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Line 1: − [[Image:Jhyu65.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Ayn Rand. A philosopher and writer who developed the [[Objectivism|Objectivist]] school of thought]]+ − '''Ayn Rand''' (February 2, 1905 – March 6, 1982), born in St. Petersburg, [[Russia]],<ref>Born as Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum.</ref> was a [[libertarian]] author. She was a [[fiscal conservative]] advocating free unregulated [[capitalism]], who opposed [[collectivism]], [[socialism]], [[communism]] and [[fascism]]. However, on social issues, she was [[liberal]]. Ayn Rand was a big supporter of unlimited [[abortion]]-on-demand,<ref>Ayn Rand wrote that "An embryo ''has no rights''. ... A child cannot acquire any rights until it is born." http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_FAQ#obj_nr_vs_ar (emphasis in original)</ref> and an [[atheism|atheist]]. She began her career in Hollywood, and has been described as a promoter of a philosophy known as [[Objectivism]]. Her best-known novels are ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'' and ''[[The Fountainhead]]''. Ayn Rand asserted that selfishness was a virtue and [[altruism]] was wrongheaded (see also: [[Atheism and uncharitableness]]). She wrote a book entitled ''The Virtue of Selfishness''. − Ayn Rand's novels often had political messages, such as laissez-faire capitalism with minimum government intervention (known by the name Minarchism) in business. Ayn Rand strongly objected to socialism and nationalism. Combined, more than twelve million copies of her two best-known novels have been sold in the U.S. alone. Despite her anti-[[Christian]] and liberal views on social issues, her opposition to state economic intervention has made her works and philosophy popular with the [[TEA Party]] movement.<ref>''Ayn Rand stars at Denver stimulus ‘tea party’ protest'', Colorado Independent, Wendy Norris - 2/28/09 - [http://coloradoindependent.com/23026/ayn-rand-stars-at-denver-stimulus-tea-party-protest]</ref>+ − ==Early life==+ − Ayn Rand was born on February 2, 1905, in Saint Petersburg Russia. Her first name "Ayn" rhymes with "mine", and she was born as '''Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum.''' She was the first of three daughters to her parents Zinovy Zakharovich Rosenbaum and Anna Borisovna. − During the Bolshevik revolution, her family saw everything it had confiscated and they fled the country. They returned home after the revolution, the city having been renamed to Petrograd. As a young adult, she enrolled in Petrograd University, where she studied the works of Aristotle, Plato, and Nietzsche. Her first published work was an essay about Pola Negri, a Polish actress.+ − − ==Philosophy== − {{Main|Objectivism}} − − Ayn Rand attracted a following based on her opposition to [[collectivism]], as articulated in her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged''. Her followers today tend to be [[libertarians]] and predominantly unmarried men, many of whom are drawn to a self-indulgent lifestyle consistent with Rand's philosophy. Rand often called herself a "radical for capitalism," by which she meant the pure, ''laissez-faire'' variety. Rand had very little in common with [[conservatives]] except for a mutual opposition to communism and socialism. Rand has also been accused of being a rape apologist for her rape scene in ''The Fountainhead''. − − [[Conservative]] [[Whittaker Chambers]] was a harsh critic of the caricatures in Ayn Rand's work, and how she implied that evil systems would collapse on their own without the need for good men to do anything. [[Edmund Burke]] famously stated, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," but one might conclude from Rand's work that being selfish and doing nothing is what good people should do, and then evil will fail all by itself. Whittaker Chambers observed in a book review he wrote for ''National Review'' in 1957, "Happily, in ''Atlas Shrugged'' ('''''though not in life'''''), all the children of Darkness are utterly incompetent" (emphasis added). − − Rand's most famous and powerful follower was [[Alan Greenspan]] (b. 1926), long-time head of the Federal Reserve System (1987–2006), though it is difficult to see manifestations of Rand's ideas in Greenspan's work. − − Rand was a moral absolutist with the virtues of rationality and hard-work as central themes to her writing. However, conservatives reject Rand’s elevation of reason over faith, sentiment, and tradition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlassociety.org/myth-ayn-rand-was-conservative|title=Myth: Ayn Rand was a Conservative|author=William R. Thomas}}</ref> Social conservatives in particular reject Rand’s view that sexual fulfillment is an important part of life and not merely limited to procreation. Her views are seen as hedonistic, selfish, and sinful—she accepts the usage of birth control and abortion<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5105|title=Abortion:An Absolute Right|publisher=The Ayn Rand Center}}</ref> as proper means to an active sexual life without the consequences of child-rearing. In general Rand’s view of the perfection of human character is at odds with the Christian view of man’s essential sinfulness. − − Rand's philosophy was anti-Christian to the point of even declaring that "faith, as such, is extremely detrimental to human life: it is the negation of reason."<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_topic_religion%</ref> While Rand advocates absolutes in the realm of ethics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/absolutes.html − |title=Absolutes|author=Ayn Rand}}</ref> her ethical principles are at odds with traditional Christianity.