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From: atrent@guardian.UUCP (Adam Trent)
Newsgroups: news.groups
Subject: CALL FOR DISCUSSION: New Objectivism Group
Keywords: news group, objectivism
Message-ID: <353@guardian.UUCP>
Date: 17 Jan 90 20:21:38 GMT
Organization: Intel Corp.,  Development Tools, Hillsboro, OR
Lines: 31

In regards to the proposed new Objectivism News Group:

I agree with Joe Harris.  Sci.philosophy.objectivism makes more
sense to me because it better emphasizes the focus I would like to
see in an Objectivism discussion group.  A talk.philosophy.objectivism would,
by its position in the heiarchy (near talk.bizarre, etc.), tend to invite
more of the Rand bashers.  I most emphatically disagree with recent posters
who claim that Objectivism is not a philosophy.  Having all objectivists move
to sci.philosophy.meta is not the answer.  A newsgroup with "objectivism"
in the name is needed.  As Bill Wells has mentioned, there will be enough
conflict and possible flaming in the new group among Objectivists themselves.
As much as I dislike flame wars and Randroid ravings, at this point I
support an unmoderated new group called sci.philosophy.objectivism.

I think that it is likely that after some initial nasty conflict between
the Randroids and Kelleyites, the caliber of the discussion could go up
rather than down.  This seems to be happening now in the Objectivist
movement at large.  This would attract earnest students of
Objectivism whose focus might more aptly reside in a
sci.philosophy.objectivism.  The new group is for Objectivists to
discuss Objectivist issues and for any outsiders to visit and learn
about Objectivism as a movement and a philosophy. Bill Wells has
described the "great Objectivist Schism" and I think that precisely 
because of it we should not moderate the new Objectivist group.
I don't welcome the flaming that is sure to come, but this conflict
should be left free for open discussion without moderation.


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      Adam Trent                   atrent@guardian.hf.intel.com
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