Ayn Rand Flashcards
1
Q
Background/Book
A
- Atlas Shrugged (1957)
- The virtue of selfisness (1964)
2
Q
HN
A
- Objectivist. We are and should be guided by a rational interest in the pursuit of self-interest.
- We have a duty to be selfish and put our own interests first, praising wealth-creators on the biblical notion of he who does not work shall not eat
3
Q
Society
A
- Society is atomistic - the sum total of its individuals. Any attempts to restrict individuals in the name of society should be restricted.
- Under totalitarian rule, the word“I” is banned and replaced by “we.” The hero of the novella (Equality 7-2521) fights the imposition of collectivism. He seeks to choose friends amongmen (but neither slaves not masters) as in the temple of hisspirit, each man is alone
4
Q
The state
A
- The state should confine itself to law, order and national security. Attempts at ‘postivie liberty’ via further state intervention should be rejected
- Reason was the key to individual freedom, which should not be restricted by the state and that rational pursuit of self-interest was morally right. Viewing the state as essentially coercive, even intervening social welfare and wealth redistribution.
5
Q
Economy
A
- Rand was a self-proclaimed ‘radical for capitalism’ and she regarded maximising economicfreedom as a moral as much as an economic issue.
- Rand’s views were extreme at the time but found favour with New Right conservatives from the 1970s. Her views were shared by Friedrich von Hayek who also stated unregulated free market as the only true barrier against the tyranny of the state, and guarantor of individual freedom
