Journal daemonburrito's Journal: Ayn Rand was wrong 2
Ayn Rand was wrong.
Rand asks us to take as a given that her conclusions necessarily follow from a logical examination of humankind, hence the term, "objectivism."
The sophism aside, the scientific advances of the last 50 years make it near certain that her conclusions were flawed; in particular, advances in the understanding of animal behavior, neurology, and cognitive science.
We now know that altruism and empathy are assets. We know that they have a biological foundation. And, rationally, we know that we possess these traits for an evolutionary reason.
If Rand could examine our existence with logic (as scientists do) now, she would have to accept that her understanding of human drives was, at best, incomplete.
But if she were alive today, I don't think she would. Her examination was not, as she believed, of the human condition; it was of herself.
She dissected her own mind and found a person with what is now known as Dissocial Personality Disorder.
Dissocial Personality Disorder? (Score:2)
I dislike Ayn Rand quite a lot. But I'm also hesitant when I see psychological conditions diagnosed. Can you elaborate on your claim that she suffered from DPD?
Re: (Score:2)
Sure. It could be a little hyperbolic, and I am not a psychologist.
I wish I could give you a better link for this, but you only have a choice between the crappy WHO webapp (requires javascript and is unlinkable) or a pdf of the ICD for Diagnosis (blue book) and Research (green book).
The ICD criteria are that three of the following must be present in addition to the general criteria of a personality disorder:
F60.2 Dissocial personality disorder