An Introduction to Ayn Rand’s Philosophy Objectivism An Introduction to Ayn Rand’s Philosophy

The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live. Ayn Rand

Objectivism: A Philosophy Objectivism is a philosophy that is broken down into four stages: They are: 1. Metaphysics: Objective Reality 2. Epistemology: Reason 3. Ethics: Self-Interest 4. Politics: Capitalism

Metaphysics the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space.

Epistemology the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

Ethics or moral philosophy is the branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct.

Objectivism: A Translation 1. People have to obey nature; you cannot have control over anything you don’t respect. 2. You can’t always get what you want; you have to work for it. 3. Basically: Give me liberty or give me death!

Tenants of the Philosophy Reality is absolute! Facts are facts: there is no way around facts. Men can have feelings, wishes or fears, but none of those change the facts.

Tenants of the Philosophy Men need to be able to think logically, to reason, in order to understand facts. Facts are where men gain their knowledge. Facts and facts alone should guide men’s actions.

Tenants of the Philosophy Man must only exist for himself. Man should not sacrifice himself for the greater good. Man should not expect others to sacrifice themselves for him. Man’s first purpose is to achieve and obtain his own happiness.

Tenants of the Philosophy In Objectivism: The ideal political-economic system is LAISSEZ-FAIRE capitalism. It is when man freely and voluntarily trade with each other for mutual benefit. no physical force or extortion can be used. The government acts ONLY as a policeman that protects man’s rights. The government should be separate from economics; that should be left in the hands of the people.

A Philosophy of Life Ayn Rand developed a “philosophy of life”. She calls it objectivism and it basically sets up an existence by which each person sets out to achieve their own individual happiness.

The Nature of Reality Objectivism states that things are what they ARE, independent of what anyone wishes. Objectivism rejects the idea that each human has their own subjective view of reality. There is only one reality.

Knowledge Objectivism holds that reason is man’s one way to obtain knowledge and tool of survival. Knowledge is always easy to obtain. There is no idea of faith or intuition in objectivism. Truth is NOT relative. It is an absolute fact.

Human Nature Individuals have free will, and are independent. However, they have to use reason to justify their actions. Individuals thoughts/behaviors are NOT the result of factors that are beyond their control.

Ethical Standards Ethics are based on facts. Morals are only in place to further man’s survival. Ethics ARE NOT a matter of opinion.

Morality Every individual should live only for himself. There is no Greater Good in objectivism. Each individual should be “selfish”, should live by his own mind and for his own happiness. Moral worth is NOT determined by altruistic service to society, the nation, religion, etc.

Politics Capitalism only! The government’s sole job is to protect each individual’s right to live his life. Government should not exist to: Work toward the common good or Work toward the will of the majority. Government only maintains order.

In order to live, man must act; in order to act, he must make choices; in order to make choices, he must define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he is and the nature of the universe in which he acts—he needs metaphysics, epistemology, & ethics, which means: philosophy. He cannot escape from this need; his only alternative is whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance. Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982) Rand was born and educated in Soviet Russia. She lived under totalitarian rule. Left/escaped Russia in 1926 for America which she saw as exemplifying her individualistic philosophy.

About the Author Ayn Rand was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1905. At age six she taught herself to read and decided to make fiction writing her career at age nine.

About the Author Rand was age 12 at the time of the Russian (or Bolshevik) Revolution (1917). Even as a young girl, she objected to the Communist principle that man must exist for the sake of the State.

About the Author The final overthrow of Russia by the Communist party brought the confiscation of her father’s pharmacy and periods of near-starvation for her family.

About the Author At the University of Petrograd, Rand studied philosophy and history. When introduced to American history, she immediately took America as her model of what a nation of free men and women could be. Eventually, Rand obtained permission to leave Soviet Russia for the United States. She spend six months with relatives in Chicago and then worked in Hollywood as a screenwriter for much of her adult life.

About the Author During her career as a screenwriter, Rand began writing novels. Between writing chapters of The Fountainhead, Rand worked on the “anti-collectivist novella Anthem” (1937). After writing several more novels, Rand wrote and lectured on a personal philosophy she called “objectivism.” This philosophy upheld her belief in reason, individuality, and capitalism.

Anthem Anthem is a work of dystopian fiction (dystopian is a word with Greek roots that refers to a society opposite of a utopia). It takes place in a future world in which society is governed by “collectivism” (a system similar to communism). The community has many rules with strict consequences and virtually no freedoms.

Dystopia

Plot Summary In Anthem, technological advancement is limited by government (known as The Council). The society of Anthem lives in a dark age in which technology like electricity has disappeared. Men and women are assigned jobs at birth and reproduction is managed by the state. The concept of individuality has been eliminated, and the word “I” has disappeared from the language. All individual names have been made numbers preceded by words “Equality” and “Union.”

Introductory Activity Watch Invictus What kind of “night” could suppress an individual? What other language in the poem suggests the theme of oppression? Sum up the message of the poem in one sentence. How does the message compare to messages in the works of ancient literature we have read?

Ego, Id, Superego (Freud) Ego: the self; the individual as aware of himself. Id: instinctive energy; dominated by the pleasure principle and impulsive wishing Superego: the conscience

Value Systems Altruism: Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; opposed to egoism. Collectivism: socialism. the subjugation of the individual to a group. Collectivism holds that man must be chained to a collective action and collective thought for the sake of the “common good.” Individualism: the leading of one’s life in one’s own way without regard for others; laissez-faire economics; the state exists for the individual not vice versa.

Questions Raised by Anthem If we could design a society, what would we design? What is the moral and just society? Does my life belong to the group? Can a society without freedom be productive? Do I have the right to pursue my own happiness?

Themes: Individualism vs. Collectivism Collectivism = subjugation of individual to group. Worth determined by service to the group. Individualism = each person is independent Individualism doesn’t mean doing whatever you feel like. It means each person has the same rights. Look for Rand’s definition of “self” in Anthem