Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Two Categories

Nutpicking a Rand fan:
There are three categories that humans fit into. A human is either a slave, man, or parasite. The slave completes work without any benefit for himself. He works to help all others before himself, he erases himself as an individual. The parasite forces others to become slaves for him. He sacrifices others onto himself for his own benefit. He is the worst of humanity. Unlike the slave who offers up his happiness to the world voluntarily, the parasite takes other's happiness away without any remorse. The true man walks the line between slave and parasite. He neither gives himself to others freely nor takes others onto himself. He has an ego, which advocates rational selfishness, and he works to benefit himself, neither at the expense of others or himself.


There is bonus fun to be had in his grappling with Adam Smith. More recent efforts are less satisfying. What, is he 13?

18 comments:

herr doktor bimler said...

Someone with a sick twisted sense of humour could leave comments at this hotbed of Randism, arguing that It's a Wonderful Life is really a parable of the ideal Objectivist society in which the Man (Anthony) gains the recognition he deserves and all the parasites are wished into the cornfield.
I am above such antics, myself.

fish said...

Cliff Notes is calling. It wants its summary back.

J— said...

Where does this leave escaped slave Cimarrón Layne, tax accountant?

Also, the anthem? Pitbull is a dog, so he can't be slave, man, or parasite. He's a dog!

And I don't think Lil Jon is human either.

herr doktor bimler said...

Youtube not like J-'s link:

500 Internal Server Error
Sorry, something went wrong.
A team of highly trained monkeys has been dispatched to deal with this situation.

Righteous Bubba said...

I find it extremely unlikely that you would want the results of J—'s link.

J— said...

Mami, ¡qué será lo que quiere el doktor?

Righteous Bubba said...

Monster!

J— said...

"To Be a Man," an excerpt:

However, there are those that feel their self esteem rises when others compliment them. This is not actual self respect. This people are merely parasites on other people’s beliefs and feelings.

If someone says something nice about you, you must go Galt on their ass. Otherwise, you are a slave.

Righteous Bubba said...

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Good Life y'mean.

It's a Wonderful Life would have been far sweeter if Jimmy Stewart had committed suicide: the town collapses and then the angel brings Jimmy back to RUB THEIR GODDAMNED NOSES IN HOW IMPORTANT HE WAS.

herr doktor bimler said...

It's a Good Life y'mean.

Ah, but my way gave you the opportunity to make an extra joke.
Meta-humour -- NOT A MISTAKE.

However, there are those that feel their self esteem rises when others compliment them. This is not actual self respect.

It is time to reclaim that noble word 'sociopathy' and shake off all the negative associations given to it by generations of biassed, judgemental psychologists.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

You left out Pinko Punko, not to mention his pornstache and read track suit.
~

Another Kiwi said...

I do not rate for Lil Jon

mikey said...

Ok, yeah, I guess.

But I'm still wondering about how the slave "offers up his happiness to the world voluntarily.

I'm pretty sure that the basis of slavery has been more powerful people coming and taking you and making you work 'til you die.

But then, what do I know? I'm a wage slave. Now with extra hamblik...

mikey

Another Kiwi said...

It seems that badgers are also not going Galt in the numbers expected

Righteous Bubba said...

Well I am surprised at the Musterid shortage. It's a natural.

herr doktor bimler said...

Because I would not rate for Lil Jon
He kindly rated for me

Phydr? Wasn't that an early Tangerine Dream album?

tigris said...

So, do I have this right: "slaves" are workers, "parasites" are capitalists, and "men" are workers who own the means of production? Is the only different between Randianism and Marxism the fact that she couldn't conceive of cooperative efforts and so created a sort of pathological anti-social-ism?

Righteous Bubba said...

"men" are workers who own the means of production?

All prostitutes are true men.