I do not think highly of attempts to deny free will. Modern psychology and psychiatry are incessant in their, dare I say crusade to disqualify the mind as being volitional.

This research from the University of Chicago proves, not that bullies are born as such, but that ideas have a very concrete effect. Their minds are wired the wrong way and, consequently, so are their brains.

I think Ayn Rand’s writing is more than qualified to address issues of psychology in fundamental terms. I wasn’t trying to refute any psychological theories on self-esteem, only a single idea: that bullying is the wrong way to get it and that the University of Chicago is using science in support of a dangerous idea: “Want to feel good about yourself? Hurt others.”

But let me say that the above commentators have helped me to think. That’s always a good thing.

It is always possible to use words to conflate dissimilar concepts, which is one reason why it is important for people (and yes, especially philosophers) to evaluate terms such as “self esteem” and “altruism” when they are used in generalizations claimed by others. The special sciences are no exception.

Self-esteem means valuing oneself. After valuing myself in action, I gain self-confidence–knowing I can sustain my life– from the observable results.

Mike, I applaud you for citing Ayn Rand, a philosopher. Philosophy, when objective, is the foundation for all of the specialized sciences. Self-esteem is a philosophical value, that is, a value that applies to all individuals, everywhere, and at all times. Philosophy, properly defined, precedes the specialized sciences.

The province of psychology is not universal issues, but the individual workings–healthy or pathological–of the mind, especially the subconscious aspects of mind that require specialized methods to understand.

For the philosopher’s role in setting the philosophical vocabulary for others, see Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, p. 74.

And using a ‘psychologist’ like Freud or Jung is no better than using a Witch Doctor to prove the existence of the ‘Id’. I’m not suggesting you buy into their theories, but that being labeled a psychologist doesn’t automatically qualify (nor does the inverse disqualify one) from talking about psychology.

Mike,

I’m glad to hear moral relativism is making a come back!
“It’s perfectly fine what they’re doing. It feels good to them. Who are we to judge?”

Using a philosopher such as Ayn Rand to disprove a scientific theory is no better than using the Bible to disprove Evolution.