The Ethics of Emergencies
September 23, 2019
By NZB3
I’m all about Objectivism. However, one serious point of departure I have with philosopher Ayn Rand springs from her essay ‘The Ethics of Emergencies.’
For example, one might say “The right to free-speech is universal…” (so far so good)….”unless there’s some emergency!” (doh!)
It’s as if when the going gets tough, Objectivism calls it a day. Emergencies are not “metaphysically significant,” quoth the philosopher queen.
What a load of cobblers!
We’ve a Universe of challange to cope with by the instrument of our philosophy. A Universe, I say. It is no mere summer holiday in peace time or well-supplied wintering season for which we must prepare ourselves but a Universe!
Predicate your philosophy on a Universe of peace and calm without factoring in hell and chaos? These are the times that test and prove philosophy, they tell you your wisdom is fit for a Universe and not some calm spot therein!
My philosophy is made to last, not to be surrendered in times of accident and emergency. I’m ready for peace AND I’m ready for war. My principles last longer than the next emergency and all the emergencies yet to come. It is only because it is a Universe of Reason that makes such a philosophy possible, desirable, necessary.
And you fair-weather philosophers who confine your scope to the best of times would call my philosophy ‘contingent!?’ Fuck off with that!
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This is an NZB3 re-post from 2006. Since then I’ve encountered the same ’emergency exception’ protocol many more times. Especially from Stefan Molyneux who seems to use it as an excuse to back out of difficult questions! Something like…”Oh, let’s deal with these logical errors in what I’m saying after we’ve won a free society. It’s splitting hairs, a quibble! Oh you time wasters in ivory towers! Let’s create a free society now and then we’ll work out later if the principles we’re using add up……oh you disagree? Let me interrupt you and then hang up….that’s why I’m debating world champion!”
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