You know, it is unfortunate that some peoples only conception of logic is deductive reasoning from premises in a non-contradictory manner, because many of Ayn Rands arguments stem from a slightly different conception of logic. Logic is the non-contradictory identification of the facts of reality as given by observation. If one starts with the observation of existence, one will not have prior premises on which to deduce certain conclusions, because one will be operating inductively, and making integrations rather than deducing from premises. It was by using the logical inductive method stated above that Ayn Rand integrated to the conclusion that mans life qua man and qua rational being is the proper standard of judging what is good for man and what is bad for man. She integrated the facts about the nature of life and the nature of man and that he was a living being that had to have certain requirements fulfilled to remain alive. She did not have a string of deductive syllogisms from which to conclude that mans life ought to be the standard, rather she demonstrated inductively that the life of the living entity is the proper standard because it is alive and has certain requirements it must fulfill to remain alive. And man is one of those living beings, and thus mans life is the proper standard of judging what is good and what is bad.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 05:01:53 +0000
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