I’d like to add some comments to the thoughtful letters you printed Jan. 10 relating to the appearance of Ayn Rand’s influence on the WNC campus [“Capitalism on Campus,” Dec. 23, 2008], and Rand’s passion for laissez-faire individualism.
Regarding her rampant individualism, the following epigraph is from my recently published book, The Imprinters: “I am weary even of my own individuality, and simply nauseated by other people’s.”—D.H. Lawrence, The Letters of D.H. Lawrence.”
Thad Eckard’s comment that “Rand’s philosophy is the philosophy of a psychopath” [“What’s Ethical about Egoism?,” Letters, Jan. 1] brought me back to the early years of my psychiatric training, when we were taught that a psychopath’s motto is: “I want what I want when I want it.” This is also the exigent demand of the infant.
— Eileen Walkenstein
Asheville
“Thad Eckard’s comment that “Rand’s philosophy is the philosophy of a psychopath” [“What’s Ethical about Egoism?,” Letters, Jan. 1] brought me back to the early years of my psychiatric training, when we were taught that a psychopath’s motto is: ‘I want what I want when I want it.’”
The only thing you have demonstrated here, Eileen, is that you have a poorer understanding of Rand than even Thad.
And that hardly seemed possible.
Evidently we are witnessing rampant ignorance.
I got praise from a PhD! Sweet. (And continued disregard from a Utopian Free-marketeer who’d rather see a class of lazy bums at the top and at the bottom rather than just at the bottom.) Thanks for the shout out, Dr. Walkenstein!