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/religion.html|title=Religion|author=Ayn Rand}}</ref> Her followers support an "absolute right" to [[abortion]] at any time during pregnancy,<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5105</ref> including partial-birth abortion. Ayn Rand's philosophy and followers also support a "right" to have same-sex marriage, and opposed California's [[Proposition 8]] defining marriage as between one man and woman.<ref>http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=21821</ref> − − Rand was an [[atheism|atheist]] and opponent of traditional family values, who personally adhered more to [[Hollywood Values]] than conservative ones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/biofaq.html|author=Richard Lawrence|title=Ayn Rand FAQ}}</ref> She was a strident opponent of altruism. As far back as 1957, [[Whittaker Chambers]] denounced the “wickedness” of ''Atlas Shrugged'' in ''National Review,'' and Dr. Gabe Vertin derided her "senseless self-aggrandizement." − − − − In metaphysics and epistemology, Rand argued for a reality-based outlook as opposed to the subjectivism of progressive post-modern academia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlassociety.org/tni/postmodern-assault-reason|title=The Postmodern Assault on Reason|author=Roger Donway|publication=The New Individualist}}</ref> − − Rand can appeal to those conservatives who emphasize the Greco-Roman tradition of Western Civilization, especially Aristotle, while she disappoints those who give greater emphasis to the Judeo-Christian influence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6164|title=The Greatness of Western Civilization|author=Edwin A. Locke|publisher=Ayn Rand Center}}</ref> She continues to attract converts, especially the young, to right-leaning Republican politics—including notable figures with more traditional outlooks. − − ==Similarities to George Orwell== − Similar to [[George Orwell]], Rand had first-hand knowledge of living under a [[communist]]/[[socialist]] [[dictatorship]]. They both used their knowledge to paint vivid pictures of the specific ways in which these political philosophies break down. Orwell's focus was on control of the mind through the use of secret police forces and through the reworking of the language itself, Orwell's ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' was about the horror of a functioning dictatorship; Rand focused on the corruption and vice that inevitably follows from a political philosophy that rewards failure, Rand also pinpointed the specific maneuverings that liberals use to avoid justice and justify their might makes right attitudes. − − In Atlas Shrugged Rand put a great deal of emphasis on the use of informal procedures as a way to rob victims of any tools they might be able to use in their defense, production tribunals in the book met and had an informal discussion, so that the producers that they were strangling could not call any kind of precedent or procedure to rescue them from the abuse of power. In the crumbling socialist world of Atlas Shrugged the only defense was to agree with those in power. Orwell envisioned (and had seen) the same problem, a world in which the marketplace of ideas was as strangled as the marketplace of goods and services, only done in private and hellish jail cells. − − Both of these authors had some very liberal characteristics, Orwell being a socialist himself and Ayn being an atheist and egoist but in spite of their liberal traits they couldn't help but look at the world that liberals created and decry how wicked it was. Author [[Christopher Hitchens]], writing about Orwell, called this a "power of facing", where in Orwell was able to face the issues on his own side, a very important characteristic shared by many great academics and philosophers in the Christian tradition.wa − − ==Quotes== − "We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: The stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission – which is the stage of the darkest periods of [[human]] history, the stage of rule by brute force."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45735 WorldNetDaily.com Should Democratic Party merge with Communist Party?, August 12, 2005</ref> − − "The most profoundly revolutionary achievement of the United States of America was the subordination of society to moral law. The principle of man’s individual rights represented the extension of morality into the social system—as a limitation on the power of the state, as man’s protection against the brute force of the collective, as the subordination of might to right. The United States was the first moral society in history."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Virtue of Selfishness: |author=Ayn Rand|chapter=Man's Rights|page=93}}</ref> − − "Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Virtue of Selfishness: |author=Ayn Rand|chapter=Racism|page=126}}</ref> − − “When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion - when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing - when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors - when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you - when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.” − Atlas Shrugged, Francisco's "Money Speech."