2007-10-13 09:35:18 · 14 answers · asked by The Burninator 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know a number of Ph.D's who cannot understand one of my favorite philosophical jokes. It's merely that some people don't understand philosophy. Perhaps they deal rather in the concrete, and don't have the capacity to delve into such things. I would bet that there are a number of philosophers who wouldn't understand the finer points of electrical engineering or String Theory. Perhaps though, stupid people wouldn't understand either. But a failure to understand Rand or Quantum Physics doesn't make one stupid. It merely indicates that their interest or skills lie elsewhere.
2007-10-13 09:51:02 · answer #1 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's not an entirely accurate depiction. My husband is a math genius but he doesn't entirely "get" Ayn Rand. He'll read her works and he enjoys her but when I've tried to discuss it with him he's clearly missed a few points here and there. On the flip side though, every single person who asks him to describe his job has their eyes glaze over because they cannot understand. I couldn't have made it through the courses he took in college and he couldn't have made it through the courses I took (english major).
2007-10-13 16:44:02 · answer #2 · answered by gumby 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Oh I understand her and Objectivism perfectly and studied it extensively after finding out about it when I became a libertarian. I just don't agree with it. Just because someone doesn't agree with Objectivism doesn't make them stupid, although I can't say I'm surprised since so many Objectivists are guilty of that whole "if they disagree with me, they must be an idiot" philosophy that they look down on other philosophies and groups for holding.
2007-10-13 20:09:40 · answer #3 · answered by Abriel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess I'm an idiot. I've read many of Rand's works, I understand her work, and I think that many of her premises are correct. However, I disagree with some of her conclusions. I believe her social "vision" is completely untenable and would have terrible consequences. I'd rather be stupid than be a genius who would embrace such a philosophy.
2007-10-13 17:02:54 · answer #4 · answered by Pull My Finger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Everything I know about Ayn Rand I learned from Bioshock.
2007-10-13 16:38:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I understand objectivity, I just think that it pales in comparison with the earlier existential works of Sartre, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaard.
But, truth be told, generally you have to have a mind for philosophy to understand it. It's not necessarily better or worse than the mind of those who can't understand it, it's just different.
2007-10-13 16:42:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Stupid people don't take the time to read Rand's lengthy works and to ponder them, thus there is no understanding.
2007-10-13 16:44:46 · answer #7 · answered by Jack B, goodbye, Yahoo! 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Because they are afraid to face true reality of our existence and afraid to take responsibility for their own actions.
Rational objective thought is frowned upon and called anarchy, extremism and the like.
2007-10-13 16:45:00 · answer #8 · answered by southswell2002 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because stupid people don't even know who she is.
Who is John Galt? (Sorry about that.)
2007-10-13 17:31:35 · answer #9 · answered by Valerie W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not everyone enjoys philosophy
and it isn't exactly easy to follow for everyone
that doesn't make people stupid
but calling people stupid for not understanding something seems a little stupid to me
2007-10-13 16:40:16 · answer #10 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 9⤊ 1⤋