Ayn Rand
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 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.
While Rand is commonly associated with conservatism, she disagreed with social conservatives on key issues, most notably on the existence of God (as she was an atheist) and on traditional family values. Also, she was strongly pro-choice on the issue of abortion, as are her followers.[1]
Books Written
- We the Living
- Anthem
- The Fountainhead
- Atlas Shrugged
- Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
- The Romantic Manifesto
- The New Left: The Anti-Industrial Revolution
- The Virtue of Selfishness
References
Doherthy, Brian. 'Radicals for Capitalism a Freewheeling History of the Modern Libertarian Movement.' New York: Public Affairs, 2007.
External Links
- Ayn Rand Institute
- ARI Watch — argues that the above misrepresents Ayn Rand.
- The Atlas Society — home of The Objectivist Center
- Objectivism Wiki