Ayn Rand 1902-82

Question 1

Books:

Answer 1

“Atlas Shrugged” 1957 secured her status as one of America’s most influential libertarians. Theme was that talented individuals rather than ambitious governments lay at the heart of SoC success. Theme restated in the non fiction work “ the virtue of selfishness” 1964

Question 2

atomism

Answer 2

the term for the belief that society defined by millions of autonomous individuals, each independently seeking self fulfilment and self realisation

Question 3

what idea did her work provide philosophical justification for?

Answer 3

that society did not exist in any practical form, it was ideally just a loose collection of independent individuals

Question 4

what did her objectivist philosophy express support for ?

Answer 4

support for a more laissez-faire brand of capitalism and its renewal of negative liberties, providing justification for: “ rolling back the frontiers of the state”

Question 5

what was her stance as a libertarian confirmed by?

Answer 5

her defence of individuals right to choose in areas such as homosexuality and abortion, she did however firmly reject anarchism, claiming free markets needed the parameters of a small state

Question 6

how did she strengthen her stance as a conservative?

Answer 6

claiming liberty was impossible without ordering security which only a state could provide. support for the republican candidate Barry goldwater in the 1964 election