Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site houca.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!harpo!eagle!hou5h!hou5a!hou5d!hogpc!houca!trc
From: trc@houca.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: RE conversation re -- Ayn Rand.
Message-ID: <421@houca.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Nov-83 11:48:46 EST
Article-I.D.: houca.421
Posted: Thu Nov  3 11:48:46 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Nov-83 16:02:39 EST
Organization: American Bell, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 28

Note to utcsstat!laura and Mike Simpson:

What are you considering as something that you like, but that is irrational?
I suggest that you examine the thing carefully, and see what aspects about
them give you the most enjoyment.  It is possible to gain pleasure from
irrational things (as the brute that enjoys killing people might), but
most people can recognize when something is justly enjoyable.  In the
case of nursing, for example, a large part of the joy *could* (and should)
come from engaging in a very productive activity.  The fact that it is done 
for others immediate benefit doesnt make it irrational.  Doing it *for the 
purpose* of benefiting others (rather than for the enjoyment of productive
activity and the pay for doing it) would be irrational - probably done out 
of some sense of duty.

It is not irrational to experience emotion, or to enjoy feelings - merely 
to allow one's self to be *ruled* by them, beyond the range of the moment.
In fact, it can be irrational to try to suppress feelings, or to fail to
examine them (in retrospect, and only to a degree proportional to the 
importance or strength or commonness of the emotion) to see if they are
in line with reason.  (In fact, noting that one's emotions are alligned
with reason can be a source of pleasure, since one's emotions are an
indicator of one's automaticized value judgements.)

Finally, (and this is not an attack - merely a request for information)
what basic premises do you see Rand as having left un-written, Laura?

	Tom Craver
	houca!trc