Ethical Egoism In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

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Introduction In the book The Fountainhead, ethical egoism (or Objectivism as Ayn named it) is explored through struggles of the groundbreaking thoughts of Architect, Howard Roark and his effort to achieve success in life. Based on Ayn Rand's meaning of ethical egoism (or Objectivism as Ayn named it), the meaning of ethical egoism, is the way that each of us should pursue their own self-interest, and that no-one has any responsibility to encourage anyone else's interests. Throughout the book The Fountainhead written by Ayn Rand, she explained five key principles/themes. In The Fountainhead she explained the principles/themes as: Independence, Second-Handers, Selfishness as Good, Creativity, and Central Purpose. Through these principles/themes she explained the concept of egoism. This paper will attempt to explain Ayn Rand's principles of egoism through the book The Fountainhead. …show more content…

According to the definition as provided by Ayn Rand, she states that independence is the "acceptance of the responsibility of forming one's own judgements and of living by the work of one's own mind" (Rand,1996).
Second-Handers
The second principle/theme that Rand covers in her book was the theme of Second-Handers. According to the definition as given by Ayn Rand, she explains that the meaning of second-handers is "all (those who) exhibit a basic dependence on others, whether in the form of seeking social approval as the measure of their own worth, or of following the opinions of others as authoritative, or of trying to dominate others in a quest for power" (Rand,1996).
Selfishness as Good The third principle/theme that Rand covers in her book was the theme of selfishness as good. Based on the meaning of this theme/principle she explains "selfishness which consisted of sacrificing others to self…selfishness is portrayed, not as a vice, but a virtue" (Rand,1996).

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