| − | '''Ayn Rand''', born '''Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum''' (1905-1982) was a [[Russian]]-born [[philosopher]], screenwriter, and novelist, who used her novels to promote her philosophy, known as [[Objectivism]]. Her best-known novels are [[Atlas_Shrugged|''Atlas Shrugged'']] and ''[[The Fountainhead]]''. Although her philosophy differs in many respects from [[libertarianism]], it also emphasized individual freedom, and her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged,'' contain lectures that are considered touchstones for libertarian thinking. | + | '''Ayn Rand''', born '''Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum''' (1905-1982) was a [[Russian]]-born [[philosopher]], screenwriter, and novelist, who used her novels to promote her philosophy, known as [[Objectivism]]. Her best-known novels are [[Atlas_Shrugged|''Atlas Shrugged'']] and ''[[The Fountainhead]]''. Although her philosophy differs in many respects from [[libertarianism]], it also emphasized individual freedom, and her novels, particularly ''Atlas Shrugged,'' contain lectures that are considered touchstones for libertarian thinking. Rand often called herself a "radical for capitalism," by which she meant the pure, ''laissez-faire'' variety. |
| | While Rand is commonly associated with [[conservative|conservatism]], she disagreed with social conservatives on key issues, most notably on the existence of [[God]] (as she was an [[atheism|atheist]]) and on traditional [[family]] values. Also, she was strongly [[pro-choice]] on the issue of [[abortion]], as are her followers.<ref>Page on abortion from the Ayn Rand Institute [http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7893]</ref> | | While Rand is commonly associated with [[conservative|conservatism]], she disagreed with social conservatives on key issues, most notably on the existence of [[God]] (as she was an [[atheism|atheist]]) and on traditional [[family]] values. Also, she was strongly [[pro-choice]] on the issue of [[abortion]], as are her followers.<ref>Page on abortion from the Ayn Rand Institute [http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7893]</ref> |