Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand ("Ayn" rhymes with "mine"), born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum (1905-1982) was a Russian-born philosopher, screenwriter, and novelist, who began her career in Hollywood. She used her novels to promote her philosophy, known as Objectivism. Her best-known novels are Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
Her views
For a more detailed treatment, see 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'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."[1] The movement she founded supports an "absolute right" to abortion at any time during pregnancy,[2] 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.[3]
Rand had very little in common with conservatives except for a mutual opposition to communism and socialism. Rand was an atheist and opponent of traditional family values, who personally adhered more to Hollywood Values than conservative ones.[4] She was a strident opponent of altruism.
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."[5]
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.
- ↑ http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_topic_religion
- ↑ http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5105
- ↑ http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=21821
- ↑ http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/bio/biofaq.html
- ↑ http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45735 WorldNetDaily.com Should Democratic Party merge with Communist Party?, August 12, 2005
External Links
- Ayn Rand Institute
- ARI Watch — argues that the above misrepresents Ayn Rand.
- The Atlas Society — home of The Objectivist Center
- Objectivism Wiki
- Going Galt: Ayn Rand’s books are booming — but what about her ideas? A National Review (NRO) Symposium with comments by leading conservative scholars, most of whom consider Rand's books childish