objectively. But I feel like Ive got an honest sense of it from certain autobiographical reports.

In other words, they are not faking satisfaction while secretly suffering for faith inside.

I really appreciate your answering.

 

[durangodawood]

I really appreciate your answering.

Thanks!

I do remember reading Ayn Rand and her presentation of the humble faithful as sour and unconsciously resentful of the self sacrificial virtues theyve been bullied into adopting struck me as true - but terribly incomplete.

She presented a real story of faith that supported her thesis, and ignored other real stories that would have presented a challenge.