Atlas shrugs again

[DesertFox]

Remember the big question in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: "Who's John Galt?" In the novel, more and more people ask the question, but no one knows the answer, or even where the question came from. Ironically, the same thing now seems to be happening to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of objectivism. Even leading objectivists don't know the whole answer, but one thing is sure: A quarter century after her death, and half a century after the publication of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand is back.

The autobiography of former Rand acolyte Alan Greenspan, in which he credits her for his development, just got published with big fanfare. In recent weeks, both The New York Times and The L.A. Times have run articles about her work. Atlas Shrugged has been featured prominently in a recent episode of AMC's hit series Mad Men. A movie version of the book, starring Angelina Jolie in the main role, is slated for release next year.

More (http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2007/09/27/unsolicited-advice-aynrand-oped_meb_0928unsolicited.html)

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

From The Article Cited:
"Second, Brook cites what he calls a cultural vacuum: "Today's left doesn't have anything positive to offer to young people. When they were socialists, there was at least something they were fighting for, and they believed in a right and a wrong. Today's leftist agenda is negative and nihilistic--focused on stopping industrialization, capitalism and even Western civilization. But young people want positive values. That's why religion is so strong today, because many view it as the only thing that promises a brighter future.""

And yet, Rand's book is quite anti-religion. However, the themes running in it, are more positive than what today's left espouses. I can tell you I certain gained a new insight after reading "Atlas Shrugged".

Of course, I've no doubt, hollyweird will ruin the story with the movie.

[ThomasMore]

While Rand, an emigre from Stalin's USSR, was a-theist, hostile to religious faith and treated selfishness as a virtue, she definitely pegged the thinking of nihilists, leeches and destroyers.

While I reject her assessment of God (that He is a fiction), her astute observations opened my eyes to many things. Atlas Shrugged is a masterpiece of political thought, packaged as a novel.

Only one other political book has influenced me as powerfully: Knowledge and Decisions, by Thomas Sowell.

[DesertFox]

Atlas Shrugged is waaaaay too long, it's preachy, it's repetitive, it's boring in many places, simplistic in many others and wrong-headed in still others. But Rand pegged what's wrong with Leftism, without even meaning to: God put us here to perfect ourselves, not to perfect each other. Free market economics, with contracts and Rule of Law inherent, works better than any other system -- by FAR -- because it's how God and/or nature meant us to interact with each other economically and politically.

[ThomasMore]

Atlas Shrugged is waaaaay too long, it's preachy, it's repetitive, it's boring in many places, simplistic in many others and wrong-headed in still others. But Rand pegged what's wrong with Leftism, without even meaning to: God put us here to perfect ourselves, not to perfect each other. Free market economics, with contracts and Rule of Law inherent, works better than any other system -- by FAR -- because it's how God and/or nature meant us to interact with each other economically and politically.

:yeahthat: :claps::claps::claps::claps::claps:

[CzechPrince]

Atlas Shrugged is one of the greatest books ever written by one of the most brilliant authors in the history of mankind.

[ThomasMore]

Atlas Shrugged is one of the greatest books ever written by one of the most brilliant authors in the history of mankind.

CzechPrince, as a Catholic, do you find her overt hostility to matters of faith a trifle disturbing?

An essence of her argument is that we are here for a lifetime, then die into oblivion. Selfishness is the highest virtue and altruism is a fraud perpetrated by dishonest manipulators on the gullible. This is a militantly atheist POV.

How does that fit with your understanding of God?

[DesertFox]

Prince, be glad you never met Rand. You'd not have liked her at all. She was quarrelsome, conceited, snotty, a liar and hypocrite -- and, to be sure, brilliant.

But in my book anyone who doesn't believe in God doesn't really believe in anything. All is pose. And that's what I think Rand was -- all intellectual pose. A typical Eastern European intellectual, she liked to argue and was unforgiving of anyone who didn't buy her line 100%. Deviate even the slightest and she would denounce you as depraved. Broad was off balance psychologically.

[ThomasMore]

In Atlas Shrugged, Rand rationalized marital infidelity. The book's single heroine, Dagny Taggart, openly had an affair with the married Frank Rearden, (and another with the single Francisco D'Anconia) and the story treated this as an affirmation of the best within each of them. She also stated her support for infidelity in some of her other writings. She also said about such writings that she meant every word.