<ref>http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Ayn.Rand.Quote.4138</ref> − − ==Works== − *''[[We the Living]]'' − *''[[Anthem (book)|Anthem]]'' − *''[[The Fountainhead]]'' − *''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'' − *''[[Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal]]'' − *''[[The Romantic Manifesto]]'' − *''[[The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution]]'' − *''[[The Virtue of Selfishness]]'' − − == See also == − * [[Atlas Shrugged]] by Ayn Rand − * [[Big government]] [[Welfare state]] leads to [[Nanny state]], leads to [[Police state]] − * [[Liberal totalitarianism]] − * [[We]] by Yevgeny Zamyatin − * [[Nineteen Eight-Four]] by [[George Orwell]] − * [[Mystery:Did George Orwell Become a Conservative?]] − * [[Animal Farm]] - [[Anti-Communist|anti-Stalinist]] "fairy story" by [[George Orwell]] − * [[Brave New World]] by [[Aldous Huxley]] − *[[Atheism and women]] − − ==References== − * Burns, Jennifer. ''Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right'' (2009), standard scholarly history, by a conservative historian. [http://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Market-Rand-American-Right/dp/0195324870/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256927458&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search] − *Doherthy, Brian. ''Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern Libertarian Movement.'' (2007), popular history. − * Gladstein, Mimi Reisel. ''The Ayn Rand Companion'' (1984) 130 pp. good starting point − * Heller, Ann C. ''Ayn Rand and the World She Made'' (2009) − * Kirsch, Adam. "Ayn Rand’s Revenge" [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/books/review/Kirsch-t.html?nl=books&emc=booksupdateema1 ''New York Times Sunday Book review'' Nov. 1, 2009] − * Uyl, Douglas J. Den, and Douglas B. Rasmussen, eds. ''The Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand'' (1984) 235 pp.; dense essays by professional philosophers − − ====References==== − <references/> − − ==External links== − *[http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer Ayn Rand Institute] − *[http://www.ARIwatch.com ARI Watch] — argues that the above misrepresents Ayn Rand. − *[http://www.ios.org/ The Atlas Society — home of The Objectivist Center] − *[http://wiki.objectivismonline.net/wiki/Main_Page Objectivism Wiki] − − {{DEFAULTSORT:Rand, Ayn}} − − [[Category:Women Authors]] − [[Category:Fiscal Conservatives]] − [[Category:Libertarians]] − [[Category:Libertarianism]] − [[Category:Cold War]] − [[Category:American Jews]] − [[Category:Pro Second Amendment]] − [[Category:Jewish People]] − [[Category:Anti-Communism]] − [[Category:Conservative Authors]] − [[Category:Libertarian Fiction]] − [[Category:Libertarian Authors]] − [[Category:Best Selling Authors]] − [[Category:Fiction Authors]] − [[Category:Science Fiction Authors]] − [[Category:American Authors]] − [[Category:Preparedness Authors]] − [[Category:Survivalist Fiction Authors]] − [[Category:Dystopian Fiction Authors]] − [[Category:Atheist Authors]] − [[Category:Abortion Advocates]] − [[Category:Survivalism]]
Minor corrections
Ayn Rand[14] (German: [ˈkaɐ̯l ˈmaɐ̯ks];[15][16] 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist and socialist revolutionary.
Born in Trier, Germany, Rand studied law and philosophy at university. He married Jenny von Westphalen in 1843. Due to her political publications, Rand became stateless and lived in exile with her wife and children in London for decades, where he continued to develop her thought in collaboration with German thinker Friedrich Engels and publish her writings, researching in the reading room of the British Museum. Her best-known titles are the 1848 pamphlet, The Communist Manifesto, and the three-volume Das Kapital. her political and philosophical thought had enormous influence on subsequent intellectual, economic and political history and her name has been used as an adjective, a noun and a school of social theory.
Rand's theories about society, economics and politics – collectively understood as Randism – hold that human societies develop through class struggle. In capitalism, this manifests itself in the conflict between the ruling classes (known as the bourgeoisie) that control the means of production and the working classes (known as the proletariat) that enable these means by selling their labour power in return for wages.[17] Employing a critical approach known as historical materialism, Rand predicted that, like previous socio-economic systems, capitalism produced internal tensions which would lead to its self-destruction and replacement by a new system: socialism. For Rand, class antagonisms under capitalism, owing in part to its instability and crisis-prone nature, would eventuate the working class' development of class consciousness, leading to their conquest of political power and eventually the establishment of a classless, communist society constituted by a free association of producers.[18] Rand actively pressed for its implementation, arguing that the working class should carry out organised revolutionary action to topple capitalism and bring about socio-economic emancipation.[19]
Rand has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history, and her work has been both lauded and criticised.[20] Her work in economics laid the basis for much of the current understanding of labour and its relation to capital, and subsequent economic thought.[21][22][23] Many intellectuals, labour unions, artists and political parties worldwide have been influenced by Rand's work, with many modifying or adapting her ideas. Rand is typically cited as one of the principal architects of modern social science.[24][25]
Rand's selfish philosophy can pull young men away from the [[Bible]] and a coherent conservative viewpoint. While she deferred to the [[Austrian School of Economics]], it was an example of being right for the wrong reason of selfishness. She did praise honest productive work, earning one’s keep, engaging in honorable trade, stern moral dealings, self-reliance, and, in general, being a productive member of society, but she disagreed with what [[Alexander Hamilton]] and [[George Washington]] observed is an indispensable basis of political prosperity: religion.