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Post 0

Saturday, December 11, 2010 - 11:20amSanction this postReply
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I read a long time ago at the ARI site an assertion that Harry Binswanger claimed that 99% of humanities professors are dishonest. That page has vanished and I cannot find any similar claim anywhere else. I do not doubt that Binswanger said it at some point. Can anyone provide an exact citation?

Post 1

Monday, December 13, 2010 - 11:05pmSanction this postReply
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No, but it wouldn't surprise me. I once heard him say in a Q&A that Ayn Rand didn't have any flaws (unless you were to count her accent as one), and that even if she did, we shouldn't mention them for at least the next 100 years or so, because doing so would just give her enemies grist for the mill.

As my mother used to say, "All the world's queer, except me and thee, and even thee's a little queer."



Post 2

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 5:20amSanction this postReply
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If I made a public statement to that effect and referred to Binswanger as the source, I wonder what audience (other than ARI types) would take the statement seriously.

Post 3

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 11:25amSanction this postReply
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Strange that Binswanger should have said that.  I remember years ago, when Peikoff lectured in New York, someone make a point during Q&A about how difficult it was to always have the right answers by the correct sources.

Peikoff said (1980??) that he sympatized and that a friend of his sometimes made up some vague "Professor Harzendorfer" (or some such untraceable name) who said blah blah bla -- i.e., proving his point.

Hmmm - I guess ARI followers are honest when it suits them.


Post 4

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 1:44pmSanction this postReply
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Ginny, I think that was in the "Objective Communication" series in the section discussing drawing room arguments.

I am very leery of any dialogue aimed at winning rather than reaching for truth, a process I call "public master debating."

Post 5

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 1:58pmSanction this postReply
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Accurate or not, the story in #3 doesn't say that Peikoff used, approved or recommended the tactic.

Post 6

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 - 2:53pmSanction this postReply
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Luke, yes, I remember now, it was the Debating lecture.  Peter, he didn't come out and say he approved the tactic, but he sure as heck didn't disavow it.  Actually, I kind of remember him being amused as he told the story. 

Post 7

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 - 5:53amSanction this postReply
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I will corroborate Ginny's assessment of Peikoff's amusement.

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