What are you reading?
Atlas Shrugged is needlessly long (and rather boring), which is why I think relatively few people have actually read it. However, while I agree Rand was an extremist, I generally chuckle at Hollywood actors, directors, and producers who vilify her concept of exceptionalism, and how it benefits society.
That's so funny to me because the film industry is the perfect example of how exceptionalism works. People pay money to see exceptional actors and stories, which in turn employs thousands of people in the production of them. Without those stars, those films don't get made, and all those "unknown" people don't work. Professional sports is the same prime example of exceptionalism in action. It's simple math. People flock to see the exceptional athlete, star, etc., and whole industries exist because of that.
It's just weird how the people in the middle of industries built on the very concept don't even see it.
I feel this makes a lot of the same over-broad assumptions Rand made
in particular movies are not an example of exceptionalism - sports kinda sorta maybe but also not really
an excellent performance in a movie is contingent on SO many moving parts coming together just so
funding, directing, writing, editing, scene partner, sound, lighting, et al
an exceptional performance is a collective effort (and a mediocre performance can be made much better with excellent elements around)
athletics comes a bit closer - but even then there's so much opportunity/availability, (often) financial ability, proximity, et al
I'm sure we can all acknowledge that before integration, MLB wasn't an example of exceptionalism - many barriers have been lifted, but many subtler ones remain
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and further even if we can get close to an idea of exceptionalism - and believe me when I say that I do not have issue with elite ability (in all of its forms) - is that we apply the notion in all sorts of bizarre ways -- bc someone was an above average college coach, we think they can govern a state -- bc someone is an exceptional QB, we think they can coach a team
we tend to way overestimate the transitive property of exceptionalism