The focused mind is mans basic guide to life. Conformism and non-conformism are irrelevant. Burke hated the focused mind, rationalizing it with an appeal to self-contempt, "Suppose you're stupid." Thus the sustainable stupidity of 300,000 years of conservative cultures. And the conservative claim that the only alternative is non-conformism. And thus Ayn Rand's recognition (_The Fountainhead_, 1946) that using conformism, pro or con, as a standard, is a rationalization of the evasion of the focused mind. She satirizes modern art. Non-conformism is not a positive alternative. Both conformism and non-conformism are products of the unfocused mind.
Assuming that you mean Humes claim about reason ( a method of knowledge), no. You evade the common human experience of immediate, direct control of the mind,ie , the power to focus and reason or evade and rationalize. And since emotion (passions) is a psychosomatic response to a value and values are the product of the choice to focus or evade, passion is the slave of reason. The Devil did not make you do it. You did. There is no Original Sin or any other innate idea. Man chooses to form specific ideas. But that requires the self-responsibility hated by the advocates, traditionalist or "progressive" of the unfocused mind. Thus "suppose that you are stupid" and sacrifice your mind to tradition to evade mans basic responsibility, to focus and reason. Thats how man survives, literally. Reason integrates complexity, guiding man to see the forest for the trees or, w/Newton, to integrate motion on this planet w/motion in the entire universe. Your car works and you have artificial light because Newton chose to focus and reason. Tradition, from a rational perspective, is a starting point. Newton, as he said, "stood on the shoulders of giants [prior scientists and philosophers]." Newton, contra Burke, did not sacrifice his mind to tradition. You can see traditionalism growing in America, w/both Left and Right attacking science, tech and capitalism. Rightists want the Christian Dark Ages and Leftists want primitive tribalism. Both attack Ayn Rands respect for mans free will mind.
"Both attack Ayn Rands respect for mans free will mind."
And where did Ayn Rand's perfect reason lead her? To "reason" her husband into allowing her to fuck other men? To start a cult, sorry I mean social group, that banned anyone who strayed from her biases, sorry I mean perfect reason? Howard Roarke and John Galt do not exist, and everyone, including Randians, arrive at most of their beliefs by their non-rational means, and then create a rationalization around them. The most dangerous and ridiculous people are those who think they're different.
>ridiculous people are those who think they're different.
Your rationalization of the terror of independent judgment is noted.
> Ayn Rand's perfect reason
Rand's perfection is rationally contextual, ie, a scientific parameter. In context A, B is perfectly rational. More knowledge may change the context of perfection. This is not mystical perfection revealed to any empty, passive mind. The mind is active in processing the evidence of the senses to produce rational knowledge of concrete reality.
>Randians, arrive at most of their beliefs by their non-rational means
All of Rands ideas are explicit inductions from sense-based ideas. She rejects arbitrary-based deductions. Look out at reality, not inward. Focus your mind. Modern culture is a product of the demons in the unfocused mind.
Rands ideas are not her life. Your mistake is a very strange use of the mind. But modern culture is the unfocused mind. Its a train to nowhere, as the 60s bluesrock group, Savoy Brown, sang.
Bryan
There’s multiple motives to conform or rebel.
Selfish desire, anger, alternate beliefs, etc.,
Think Socrates, Isaiah, Henry 4, Voltaire , Servetus, Jefferson, etc.,
But, maybe one valid reason is to fulfill ones responsibilities, duties. Not fulfill selfish ambition.
Feed your family, pay debts, protect children.
Of course, that depends on what you view as your responsibility.
Tell the truth - Socrates; worship god - Moses; condemn wickedness- Isaiah; translate bible - Tyndall; resist infamy - Voltaire; better government - Jefferson.
I once read (can’t remember where) freedom is the flip side of duty.
Thanks
Clay
The focused mind is mans basic guide to life. Conformism and non-conformism are irrelevant. Burke hated the focused mind, rationalizing it with an appeal to self-contempt, "Suppose you're stupid." Thus the sustainable stupidity of 300,000 years of conservative cultures. And the conservative claim that the only alternative is non-conformism. And thus Ayn Rand's recognition (_The Fountainhead_, 1946) that using conformism, pro or con, as a standard, is a rationalization of the evasion of the focused mind. She satirizes modern art. Non-conformism is not a positive alternative. Both conformism and non-conformism are products of the unfocused mind.
Reasons are the slaves of the passion. Seems like you are saying that if you just think clearly enough the right answer will come.
Maybe Burke was saying, suppose knowledge is limited and decisions are not objective in a complex world. e.g. is getting married a good idea.
Tradition provides a starting point and not always a bad one.
Assuming that you mean Humes claim about reason ( a method of knowledge), no. You evade the common human experience of immediate, direct control of the mind,ie , the power to focus and reason or evade and rationalize. And since emotion (passions) is a psychosomatic response to a value and values are the product of the choice to focus or evade, passion is the slave of reason. The Devil did not make you do it. You did. There is no Original Sin or any other innate idea. Man chooses to form specific ideas. But that requires the self-responsibility hated by the advocates, traditionalist or "progressive" of the unfocused mind. Thus "suppose that you are stupid" and sacrifice your mind to tradition to evade mans basic responsibility, to focus and reason. Thats how man survives, literally. Reason integrates complexity, guiding man to see the forest for the trees or, w/Newton, to integrate motion on this planet w/motion in the entire universe. Your car works and you have artificial light because Newton chose to focus and reason. Tradition, from a rational perspective, is a starting point. Newton, as he said, "stood on the shoulders of giants [prior scientists and philosophers]." Newton, contra Burke, did not sacrifice his mind to tradition. You can see traditionalism growing in America, w/both Left and Right attacking science, tech and capitalism. Rightists want the Christian Dark Ages and Leftists want primitive tribalism. Both attack Ayn Rands respect for mans free will mind.
"Both attack Ayn Rands respect for mans free will mind."
And where did Ayn Rand's perfect reason lead her? To "reason" her husband into allowing her to fuck other men? To start a cult, sorry I mean social group, that banned anyone who strayed from her biases, sorry I mean perfect reason? Howard Roarke and John Galt do not exist, and everyone, including Randians, arrive at most of their beliefs by their non-rational means, and then create a rationalization around them. The most dangerous and ridiculous people are those who think they're different.
>ridiculous people are those who think they're different.
Your rationalization of the terror of independent judgment is noted.
> Ayn Rand's perfect reason
Rand's perfection is rationally contextual, ie, a scientific parameter. In context A, B is perfectly rational. More knowledge may change the context of perfection. This is not mystical perfection revealed to any empty, passive mind. The mind is active in processing the evidence of the senses to produce rational knowledge of concrete reality.
>Randians, arrive at most of their beliefs by their non-rational means
All of Rands ideas are explicit inductions from sense-based ideas. She rejects arbitrary-based deductions. Look out at reality, not inward. Focus your mind. Modern culture is a product of the demons in the unfocused mind.
Are you really arguing for Rand's rationality based on her own life? She ran a ridiculous cult that demanded they worship her perfect reason.
Rands ideas are not her life. Your mistake is a very strange use of the mind. But modern culture is the unfocused mind. Its a train to nowhere, as the 60s bluesrock group, Savoy Brown, sang.