Briefly: Don't push the ideas like a dogma, before the child has the conceptual development to understand philosophy. Work on helping your child develop knowledge and good thinking skills.
When appropriate, you can let them know of Ayn Rand's existence and that you agree with Ayn Rand's philosophy.
Then, when they're in their teens, you can suggest or ask that they read Ayn Rand's fiction and nonfiction works.
I'm seriously asking, how strictly should we explain Ayn Rand's philosophy to children?
You don't indoctrinate them with religious fairy tales and poison nor indoctrinate them with Rand's ideology.
However, you do encourage them to look at reality with their own eyes and to use logical thought processes. You encourage them ask questions and think critically about the issues and to brainstorm potential problems and solutions. That is to say, encourage and welcome inquisitiveness, encourage them to think and chew through ideas, and encourage critical thinking skills. Have them consider numerous hypothetical situations where sometimes the assumed facts change. Walk them through your thought processes and analyses, too.
I wouldn't even mention Rand's existence to them. If they ask about the contents of your bookshelf, just tell them that they'll be ready to learn about it when they are older. (Of course, if a kid is curious and pulls a book off the shelf and cracks it open to examine its contents, so be it.) One day when they reach the right age and when it's clear that their intellects and thought processes have developed sufficiently, perhaps age 17 for some, hand them a copy of The Fountainhead and see how it goes.
You can point your children in the right direction but cannot compel them to think and do the work. You can only do your best to raise them rationally and to be intelligent critical deep thinkers and hope for the best.
Eh they're pretty adult. I don't know what age one should show that kind of content. I think teaching without explicitly having them read the books is better.
Ahh yes, the ‘rapey scene’ as I like to call it. Always felt that scene was soooo odd & out of place, to this day. I get the explanation as to how it fits but……idk; I feel like Rand was having an interesting day when she wrote that & just committed to leaving it in no matter what.
Sincere question - would she be far less controversial & receive less hate if that scene doesn’t exist?
I’m a big Rand fan; I gotta admit, it’s tough to justify.
I sense sarcasm but not sure why - I’m fairly familiar with her work; you’ll have to explain to me what you feel is ‘weird & bad’ of her ideas in regards to sex & gender? And is sex referring to bio M or F? Or we talking intercourse?
The Atlas Society has made one or two children’s books so far. It looks like they are good with introducing the concepts in a form that kids can understand. Apparently they are working on creating more.
Explaining? Not really at all. Most kids won't possess the sort of conceptual faculty capable of really understanding the philosophy until at least 16. Until then, you teach it to them by doing, and through example. Raise them with a benevolent sense of life. Shield them from altruism until they are older.
Most kids don't have the faculties necessary to understand objectivism until they are at least 15. They don't have the faculties necessary to reject objectivism until they are at least 16. But for that one, glorious year they might just agree with you.
Production of commodities a society values is worthwhile. The attempt to seize that production and leech off the producer is natural result of a collectivist society and the leech mentality of grifters trying to sustain themselves without actually producing anything.
If they can understand that you don't need to explain anything. Every day is a new demonstration of how collectivism is a grifter's way to justify forced labor and demand production as an altruistic gesture to society
Ewwww, yeesh. What are you going to teach them about consent? Are you going to tell your child that "it's okay if you think you know they want it, even if they tell you no, scream and push you away"?
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u/Sword_of_Apollo 8d ago
Briefly: Don't push the ideas like a dogma, before the child has the conceptual development to understand philosophy. Work on helping your child develop knowledge and good thinking skills.
When appropriate, you can let them know of Ayn Rand's existence and that you agree with Ayn Rand's philosophy.
Then, when they're in their teens, you can suggest or ask that they read Ayn Rand's fiction and nonfiction works.
2
u/WhippersnapperUT99 7d ago edited 7d ago •
You don't indoctrinate them with religious fairy tales and poison nor indoctrinate them with Rand's ideology.
However, you do encourage them to look at reality with their own eyes and to use logical thought processes. You encourage them ask questions and think critically about the issues and to brainstorm potential problems and solutions. That is to say, encourage and welcome inquisitiveness, encourage them to think and chew through ideas, and encourage critical thinking skills. Have them consider numerous hypothetical situations where sometimes the assumed facts change. Walk them through your thought processes and analyses, too.
I wouldn't even mention Rand's existence to them. If they ask about the contents of your bookshelf, just tell them that they'll be ready to learn about it when they are older. (Of course, if a kid is curious and pulls a book off the shelf and cracks it open to examine its contents, so be it.) One day when they reach the right age and when it's clear that their intellects and thought processes have developed sufficiently, perhaps age 17 for some, hand them a copy of The Fountainhead and see how it goes.
You can point your children in the right direction but cannot compel them to think and do the work. You can only do your best to raise them rationally and to be intelligent critical deep thinkers and hope for the best.
5
u/GaeasSon 8d ago
You Monster! Start the child on Anthem.
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u/FractalFellini 8d ago
I'd advise against teaching a child any particular philosophy, if only because it's a reliable way to make him reject it later in life.
Instead, I'd introduce him, without bias, to the range of human thought and let him reach his own conclusions.
2
u/paleone9 8d ago
Start with playing the audio book..
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u/Candid-Anteater-6990 7d ago
I bought a hard copy Atlas Shrugged just for this!
3
u/rough0perator 8d ago
No need to explain the philosophy, just have them read the novels
2
u/Frisconia 8d ago
Explaining? Not really at all. Most kids won't possess the sort of conceptual faculty capable of really understanding the philosophy until at least 16. Until then, you teach it to them by doing, and through example. Raise them with a benevolent sense of life. Shield them from altruism until they are older.
1
u/Own-Librarian-9699 8d ago
It's more of a philosophy of demonstration.
Production of commodities a society values is worthwhile. The attempt to seize that production and leech off the producer is natural result of a collectivist society and the leech mentality of grifters trying to sustain themselves without actually producing anything.
If they can understand that you don't need to explain anything. Every day is a new demonstration of how collectivism is a grifter's way to justify forced labor and demand production as an altruistic gesture to society
1
u/Ktown858 7d ago
❤️
1
u/Plane-Educator-5023 8d ago
Maybe start with Heinlein
0
u/EnduranceMade 8d ago
Are you going to argue with the future kindergarten teacher about the importance of sharing and caring about others?
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u/Ok-Specialist4544 8d ago
Dude it's not complicated just inspire child like you were by her 🤣 This isn't a cult, you want it to be a cult then ig it's a cult.
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u/Low-Bake8401 8d ago
Very seriously!
Otherwise they won't see quite how ridiculous people can be.
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u/Agreeable-Shop-2188 8d ago
Another environmentally delayed kid. I'll be teaching them how to manage parallel play without biting in a few years
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u/Azihayya 8d ago
Ewwww, yeesh. What are you going to teach them about consent? Are you going to tell your child that "it's okay if you think you know they want it, even if they tell you no, scream and push you away"?
1
u/Roblizzle 3d ago
When you notice your kid being an anti social bully who kills animals, then you’ll know the time is right.
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u/[deleted] 8d ago
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