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[[Image:Jhyu65.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Ayn Rand. A philosopher and writer who developed the [[Objectivism|Objectivist]] school of thought]]

[[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.  She left [[Russia]] in 1926, shortly prior to her 21st birthday.</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 [[Atheism and uncharitableness]]). She wrote a book entitled ''The Virtue of Selfishness''. She and [[Phyllis Schlafly]] both supported strong private property rights for [[patent]]s.

'''Ayn Rand''' (February 2, 1905 – March 6, 1982), born in St. Petersburg, [[Russia]],<ref>Born as Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum.  She left [[Russia]] in 1926, shortly prior to her 21st birthday.</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 [[Atheism and uncharitableness]]). She wrote a book entitled ''The Virtue of Selfishness''. She and [[Phyllis Schlafly]] both supported strong private property rights for [[patent]]s.

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>  She was a heavy cigarette smoker until she was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 70, which cut her life short.<ref>https://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/smoke/</ref>

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>  She was a heavy cigarette smoker until she was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 70, which cut her life short.<ref>https://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/smoke/</ref>

==Early life==

==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.

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 of 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.

During the Bolshevik revolution, her family had everything confiscated and they fled the country.  They returned home after the revolution, the city having been renamed 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.

This early experience is reflected in Rand's first novel, "We The Living" whose protagonist is also a Russian girl whose family fled the revolution and returned to the renamed Petrograd and who then goes to university there. Rand herself said that "We The Living" was the closest she would ever come to writing an autobiography- though many of the book's details are fictional. Particularly, the book's protagonist is depicted as having an intensive love affair with a Communist who took an active part in the Revolution and who - surprisingly for a Rand book - is depicted as a positive and honorable character. Rand is not known to have had such a relationship in real life.

This early experience is reflected in Rand's first novel, "We The Living" whose protagonist is also a Russian girl whose family fled the revolution and returned to the renamed Petrograd and who then goes to university there. Rand herself said that "We The Living" was the closest she would ever come to writing an autobiography, though many of the book's details are fictional. Particularly, the book's protagonist is depicted as having an intense love affair with a Communist who took an active part in the Revolution and who - surprisingly for a Rand book - is depicted as a positive and honorable character. Rand is not known to have had such a relationship in real life.

==Philosophy==

==Philosophy==

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'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 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

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>

|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 oppose 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."

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."

==Similarities to George Orwell==

==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.

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.

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.

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", wherein 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.

==Quotes==

==Quotes==

* [[Animal Farm]] - [[Anti-Communist|anti-Stalinist]] "fairy story" by [[George Orwell]]

* [[Animal Farm]] - [[Anti-Communist|anti-Stalinist]] "fairy story" by [[George Orwell]]

* [[Brave New World]] by [[Aldous Huxley]]

* [[Brave New World]] by [[Aldous Huxley]]

*[[Atheism and women]]

* [[Atheism and women]]

==References==

==References==

* Burns, Jennifer. ''Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right'' (2009), standard scholarly history, by a conservative historian. [https://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]

* Burns, Jennifer. ''Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right'' (2009), standard scholarly history, by a conservative historian. [https://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.

* Doherty, 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

* Gladstein, Mimi Reisel. ''The Ayn Rand Companion'' (1984)  130 pp.; good starting point.

* Heller, Ann C. ''Ayn Rand and the World She Made'' (2009)

* 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]  

* 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

* Den Uyl, Douglas J., and Douglas B. Rasmussen, eds. ''The Philosophic Thought of Ayn Rand'' (1984) 235 pp.; dense essays by professional philosophers.

====References====

====References====