Influences Part 1

I can tell you that I am only influenced by God and the Bible, that I run my life strictly based on what the Good Book says. If I did, I would be lying to you. Sometimes you just can't help it, some things just grab hold of you and never let go. Therefore, I have decided to post some of the things that got a hold on me so that perhaps you can get a better idea of where I come from when reading my other posts. I intend to make this a series. I hope...

Last week I caught the local debating TV show on Channel 5 called "The Arena". Its basically a revamped version of the traditional debating format that school students compete in. The topic for the week was that if people were self centered by nature. While the debate was pretty much a one sided affair, the topic reminded me of a school of philosophy called "objectivism". I came across it while doing a bit of research for a philosophy and worldview course that I did few years ago.

In this philosophy, a man's sole purpose in life is the pursuit of his own happiness through logic and reason. In that pursuit of happiness that man must not expect others to make sacrifices for his happiness nor must he sacrifice himself for the sake of others, that is considered immoral. It was created by a philosopher/novelist Ayn Rand. So fascinated I was with her thinking that I bought one of her best selling books titled "Atlas Shrugged".

The reason I guess I was so taken by her philosophy was because it flies in the face of what "traditional" philosophies tells you about altruism, caring for your fellow men. But objectivism frowns upon altruism as evil, a total opposite. The movement waned somewhat after Ayn Rand's death and other more traditional philosophers have branded objectivism as just a fad, something that has faded away. But I disagree, if you look at how the world is at the moment and the way people think, you will come to see that objectivism has more of a hold now than ever before.

The videos below are parts of an interview she did for television so you could hear it right from the horses' mouth (so to speak). I think you will agree with me that she is brilliant, flawed maybe but brilliant nonetheless.

Part 1 of 3


Part 2 of 3


Part 3 of 3