Thoughts on Ayn Rand?
It's been a while since I reread Rand's work, but it's been in my mind since I overheard a couple of coworkers getting into a debate about Atlas Shrugged during lunch today. Unsurprisingly, one thinks it's hot garbage while the other treats it like it's his personal anthem (pun intended). What do you think?
I believe Rand is so controversial because there are fundamental values within her philosophy that cut deeply into the heart of our sociopolitical discourse. While she is accused of having a philosophy of selfishness, I think that criticism misses the point. The idea is that it describes the actual human condition that those who claim to be selfless are often acting in keen self-interest, and the more they pretend to be selfless the more selfish and deceptive they actually are. From that perspective, what her philosophy provides is what could be seen as a far more honest and open acknowledgment of our humanness. If we acknowledge that inherent selfishness, are open about it, and are content with it instead of pretending it doesn't exist, it creates more "real" human relationships.
Regarding her writing style, I've always thought that the key to Rand is to not take her work too literally. Don’t think about politics, economics, and morality, instead appreciate her celebration of excellence and the courage to take responsibility for your own actions. Yes, her characters are unrealistic and her social theories can be questionable, but people who criticize her work on those grounds miss the point. Rand's work should be read as allegory, like Aesop's fables. They're completely exaggerated. The characters are infallible in a way that no real humans are, but that's ok. They're motivating. It puts a stagger in my step. I become Roark and Taggert, uncompromising, unflinching, and unafraid. Rand implores you to be a maker and not a taker, and reminds you that hard work occurs before the paycheck instead of the other way around.
Some people read Atlas Shrugged and walk away thinking that life is unfair, Galt is a world class a$$hole, and that industrialists have an advantage over the rest of us. Others read it and think "F yeah, let's build a railroad!" Rand says to be proud of your work, you can accomplish greatness, personal excellence is the highest aim, some people want you to fail but f them, and to honor those who you love. I've always thought that you've most likely misunderstood Rand if you hate her.
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