Sometimes when people have themselves a philosophical home they will begin to look up to and even admire the intellectuals in their philosophy. This will not only be the discoverer of their philosophy, but, also people that help to spread the philosophy as well. Sometimes it might even be people that were in the private circles of the philosopher, but, not the philosopher themselves. They will argue that you must agree with said people about everything or else. They will in fact become a second-handed person of a cult mentality.
Craig Biddle did a great job of addressing this in his article, "Ayn Rand Said is not an argument." However, there is more than just Ms. Rand that has had this issue take place those that followed her as well have been adorned with almost supernatural Omnipotence by people that have become obsessed with people like Leonard Peikoff. There is people that would defend him if he told people to go out into the street and butcher the community. Similarly, some are the same way with Harry Binswanger and Yaron Brook.
However, I have found things that all of these men have said that was inaccurate due to numerous things that have been said. I do not think they say inaccurate things to intentionally lie anymore than the times Ms. Rand was wrong. I think that they are ignorant on certain topics,. but, yet they continue to speak on them as if they know they can dismiss them. Whether it is evolutionary psychology which is not at odds with us having the ability to be reasonable; nor is determinism, but, is painted that way by these folks. Or Harry Binswanger being a fucking Cartesian Duelist when it comes to how the mind works.
Nor does me stating that they like anyone else are only human and can be wrong mean they are wrong on everything or even most things. Also, sometimes people can say things in ways that come across as not what they had intended to be overheard as being meant. However, it is not what these or anyone else says that is an argument. It is the facts of reality that make up arguments. Just like you do not shoot the messenger you also should not jump to believing the messenger either. Or as Craig Biddle so aptly said it in his own article, "Truth is not recognition of Ayn Rand’s (or her students/friend/followers) words; truth is recognition of reality."
When an Objectivist is wrong then other Objectivist's; whom are supposed to take reality as the only absolute should not be afraid to point out others errors. As reality and existence is the only True and real Supreme Being that we have in this world. It is reality that is the judge of an idea being wrong or right not if it was an Objectivist whom makes the claim or not. To live any other way is to be just as dogmatic as a fundamentalist Religion and to turn the independence virtue of Objectivism on its head. To throw it out due to someone talking and it is an appeal to authority no better than an appeal to an evangelical pastor in the Southern Bible Belt of the USA.
If Objectivists want people to stop seeing our philosophy as some sort of Godless Cult we need to be ready and willing to question everyone else that is an Objectivist if we smell ignorance. This includes the discoverer of Objectivism; this includes Ms. Rand herself. Everyone whom makes statements on subjects needs to be open to scrutiny we should not have a listen and believe attitude about anyone we meet. Individualism should not turn into its own form of Lone-Wolf Tribalism.
When an Objectivist is wrong then other Objectivist's; whom are supposed to take reality as the only absolute should not be afraid to point out others errors. As reality and existence is the only True and real Supreme Being that we have in this world. It is reality that is the judge of an idea being wrong or right not if it was an Objectivist whom makes the claim or not. To live any other way is to be just as dogmatic as a fundamentalist Religion and to turn the independence virtue of Objectivism on its head. To throw it out due to someone talking and it is an appeal to authority no better than an appeal to an evangelical pastor in the Southern Bible Belt of the USA.
If Objectivists want people to stop seeing our philosophy as some sort of Godless Cult we need to be ready and willing to question everyone else that is an Objectivist if we smell ignorance. This includes the discoverer of Objectivism; this includes Ms. Rand herself. Everyone whom makes statements on subjects needs to be open to scrutiny we should not have a listen and believe attitude about anyone we meet. Individualism should not turn into its own form of Lone-Wolf Tribalism.