Rand openly cheated on her husband, Frank O'Connor. She had an affair with Nathaniel Branden, who was married. It was conducted in front of Branden's wife and Rand's husband O'Connor -- and she treated this as right and just.

As Fox wrote, Rand was supremely arrogant and self-centered, and she demanded that acolytes accept every one of her pronouncements as inerrant -- Rand held nothing but scorn for anyone who would dare disagree with her.

As much as she hated the USSR's socialism, she was deeply infused with its arrogance and atheism.

[ThomasMore]

The tragedy is, that with her brilliance, she never figured out that there was something bigger than her ego.

While I can guess at her final destination, no living person truly knows. However it turned out, the moment after her physical death must have been quite a shock to her.

[Rhino]

As Fox wrote, Rand was supremely arrogant and self-centered, and she demanded that acolytes accept every one of her pronouncements as inerrant -- Rand held nothing but scorn for anyone who would dare disagree with her.Sounds like a liberal.

[CzechPrince]

CzechPrince, as a Catholic, do you find her overt hostility to matters of faith a trifle disturbing?

Certainly I do not agree with her assessment of faith and God as I am a believer.

An essence of her argument is that we are here for a lifetime, then die into oblivion. Selfishness is the highest virtue and altruism is a fraud perpetrated by dishonest manipulators on the gullible. This is a militantly atheist POV.

How does that fit with your understanding of God?


Every student should be required to read Ayn Rand--be it the Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, or Capitalism the Unknown Ideal. We should drop countless pieces of Ayn Rand literature over Middle Eastern countries and China--see if a revolution won't start. Firepower and military action cannot win everything. Great thinkers like her will no doubt have the influence we need to help win our battles, be it against communism, radical Islam, or any other ideology hostile to our Western way of life.

I give credit where credit is due. Her personal beliefs (or lack their of) do not change that she was a brilliant author and thinker, and a champion of the type of society we all love. Her books have heavily influenced my political viewpoints, more than any other.

[DesertFox]

Sounds like a liberal. Precisely. As I've noted before, liberals are born, not made, and they appear on all levels of the political spectrum. They're a character type, convinced that they are on the true path and all others are liars, cheats, charlatans, and so forth. They cannot sustain a civil argument; their idea of "argument" is monologue, with themselves the talker and everyone else the listener/ worshipper.

I didn't realize this about liberals until I squarely faced the dichotomy of Ayn Rand -- preaching exactly what I believed but practicing, in her own life, the shabbiest hypocrisy imaginable while accusing others of depravity. Rand embodied the principles of do as I say, not as I do, of hold others to the highest standard but do as you damn well please in your own life, of tell what lies you must -- the true marks of the modern liberal.

[ThomasMore]

I give credit where credit is due....she was a brilliant author and thinker, and a champion of the type of society we all love. Her books have heavily influenced my political viewpoints, more than any other.

Valid points. I agree that she explicitly defined what is wrong with the Left, and put it into bright relief.

[garlicguy]

Who is John Galt/ Ron Paul? :question:
(http://www.ronpaul2008.com/)

[CzechPrince]

Who is John Galt/ Ron Paul? :question:
(http://www.ronpaul2008.com/)

What does this have to do with the thread?

[garlicguy]

Everything, when you really think about it...

Obscure person capable of contributing to the needs of the moment, dedicated to the true Conservative goals of limited central government, minimal taxation and identifying and eliminating the "robber-barons" from responsible positions of authority. Integrity in government and big money enterprises? I'm ready to try that - about as ready our founding (read: Revolutionary) fathers of 1776 were. They put it ALL on the line for what they believed. It wasn't easy, nor popular. They were a tiny minority and nobody gave them much credence. But they were passionately motivated to the extent that they put their lives and fortunes at risk for their cause.

Oddly enough, they won the day.

Anyone else here think it's time for a new rable in arms? Or would a new hidden valley in Colorado be more to your liking?

Just asking that you think about it some, before deciding.

[CzechPrince]

I'm sorry, looking back now I understand your point. It's been a rough week, 5 exams, work, and lots of red bull and Adderall :whip: