Atlas Shrugged Summary
In her Book Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand discusses objectivism, and how it should be the foundation for the world economy. Rand describes objectivism as the foundation for what exists, and is characterized by the traits that humans are born with. Rand believed that objective knowledge exists, and concluded that such knowledge could be obtained through the proper use of our senses.
Similar to Descartes, Rand begins by establishing the existence of human thought and doubt, of which she believed was the basis of objective morality. According to Rand, failing to use proper logic was a disgrace to the human existence, and was morally incorrect. To Rand, the abuse of thought was the worst thing you could do as a human being. If the ability to think is what defines objectively correct life, then to abuse thought would be to abuse life.
Rand claims that after logic and proper thought is applied to the human condition, the purpose of man’s life is to find one’s own happiness, instead of working for those around you. Rand believed that a person should act selfish when it comes to personal self interest, which would raise the collective happiness of humanity. The value of a life is completely measured based on the achievements of that person. If someone worked hard their entire life, but achieved little, according to Rand this person would have lived an ethically incorrect life for not using proper logic.
Rand detested the idea of working for the greater good, but she was raised with a bias. Rand was born in St. Petersburg Russia, just before the Bolshevik revolution. After the communist party took over, Ayn’s father’s convenience store was forced to go national. The increased taxes pushed Rand’s family to the brink of death due to constant starvation. Ayn eventually immigrated to the U.S where she could become an author, and promote the only economic system that worked under her objective philosophy: Laissez-faire capitalism.
Laissez-faire translates to leave it alone, which is an economy completely free of government restrictions. No taxes, levys, or tariffs. No nothing. The government exists to provide defense, and basic utilities. Besides that everything would be operated by private businesses, allowing survival of the fittest to run its course. Rand believed anything other than completely unrestricted capitalism was a violation of objective morality and violated the ideals of objectivism. However, without a competitive mindset, logic and reason meant nothing.
Rand believed that the sharpest minds and logical thinkers would only prevail in laissez-faire capitalism if they competed. Rand’s philosophy encouraged competition to a radical extent. Rand indirectly states that if you aren’t competitive, you deserve to die. Rand accepted that you could be born with privilege, but believed that that it was always possible to achieve any kind of financial goal.
Rand’s objectivism combined with laissez faire capitalism is the foundation for today’s Tea party, as well as libertarian thought. Rand had a profound effect on modern politics and economics. Although somewhat radical, Rand’s desire to view politics from an objective standpoint is very intriguing.
Ben Pettee
10/20/14
History of Thought
Subjective Objectivity
Almost every famous philosophical begins with a declaration of what reality is, and why. In order for a philosophical work to be captivating, it needs a logical explanation for objectivity backed by evidence and reason. But in order for a philosophical work to provoke change, it must not only be captivating, but most importantly it has to be applicable. Perhaps no Philosopher has provoked as much political and economic thought as Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged introduced Rand’s idea of objectivism, and how it should be applied to the economy. To Rand, the meaning life was to use logic and reasoning to pursue your own happiness, which was equated with production. Rand viewed production as earning money, because money could build stability and financial flexibility. In this sense, Rand equated happiness with money. According to Rand, if at the end of your life you had produced little, you basically deserved to rot. This is where Ayn’s view of “objectivity” becomes subjective. Ayn came to the basic conclusion that human thought proves existence, and equated proper thought to proper morality. Although her views on human nature are somewhat moderate, she went on a fairly radical tangent based off of those views. Ayn essentially stated that the meaning of life was to compete for as much money as possible, using proper reason. This idea not only contradicts logic and reason, but contradicts the basis of her objectivity theory. If you view the human life under the same scope that Rand did, money is not inherent happiness. Humans are not born with the desire to achieve paper. Rand’s views are flawed because she treats her own subjective logic and reasoning as “objective”, and labels anyone who does not follow her logic as weak people, whose lives are meaningless. Specifically, rand incorrectly values life based on the pursuit of money, and claims that people who do not selfishly pursue money, are worthless.
Although Rand’s views on objectivity are somewhat sound, she treats people who do not follow her own logic as irrational and immoral, which takes away from the potential impact of her philosophy, as well as detracts credit from her following train of thought. Rand claims that her reason was absolute, deeming that existence is worthless without thought. In Atlas Shrugged, she claims that “to be or not to be’ is the question ‘to think or not to think” (770). Here, she equates existence to thought, and furthers that notion by claiming “Where its [man’s] knowledge proves inadequate, it dies” (770). A logical claim, that if man does not use proper knowledge it will cease to exist. However, rand then takes a somewhat radical turn, and claims “That which is proper to the life of a rational being is the good; all that which destroys it is the evil” (771). By deeming anyone or anything that does not follow Rand’s logic as evil, she effectively chastises anyone who does not agree with her logic. By claiming her logic is absolute, and then shedding anyone who does not agree with it as evil, it gives her philosophy somewhat of a tyrannical feel. She takes a logical claim about the objective existence of man, and goes on an illogical tangent by deeming anyone who does not live under her code of conduct as immoral. This detracts from the potential impact on her work by insulting people who do not agree with her. Rand’s idea that politics should be re-assessed and based on objective life was a great notion, and could have had a greater impact if she didn’t deem those who don’t follow her logic as “evil”.
