I would like to start a discussion

[Satis Tyr]

on this talk.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/216

[Satis Tyr]

I would like to point out that this talk uses common words that instantly alianate an objectivist. words like community and altruism. He even takes a stab at "rational self interest".

I would however ask that you all look for the ideas and ways in wich he is right.

I am seeing a trend in altruistic thinking circles that are beginning to accept wealth as a virtue and in small ways becoming somewhat rational.

[Tolthar Lockbar]

To me, it seemed like he was on the edge of altruism and self interest. Like he wants to rationalize a little bit of altruism as BEING self interest even though thats a contradiction. They are in fact opposites--its either self interested, or its not.

Open source is generally self interested. If its not, then its crap. He clearly doesn't really know what capitalism is since he never really says it clearly. He only gave examples of it. If he knew what it was, he would know that it IS based on self interest--and thats basically the freedom to use ones mind to reach their own ends, not their fist.

Another quote which bothered me is "Evolution is speeding up". WTF??? The amount of knowledge humankind possesses is growing rapidly, not our biological structure. This kind of statement was proof of something:

He doesn't really hold principles and probably knows very little (implicitly or explicitly) of epistemology. He doesn't have a principled and structured understanding of capitalism or altruism. What it seems he does know, is many random facts.

No wonder he likes Descartes, he knows many random things, and tries making rationalizations from them and on them.

[Tolthar Lockbar]

I am seeing a trend in altruistic thinking circles that are beginning to accept wealth as a virtue and in small ways becoming somewhat rational.

But rationalizing it isn't the way. That will only lead right back to socialism in the long run. These people are basically saying: "Capitalism is good because self interest helps OTHERS in the long run". That is not what makes capitalism or self interest proper.

This guy is worse though, he is saying that "A little bit of Altruism helps self interest in the long run". While some of his examples were true, they were poorly used because they did not back his point. Open source products from IBM are not to "cooperate", they are to make money through different means. Self interest was the end, not cooperation. I have no admiration for rationalizations like this guy does.

This "new" type of business is still capitalism. Hes probably trying to rationalize it to a different name because he thinks its "dirty".

[Oleksandr]

Yeah, this is the kind of "defender" of Capitalism that is destroying Capitalism.