Callas · in · Summer

IPE exam later and I am excited!!! The prospect of filling up the blank exam booklet with my thoughts and the luxury of 2hrs to do an essay... now that's life. No racing against the clock and doing a half-assed job on each of the many essays you have to complete.

Something by way of Jose (courtesy of IPE professor):

http://www.ginandtacos.com/2009/03/10/seriously-fuck-ayn-rand/
http://www.ginandtacos.com/2009/11/12/institutionalizing-sociopathy/

I haven't read both articles in detail, but I guess the normal reaction is to either hate or love Ayn Rand's philosophy and writing. That is probably inevitable, since she doesn't provide for any middle ground or compromise. In that sense her work is similar to Kantian ethics, as both apply blanket rules to all situations, and for Rand at least, to act in a certain way in Situation A, and then to act differently in a similar Situation B is equivalent to violating the tenets of Objectivism, since you would essentially be applying moral relativism. However, I remember Rand being a violent opponent towards Kantian philosophy, although I can't quite recall why. Something to find out more about.

Why Ayn Rand's work is so fascinating to me is because it opened my eyes (or perhaps blinded me, in some sense) to what she calls the "virtue of selfishness". I don't think anyone can read Atlas Shrugged and come away being the same person as before. There are some books that will simply change your life, and for me, this is one of those books. A fundamental change for me was that I began to view the world very differently; where before I took altruism and selflessness to be noble traits I should aspire to (maybe from watching too many Korean dramas and President's Star Charity), I now see that altruism is impossible. You simply cannot act selflessly and by necessity, you will always act in your self-interest. And this is perhaps why capitalism and relatively free markets are dominant today, along with principles of self-determination; they are expressions of our natural selfishness and regard for our own self-interest.

By selfishness I do not attach any qualitative meaning. By selfishness I simply mean what is innate to all of us, a human quality that need not be negative or have ill effects. Here, I quote Adam Smith, "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest." Selfishness and goodness are entirely compatible and even necessary counterparts to the other.

To date my most "formidable" opponent is Kok Leong, who believes altruism is possible and exists. (Actually, I haven't found anyone else who is bothering to debate with me about this, as my closest friends are selfish pricks like me, and even if they weren't, I think I tend to scare some of them with my aggression passion when I start on this topic.)

OK back to revision.

It just occurred to me that although America is not an empire in the conventional sense as demonstrated by Pax Britannica, if one stops to consider the sheer extent and depth of American influence in the world, it has achieved something far greater than an empire. In place of colonies, it has economies intricately intertwined with its own and nations dependent on its military provisions and support. It holds nations captive and keeps them in check not by sending missionaries or Stamford Raffles, but by offering them an irresistible slice of the prosperity pie. And if you don't readily fall into America's orbit, there's always the insanely advanced and expensive weaponry to strong arm you into doing so. And because it has taken so many steps to ensure multilateralism and promote free trade globally, trying to stay out of America's sphere of influence means your economic development will suffer, and consequently, your people, unless your country is endowed with natural resources and can support itself with subsistence agriculture and the like (say, Bhutan).

Because of this interconnectedness, America has been able to guarantee the support and cooperation of the world. And when it doesn't have that, it simply can go ahead or threaten even a mild degree of isolationism and no one can conceivably pose a sufficient threat towards it.

Various insidious factors such as the spread of American culture and beliefs, ideals, also play a paramount role in rallying youths the world over to the American "cause", to put it loosely. Given that these youths are the next generation of leaders, and given that they have grown up with a heavy exposure to American culture (such that some have absorbed it and identify themselves strongly with America)... it is not a long stretch to say that together with America's military and economic power, the decline of American hegemony may be a myth yet. This is of course, supported by the fact that George W. Bush's term of presidency is over.

On another note, I really wish I started my IPE research earlier, because all the books I want from the SMU library are already on loan, and I really think I need Ikenberry and Nye's pearls of wisdom and intellectual support if I'm going to make my term paper decent.

Watched "Up" yesterday and it was utterly heart-wrenching for me. From start to end I was very nearly sobbing (although part of the reason may be because of my seemingly insurmountable pile of readings...). The artwork was so damn good, and one song in particular ("Married Life") was so versatile - all they had to do was increase its tempo during the happy, cheery parts, and decrease it to really start the waterworks during the bittersweet/sad parts. I especially loved/cried the most during the part where Carl opened the adventure scrapbook and discovered photos of married life with Ellie beyond the page on "Stuff I'm Going to Do". It seemed to say that although Ellie didn't fulfill her childhood dream of living in Paradise Falls, she had found a whole new life with Carl, and that had always been more than enough for her.

Most of all, I was so sad/touched because the love Carl and Ellie shared is the sort of love I always wanted and hoped for, and that I believe most people must want too. Timeless, enduring, brave. Yet so few of us ever find that sort of love and it pains me. It pains me, because love lies in a plane where hard work, determination and perseverance - the usual hallmarks of a worthy person - cannot enter. You can bring your own save-the-planet recyclable bag to supermarkets, give up your seat to elderly people, attend lessons for the love and pursuit of knowledge, have a kind heart, save loads of money, be a great journalist who seeks to shine a light on the truth for the people...

You could be all that, and never find the one person to love and who will love you back, while the mean, backstabbing, soulless, non-thinking, unreasonable bitch gets her guy.

I'm not comparing, nor is there any specific person in particular I'm referring to, and I also know judgment calls about a person's character is very mean-spirited of me, but it just pains (there's that word again) me that the one thing that is beautiful and pure and true (or is supposed to be) in this world cannot be gotten via what we conventionally know as virtues.