Rand’s logic itself is flawed because she indirectly equates the pursuit of money as the meaning of life. One of the main principles of her objective philosophy is to pursue happiness, which to Rand is equated with finance. In her book The Virtue of Selfishness she describes how “Man’s essential characteristic is his rational faculty. Man’s mind is his basic means of survival” (20). In Atlas shrugged, she goes on to say that “Money is your means of survival” (314). Here she is saying that to survive, or to live properly, one most pursue as much money as possible. This is a superficial and contradictory way to look at life. From an objective lens, humans are not born with a desire to pursue money. Therefore, it is a subjective claim that money will make you happy. Linda Carrol, a writer for Today health, cites a happiness poll conducted by Gallup and Healthways Global: “Panama and Costa Rica turn out to have the most satisfied citizens even though both lag numerous other countries in terms of wealth”. Although brief, this study proves that money is not equivalent to happiness. It doesn’t take an intellectual person to know that. Whether or not you believe money does bring happiness, it is certainly not a law of nature, or an objective truth. This is why Rand’s logic is flawed, her claim that money brings happiness is logically untrue, and is not a law of nature.
Rand also fails to take people who can’t compete into account, specifically the mentally and physically disabled. If the purpose of life is to be happy, and according to Rand happiness comes from money and competition, then the lives of disabled people are completely worthless. People with physical and mental disabilities have the ability to be happy, specifically without money. Acclaimed book critic Craig Seligman in his review of Rand’s book The Fountainhead, describes how Rand “invoked contempt”, when she referred to the disabled, whom she occasionally referred to as “the hopeless cases”. However, a person’s capacity to compete is not relative to their happiness, and the lives of the mentally disabled are by no means worthless. This is another reason why the logic of Ayn Rand is flawed, not only does it completely discredit the lives of individuals who have the same inherent worth as every human being, but it disregards the fact that mentally and physically disabled people have the ability to be happy without competing.
Ayn Rand’s idea to re-assess economics and politics on an objective scale was an excellent notion; however she failed to do so. She established a decent argument for objectivity, but then went off on an unnecessary, illogical tangent. She chastised people who didn’t follow her logic by deeming them immoral or evil, and claimed her reasoning was absolute, when in reality it was subjective to her own experience. She equated money with happiness, and encouraged selfishness, even referring to it as a virtue. She then discredited the lives of the mentally and physically disabled, because they couldn’t necessarily compete in laissez-faire capitalism. She failed to realize that happiness doesn’t have to come from money, and therefore the meaning of life isn’t necessarily the pursuit of money. To conclude, Ayn Rand’s logic is flawed because she incorrectly identified the pursuit of money as the bane of human existence.
Works Cited
Carrol, Linda. "What's the Happiest Place on Earth? It's Not the U.S., Survey Finds."TODAY. Today Health. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.today.com/health/panama-happiest-place-earth-survey-finds-1D80153794>.
Linda Carrol is an American Author and family therapist, who has 3 published books. She also teaches at Pairs Psychoeducation process, a nationally recognized relationship education program. She occasionally writes columns for Today health magazine.
Rand, Ayn, and Nathaniel Branden. The Virtue of Selfishness, a New Concept of Egoism. New York: New American Library, 1964. 20. Print
Ayn Rand is a political author, and advocate for laissez-faire capitalism. Rand’s philosophy is considered the founding principles for the libertarian party, and still resonates through the political world today. Rand has published many famous books, her most well known are Atlas Shrugged, and the Fountainhead
Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged. New York: Random House, 1957. Print.
Ayn Rand is a political author, and advocate for laissez-faire capitalism. Rand’s philosophy is considered the founding principles for the libertarian party, and still resonates through the political world today. Rand has published many famous books, her most well known are Atlas Shrugged, and the Fountainhead
Rand, Ayn. Fountainhead. New York: Randomhouse, 1961. Print
Ayn Rand is a political author, and advocate for laissez-faire capitalism. Rand’s philosophy is considered the founding principles for the libertarian party, and still resonates through the political world today. Rand has published many famous books, her most well known are Atlas Shrugged, and the Fountainhead
Seligman, Craig. "Ryan's Hero Ayn Rand Sneered at Disabled Children: Commentary." Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/ryan-s-hero-ayn-rand-sneered-at-disabled-children-commentary.html
Craig Seligman is an acclaimed book critic and freelance author for Bloomberg.com. Craig was also the previous president Environmental waste solutions inc. Craig resides in Atlanta Georgia, is married and has two children.
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