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Objectivism by ayn rand explained
Objectivism by ayn rand explained
Objectivism by ayn rand explained
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Throughout the philosophical novel known as Atlas Shrugged, its author, Ayn Rand, leaves no question as to the primary theme within the story. In fact, Rand herself stated that the theme “is the role of the mind in man’s existence.” The story indicates that it is the presence and awareness of the mind that promotes prosperity and morality. For the duration of the book, as the men of reason and strong morality disappear, panic spreads through the remaining men in power, who are representative of the incompetent. They represent the men who avoid reason, acting upon such things as feeling and responsibility. Rand, through her lead character, condemns men of this nature, writing; “Are you seeking to know what is wrong with the world? All the disasters
A utopia is a community which possesses highly desirable or perfect qualities. The beginning of the book Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, is supposed to be represented as a utopia, but the reader soon discovers that it is actually a dystopia; which is merely the opposite of a utopia. The main character of the book, Equality 7-2521, explains to the reader that there are many laws and regulations that the people of City must obey such as: not to write or have their own thoughts, citizens can’t have individual names, and the citizens of the city also have to refer to themselves as “we.” Equality 7-2521 soon realizes that a society that lacks individualism does nothing to make the community prosper; meaning there must be a stop to the collectivism within the city.
In The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand achieves in giving her characters such powerful personalities and depth that the reader can actually fall in love with their fictional thoughts and souls. The love story that takes place between Howard Roark and Dominique Francon is disparate than any other that has been written before. Although Dominique loves Howard Roark, she seeks to destroy him throughout the book and Rand leaves us with the lingering question; why?
Louis Kronenberger, a novelist, once said: “Individualism is rather like innocence, there must be something, unconscious about it”. Individualism is truly at the core of every being and is a fundamental part of every living thing. There will always be differences in a community, whether it is among humans, plants, or animals. These variations, whether physical or not, make us separate from the rest of the population. Collectivism cannot occur because no matter how someone attempts to make everyone alike, suppressing personality is not possible. Equality, the main character of Anthem, is used as a device to exhibit this. He is constantly pressured to conform, but is not able to change who he is. The author uses three topics throughout the book
“Councils are the voice of all justice, for they are the voice of all men (22)”. In Anthem’s collectivist society, the council attains all power, and the citizens have no power at all. The council makes all decisions and is bias against any sort of individuality. Citizens are not allowed to make many decisions of their own. They have been trained to believe that everything the council says and does is correct and that their way is the only way. “We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE. One, indivisible and forever (19).” The people in Anthem live by these words. Their council leaders have convinced them that these words are true. Anthem’s collectivist society revolves around the beliefs and ideas of the government, and due to Equality 7-2521’s sense of intrinsic belief, he is able to escape the council’s ways and start a new life.
She was often obstinate and arguable, creating several works using her knowledge of philosophy and bravely overcoming obstacles along the way. Mrs. Rand’s most popular novels were The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Although her career was initially interrupted when a play was unsuccessful and her first book sold inadequately, she quickly recovered with encouragement from close friends to continue her career.
“There is fear hanging in the air of the sleeping halls, and in the air of the streets. Fear walks through the City, fear without name, without shape. All men feel it and none dare to speak. (2.43)” this is a quote from Ayn Rand’s Anthem. Anthem is about a dystopian society where the government decides your job, who you marry, everything! North Korea is an actual place where the government does not allow their citizens to leave. Citizens have no freedom of speech, and no freedom of information, and the citizens love their government for fear of what they will do if they don’t. North Korea really is not that different from Anthem.
One being the fact that this book is a collection of her essay and speeches. But the main one is how this book discusses her own Philosophy. She first explains the importance of philosophy and how it used in the real world unknowingly today, but she then says the philosophy most people follow today, Altruism, as irrational. “Altruism is the rationalization for the mass slaughter in Soviet Russia – for the legalized looting in the welfare state – for the power-lust of politicians seeking to serve the common good” (Rand 27) Altruism is basically the thought of having selfless actions and to serve others. This completely contradicts Ayn Rand’s philosophy of living, Objectivism. This is where the book becomes different form other books and even the entire world. Many people and religions are taught to help others. This follows Altruism in the fact that we are serving others and being selfless. Objectivism has many different layers to it but one of the most important parts to it is the concept that man should be self-serving. That we should be selfish and live for ourselves only under the condition that it doesn’t harm others. This is extremely different from everything we are taught since we were
“Who is John Galt?” is the key question in Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged. This recurring question is in reference to the identity of a mysterious character. Its significance, however, has a far deeper meaning.
The overall message of Francisco’s speech from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is that money is not the root of all evil, but the root of all good. To begin with, money represents a symbol of hard work, effort, and labor. “To love money is to know and love the fact that money is the creation of the best power within you, and your passkey to trade your effort for the effort of the best among men.”(Rand 5) Rand utilizes a simile to convey that effort represents money because money represents a value of your hardwork and effort. Money is the root of all good because you trade your effort for the equivalent amount of effort. Next, men are not able to trade their value for a higher value.. “An honest man is one who knows that he can’t consume more than
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand is a book that tackles human motive, power, and objectivism. It also challenges female stereotypes as well as a person’s purpose and drive in life. Some are driven by confidence and a need to be better, while others strive for fame and money. In the end there is a clean division drawn between these two types of people. Many themes are explored in this literary work, but the main ones that stick out are the powerful character of Dagny, the purposeful setting, and the exploration of objectivism.
Ragnar Danneskjöld said that he loved that which had rarely been loved, namely, human ability. When he said this, he could have meant that human ability is taken for granted, which is shown by the fact that several business plans in the book follow the idea of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” This idea took what men were able to complete and compensated them their need. When they are compensated for their need, and are not fired for their lack of ability, then they can show that their ability is lower than it really is and still receive pay to sustain them. They could then receive pay according to their supposed needs, which may or may not be real. In the Atlas Shrugged, Jeff Allen explained the effects this
“Wow,” I said aloud to myself. I had just finished Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and decided to read one of her nonfiction books. I found Atlas Shrugged to be an amazing book, my new favorite. I have never thought so hard after reading a book as I did after
The main theme of Rand’s novels is the contradiction between her definition of selfish and selfless versus the popular understanding. She sees being selfish and concerned with oneself as a positive attribute as it means that individual has chosen higher values for himself and being selfless and altruistic as a fault as people tend to be unethical (Flanagan). Howard Roark is a character who is selfish and the protagonist of The Fountainhead. After being arrested for blowing up the Cortlandt housing project, Roark chooses the most hostile jury he can and not to bring witnesses. Instead he defends himself with a philosophical speech as he tells them, “The mind is an attribute of the individual. There is no such thing as a collective brain....
Ayn Rand’s controversial views and opinions on ethical egoism have paved the way in liberating and absolving society’s conservative elite from feeling guilt or compassion towards those who are less fortunate in society - including those from the middle-class, the working poor and minorities. Though Rand penned her theory decades ago, her brand of ethical egoism is still touted as gospel by some politicians and those in the upper echelons of society, creating gridlock in the government and a deep division among the classes.
In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, she states “there are Solidarity 9-6347, who are a bright youth, without fear in the day but they scream: “Help us! Help us! Help us!” into the night,in a voice so which chills our bones our bones.” (p.47). The reader can see that Rand means many mental disorders are untreatable. I believe Solidarity 9-6347 has PTSD, something might have happened to him as a child. Most mental disorders cannot be cured. Solidarity 9-6347 may have been through some type of trauma to make him have this mental disorder.