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Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

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Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#21

Post by forkandwait »

maxharris wrote: post #14
brudgers wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" Has it's origins in the Christian Bible - Acts 4:34-35.

This highlights one of the two major problems I have with religion: altruism. (The other thing I don't accept is faith as a valid method of obtaining knowledge.) In Atlas Shrugged, John Galt says, "I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." Edit: Why the downvotes? The parent post quoted the Bible , so why is it invalid for me to qu…

Is Atlas Shrugged the second most popular book next to the bible? A cite would be cool. Also, nobody likes people like John Galt or those who try to follow him; some of us think that there is as much blind faith to strictly follow economists silly models as it does to follow any other religion.

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#22

Post by michaelchisari »

forkandwait wrote: post #21
maxharris wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This highlights one of the two major problems I have with religion: altruism. (The other thing I don't accept is faith as a valid method of obtaining knowledge.) In Atlas Shrugged, John Galt says, "I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." Edit: Why the downvotes? The parent post quoted the Bible , so why is it invalid for me to qu…

Is Atlas Shrugged the second most popular book next to the bible? A cite would be cool. Also, nobody likes people like John Galt or those who try to follow him; some of us think that there is as much blind faith to strictly follow economists silly models as it does to follow any other religion.

I believe that claim is a reference to a 1991 survey conducted by the Library of Congress of 2,000 Book Of The Month readers, so take that as you will. Atlas Shrugged has sold around 7 million copies since it was published, which puts it at around half as many copies as The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#23

Post by maxharris »

forkandwait wrote: post #21
maxharris wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This highlights one of the two major problems I have with religion: altruism. (The other thing I don't accept is faith as a valid method of obtaining knowledge.) In Atlas Shrugged, John Galt says, "I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." Edit: Why the downvotes? The parent post quoted the Bible , so why is it invalid for me to qu…

Is Atlas Shrugged the second most popular book next to the bible? A cite would be cool. Also, nobody likes people like John Galt or those who try to follow him; some of us think that there is as much blind faith to strictly follow economists silly models as it does to follow any other religion.

John Galt is a fictional character in Atlas Shrugged.

Rand's philosophy is not about economics - it's a complete system, with distinct metaphysical, epistemological and moral positions, all of which give rise to applications in politics, art, science and other fields of human endeavor. (Not unlike Aristotle.)

Here's the citation for Atlas Shrugged being only 2nd to the Bible in popularity: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:U54zOrN...

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#24

Post by donniefitz2 »

maratd wrote: post #8
michaelchisari wrote: post #3

Here's some important things to think about: First, socialism is defined as worker or public control of the means of production and distribution. This has been interpreted in both libertarian and authoritarian ways. Second, if socialism is worker control, then it is fully compatible with free markets. Mondragon and Semco are both worker democracies, and operate successfully in the global market. If socialism is publi…

> I would love to be able to have political discussions about these issues I'll bite. > socialism is defined From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Socialism is the way. Communism is the unreachable goal. > If socialism is public control, this does not equal totalitarianism. Social democracy is a form of democratic public control of resources. You can discuss things ad nauseum and it will…

By the way, I didn't say Socialism wasn't defined. I clearly said the assumptions that he laid out were not defined. The larger ideas, like the goal of life. I don't think those concepts are addressed often, they are assumed. Meaning is more basic than truth.

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#25

Post by donniefitz2 »

maxharris wrote: post #14
brudgers wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" Has it's origins in the Christian Bible - Acts 4:34-35.

This highlights one of the two major problems I have with religion: altruism. (The other thing I don't accept is faith as a valid method of obtaining knowledge.) In Atlas Shrugged, John Galt says, "I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine." Edit: Why the downvotes? The parent post quoted the Bible , so why is it invalid for me to qu…

I thing Pilgrim's Progress is number 2 in the States. At least I think that's still true.

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#26

Post by sp332 »

brudgers wrote: post #10
maratd wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I would love to be able to have political discussions about these issues I'll bite. > socialism is defined From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Socialism is the way. Communism is the unreachable goal. > If socialism is public control, this does not equal totalitarianism. Social democracy is a form of democratic public control of resources. You can discuss things ad nauseum and it will…

> "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" Has it's origins in the Christian Bible - Acts 4:34-35.

One difference is that the sharing is opt-in. You don't have to give up all your stuff, just to be "in". When it's part of a government, it's not optional.

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#27

Post by gender-bias »

slackerhacker wrote: post #7

I think this has to be the 10th time this article was posted on HN. Seems as if every college student discovers this paper and thinks they are the first one.

I am an astronaut and the president of the united states. I have 10 degrees from the best schools in the world. DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!?! And I agree mr. slacker, this has no place on hackernews. It's even in rules, "partian political articles". But hey, if you've got a degree in physics and play with people parts for a living, then rules schmools, amirite?

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#29

Post by forkandwait »

maxharris wrote: post #23
forkandwait wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is Atlas Shrugged the second most popular book next to the bible? A cite would be cool. Also, nobody likes people like John Galt or those who try to follow him; some of us think that there is as much blind faith to strictly follow economists silly models as it does to follow any other religion.

John Galt is a fictional character in Atlas Shrugged. Rand's philosophy is not about economics - it's a complete system, with distinct metaphysical, epistemological and moral positions, all of which give rise to applications in politics, art, science and other fields of human endeavor. (Not unlike Aristotle.) Here's the citation for Atlas Shrugged being only 2nd to the Bible in popularity: http://webcache.googleuserc…

It isn't fair to critique a philosopher (or anybody) without reading them, but ... I just can't take Ayn Rand seriously. Like, at all. And to compare her to Aristotle seems laughable.

Re: Albert Einstein: Why Socialism? (1949)

#30

Post by gruseom »

dollar wrote: post #16

Albert Einstein was certainly smart, but he did not live to see how socialism worked out. http://www.victimsofcommunism.org/

Albert Einstein was certainly smart, but he did not live to see how socialism worked out.

Einstein lived long enough to see how Stalinism worked out; he outlived Stalin. On the other hand, by some definitions Norway is socialist and things seem to have worked out pretty good there.

This kind of discussion is pointless: everyone uses "socialism" to mean whatever they think it should mean and then argues. It's like a bunch of people getting together to play a game, except one is playing chess, one checkers, and someone else poker. Then they all get indignant and yell at each other, which I suppose is the real game.

By how much would the world supply of argumentation deflate if people paid attention to whether they were even talking about the same thing?

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