The evolution of Ayn Rand

Chicago Tribune ^ | 1/30/05 | Steve Chapman

[beavus]

Has Ayn Rand gone mainstream? The radical champion of individualism and capitalism, who died in 1982, is no longer an exotic taste. Her image has adorned a U.S. postage stamp. Her ideas have been detected in a new mass-market animated comedy film, "The Incredibles." And Wednesday, on the 100th anniversary of her birth, there will be a Rand commemoration at the Library of Congress--an odd site for a ceremony honoring a fierce anti-statist. In her day, Rand was at odds with almost every prevailing attitude in American society. She infuriated liberals by preaching economic laissez-faire and lionizing titans of business. She appalled conservatives by rejecting religion in any form while celebrating, in her words, "sexual enjoyment as an end in itself."

[ShadowDancer]

And all you got from TFH was sweaty sex scenes? What are you, 12?

[The SISU kid]

No I'm not drunk. Not a bad idea though.

I'm clockin' out now. I'll make sure I tip my glass to ya!!

8^)

[beavus]

And all you got from TFH was sweaty sex scenes? What are you, 12?

All *I* got?! You misread my post.

[beavus]

I'm clockin' out now. I'll make sure I tip my glass to ya!!

Cheers, buddy. And thanks for including me in that post earlier today!

[ShadowDancer]

You said that you figured most people who read it are teenaged and think it's a romance novel. If you've read it, how could you possibly come to that conclusion?

[Hank Rearden]

The only way political parasites and government drones could honor Ayn Rand is by resigning en masse.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Read the book, the movie was ok but the book was much deeper.

[beavus]

You said that you figured most people who read it are teenaged and think it's a romance novel. If you've read it, how could you possibly come to that conclusion?

I guess you have to read the posts leading up to it. I was referring to the fact that I haven't personally seen Rand's influence, despite the fact her books are supposedly widely read. So, SINCE I've read, I don't understand my observation that other people's thinking is not affected by it.

[NCLaw441]

I have always found this opposition to altruism a weakness of Rand's, even after reading The Virtue of Selfishness. Altruistic actions often result in a benefit to oneself that would not otherwise have occurred. The altruistic "hand up" to an underprivileged person may result in that person's talent being developed in a way that benefit everyone greatly. I guess this may complicate the definition of altruism a bit, however.

[beavus]

The only way political parasites and government drones could honor Ayn Rand is by resigning en masse.

Sounds like an idea for Atlas Shrugged II.

[TigerTale]

I'm sure Ayn would have been grateful to see government money spend on ceremonies, monopoly post stamps memorializing her ideas & influence

Rand visited the White House at least once (to see President Ford,) and was an avid collector of postage stamps from around the world. I don't think she would mind.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Giving a person a hand up is not altruism.
Giving a person a hand out is altruism.

[beavus]

I guess this may complicate the definition of altruism a bit

That's the key. Lifting others isn't irrational. Sacrificing yourself is. Maybe we're too post-Randian to appreciate it today, but for a long time self-sacrifice was considered a moral good in and of itself. Read Kant's ethics (I think) where he contemplates how he can possibly act morally since anything he imagines doing will in some way benefit himself. He concludes (at one point) that the only purely moral act must be an act that you think is wrong, so that you won't anticipate ANY kind of benefit, including the favor of God.

[since1868]

altruism is giving without getting something back

[Mad Dawgg]

"Together, Rand (morality) and Hayek (economics) offer very powerful intellectual ammo against the left."

Both of these great author's masterpieces are in arms reach of where I sit now. I reread them about once every year or two.

Two of Sowell's books are on the same shelf as well as de Soto's masterwork.

I can't read them enough it seems.

[Lloyd227]

interesting Ayn Rand ping

[higgmeister]

So, SINCE I've read, I don't understand my observation that other people's thinking is not affected by it.

It may be somewhat difficult to see societal trends
above impromptu remarks from conversations with
friends, but do you think the decline in trade unionism
and the tremendous growth in individual activity and
personal networking on The Web in America could
be influenced to any degree but Ayn Rand's work?

Could you think of other broad trends that may have
appeared since the middle of The Twentieth Century
that could have been influenced by Rand yet might not
be reflected on by individuals in casual conversation?

[beavus]

That is precisely what the author of the article is writing about. Maybe he's right. But you still see people asking questions and taking positions all the time which have Randian responses that should've been anticipated.

Maybe I'm just seeing the world through dirt-colored glasses.

[x]

Another article on Rand here from last week's New York Sun. She belongs more to the history of political ideas than to either philosophy or history. That's not an attack -- it's probably better to be the person who gave the right answer in your time than someone who brought a more questionable message to all ages.

[ShadowDancer]

Personally, I don't think they are as widely read as reported. Purchased, yes. Read? Not so much. Getting into AS was one of the hardest reads I've ever had. Once into it, I can't explain to anyone what my mind went through.

Not a lot of people will keep going if it isn't easy read right off the bat.