Who is Ayn Rand Anyway?

“My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” —Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand is best known for her political novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In her day, she attracted both loyal fans and furious critics. Leftist critics seem to think she represents extreme conservatism. However, she had as many opponents on the right.  

Rand developed the philosophy of "Objectivism." The basic principles of Objectivism emphasize the values of reason, individual rights and self-interest. At one time, Ayn Rand was a sensation, and her ideas retain a hold on the Libertarian movement, but for most she is seen as simply a phase rather than an intellectual foundation. Objectivism is an integrated system of thought that defines the abstract principles by which a man must think and act if he is to live the life proper to man. She described hers as a philosophy for living on earth.

Rand shaped the unique philosophy in American political thought but her reach has diminished, and her disciples have maintained varying degrees of faithfulness to her principles. Rand first portrayed her philosophy in the form of the heroes of her best-selling novels, The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957).

When asked if she could present the essence of Objectivism, her simple answer was:

1. Metaphysics: Objective Reality

2. Epistemology: Reason

3. Ethics: Self-interest

4. Politics: Capitalism

She then translated those terms into familiar language:

1. “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.”

2. “You can’t eat your cake and have it too.”

3. “Man is an end in himself.”

4. “Give me liberty or give me death.”

What does all the essence of Objectivism really mean? 

The basic principles of Objectivism can be summarized as follows:

1. Metaphysics: “Reality, the external world, exists independent of man’s consciousness, independent of any observer’s knowledge, beliefs, feelings, desires or fears. This means that A is A, that facts are facts, that things are what they are— and that the task of man’s consciousness is to perceive reality, not to create or invent it.” Thus Objectivism rejects any belief in the supernatural— and any claim that individuals or groups create their own reality.

2. Epistemology: “Man’s reason is fully competent to know the facts of reality. Reason, the conceptual faculty, is the faculty that identifies and integrates the material provided by man’s senses. Reason is man’s only means of acquiring knowledge.” Thus Objectivism rejects mysticism (any acceptance of faith or feeling as a means of knowledge), and
it rejects skepticism (the claim that certainty or knowledge is impossible).
Objectivism rejects any form of collectivism, such as fascism or socialism. It also rejects the current “mixed economy” notion that the government should regulate the economy and redistribute wealth.

3. Human-Nature: Man is a rational being. Reason, as man’s only means of knowledge, is his basic means of survival. But the exercise of reason depends on each individual’s choice. “Man is a being of volitional consciousness.” “That which you call your soul or spirit is your consciousness, and that which you call ‘free will’ is your mind’s freedom to think or not, the only will you have, your only freedom. [This is] the choice that controls all the choices you make and determines your life and character.” Thus Objectivism rejects any form of determinism, the belief that man is a victim of forces beyond his control (such as God, fate, upbringing, genes, or economic conditions).

4. Ethics: “Reason is man’s only proper judge of values and his only proper guide to action. The proper standard of ethics is: man’s survival qua man— i.e., that which is required by man’s nature for his survival as a rational being (not his momentary physical survival as a mindless brute). Rationality is man’s basic virtue, and his three fundamental values are: reason, purpose, self-esteem. Man— every man— is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self-interest, with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life.” Thus Objectivism rejects any form of altruism— the claim that morality consists in living for others or for society.

5. Politics: “The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is that no man has the right to seek values from others by means of physical force— i.e., no man or group has the right to initiate the use of physical force against others. Men have the right to use force only in self-defense and only against those who initiate its use. Men must deal with one another as traders, giving value for value, by free, mutual consent to mutual benefit. The only social system that bars physical force from human relationships is laissez-faire capitalism. Capitalism is a system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which the only function of the government is to protect individual rights, i.e., to protect men from those who initiate the use of physical force.” 

6. Esthetics: “Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist’s metaphysical value-judgments.” The purpose of art is to concretize the artist’s fundamental view of existence. Ayn Rand described her own approach to art as “Romantic Realism”: “I am a Romantic in the sense that I present men as they ought to be. I am Realistic in the sense that I place them here and now and on this earth.”

Rand states: “My purpose, first cause and prime mover is the portrayal of *Howard Roark or **John Galt as an end in himself— not as a means to any further end.” 

Considering the goal of Rand’s novels is not didactic (intended for instruction) but is instead artistic -- with the projection of an “ideal man,” then how seriously might one regard the philosophy in light of today’s GOP presidential campaign platform and real-world application going forward? Should this unique philosophy even be considered a plausible form of political thought and can it be translated into a workable solution in reality?

Thoughts?

*Howard Roark Fountainhead speech: http://www.nasonart.com/personal/lifelessons/fountainhead.html

**John Galt Atlas Shrugged speech: http://amberandchaos.com/?page_id=106