Changes

== Three favorite students ==

== Three favorite students ==

In or about 1912, three men from widely divergent backgrounds enrolled at PHU and announced their intention to pursue double majors in [[physics]] and [[philosophy]]. These three men were, of course, [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjold]], and [[John Galt]]. Dr. Akston would say later that the most remarkable thing about these men, apart from their decision to pursue such a demanding double major, was that they could form such a fast friendship despite the differences in their upbringing. Francisco d'Anconia was a descendant of the earliest [[Spain|Spanish]] noblemen of the old Spanish Empire in Latin America. Ragnar Danneskjold descended from an aristocratic family in [[Scandinavia]] (though which country in Scandinavia, the novel never makes clear). John Galt was, as Akston would later describe him, {{cquote|the self-made man, self-made in every sense, who came to our university penniless, parentless, tie-less.}}

In or about 1949, three men from widely divergent backgrounds enrolled at PHU and literally wandered into Akston's classroom while he was teaching a higher-level graduate course. One of the three asked a pointed question about [[Plato]]'s philosophy that amazed Akston. This young man, who was only sixteen years old, had grasped a key point that Plato himself had missed. Akston asked him to stay after class. He did, along with two other young men, all the same age. The three then announced their intention to pursue double majors in [[physics]] and [[philosophy]]. These three men were, of course, [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjold]], and [[John Galt]].

 

Dr. Akston would say later that the most remarkable thing about these men, apart from their decision to pursue such a demanding double major, was that they could form such a fast friendship despite the differences in their upbringing. Francisco d'Anconia was a descendant of the earliest [[Spain|Spanish]] noblemen of the old Spanish Empire in Latin America. Ragnar Danneskjold descended from an aristocratic family in [[Norway]]. John Galt was, as Akston would later describe him, {{cquote|the self-made man, self-made in every sense, who came to our university penniless, parentless, tie-less.}}

Their love of reason united them, though each man also had a particular love that distinguished him from the other two. Francisco d'Anconia loved the earth and the things in it; Ragnar Danneskjold loved justice; and John Galt was the practical man, eager to see how things worked and figure out how to make them work better.

Their love of reason united them, though each man also had a particular love that distinguished him from the other two. Francisco d'Anconia loved the earth and the things in it; Ragnar Danneskjold loved justice; and John Galt was the practical man, eager to see how things worked and figure out how to make them work better.