Ayn Rand's Theory Of Selfishness

The novel of Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, contributes to controversial subjects in society that are still relevant today. Some issues addressed by Rand in her novel include: equality, social hierarchy, individuality, and government. Throughout the duration of reading Anthem the issues in which Rand makes relevant are not obvious, but more so discussed through conflicts and situations that the main character, Equality 7-2521, encounters. Although many of the altercations that present social issues are provided by either other characters singlehandedly or by a group of the characters in alliance, some of the main issues that arise in this novel are presented within the main character himself.

The poem “Invictus” by William E. Henley, and the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, both have common themes that discuss the importance of individuality. Each of the themes that these works have to offer will be discussed throughout the paragraphs of this essay.

Imagine a world where one is completely happy. The sun is shining, there are no worries in the world, and every day is the best day of one’s life. Doesn’t this sound nice? In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, the main character Equality 7-2521 dreams of this life. His primary motivation throughout the book is to be free and to be happy in doing what he enjoys. He is right to be motivated by his own personal happiness; however, if everyone in the world were motivated only by selfish reasons, then society would be very corrupt because there would be many situations and people that would go uncared for. Personal happiness is a goal of many people, but it probably is not a goal that would benefit all of society.

In her essay, “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?” Ayn Rand said, “By pronouncing moral judgment, one protects the clarity of one’s own perception and the rationality of the course one chooses to pursue”. Ayn Rand also wrote the book Anthem, which is the story of an “irrational society” (“How”) that terminated moral judgement. Equality 7-2521 slowly rediscovers judgement, and individuality. Equality was free of error in condemning the leaders of the society that he left.

The Book “Anthem” written Ayn Rand is the tale of a man with many names “Equality-7 2521” to “The Unconquered” to “Prometheus”. He is living in a dystopian world where individualism has been eradicated. Due to the dark times technological advancement and individualism brought, in what seems to be life after an apocalypse they have been limited those to a bare minimum. It took 50 years for the candle to be approved and the word “I” has been banned and punishable by death. In a society where they try to suppress the aware and the main protagonist being exceptionally smart which generates conflict. The book “Anthem” is based off of communism in Russia where people are prison for the very simple things. No one ever tries to escape the corrective faculty because of 3 reason the prisoner never purposely betrayed the council so why would they start now. and wait to receive punishment, they are scared and the society is brainwashed into not even learning escape or other things that could define the council.

Coco Chanel once said “The most courageous act is to think for yourself, aloud.” Imagine living in a society where decisions and life is already planned out, and no input is granted. This is the society that Ayn Rand has built. In Anthem, Ayn Rand uses the main character, Equality 7-2521, to introduce her major issue - individualism. In Anthem, Ayn Rand uses her character Equality 7-2521 to inaugurate the main theme - individualism. Rand does this by showing the importance of individuality by creating a society that allows no alone time, no preference, and no self expression.

To further view the correlation between self-interest in Anthem and Rand’s personal perception of the concept, it is necessary to discuss how it correlates with Objectivism. Atlas University asserts that the pursuit of happiness to satisfy human nature and desire is an integral component of Objectivism. Irrationality is believed to come from prolonged dependence on a higher figure, such as a government or, in Anthem’s case, the entire population (“Philosophy on One Foot”). Rand supported her adamant stance on the promotion of self-interest through stating, “Man must choose his actions, values and goals by the standard of that which is proper to man - in order to achieve, maintain,

The act of selfishness is painted all over the story. This can be seen with our very own Ichabod Crane, with him being selfish toward his relationship with Katrina wherein he did not truly love her, but desired her father’s wealth instead. In fact, it was in his plans to sell off the Van Tassel family’s farm once he’d gotten married to Katrina. While it’s true that he would help around the places he stayed in and make the old wives happy, he did these things for his own benefit. He only worked to make his hosts happy enough to feed him as much food as he wanted, not as a kind deed or as a way to show his gratitude for letting him stay with them.

The definition of Anthem is a piece of sacred religious music. It can be related to the book because of Equality's new found independence and individualism. According the book, Ayn Rand's original title for this novel was Ego. Ayn Rand considers human individualism as a sacred and religious idea, and the title "Anthem" directs the audience of the novel to see the the emphasis of the human self by showing the sacred melody of individualism. At the opening of chapter 11, Equality delivers a "song of praise" directing to ego, saying "I am. I think. I will. My hands. My spirit. My sky..." (Rand 94). I believe the over meaning is kind of like the overall meaning in the novel "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. Similar to Equality, Jonah had to search for

I ponder the various depths of the entity known as my brain to answer the question I have asked for the past year. Why am I such a fuck up? The answer is astonishingly simple; I utilize the product known as empathy to a whopping 0% efficacy. Obliviously my prefrontal cortex foresees that toxins that are present when the empathy is formed, altruism and compassion. Obviously, I seemed to have followed the Ayn Rand philosophy when dealing with social dealings, self centered fuckery. Seeing how social gifted Ayn Rand was during the span of her rather short life, one can deduce that a person who follows her philosophy results in one possessing no social skills.

One of the great 16th century authors, John Donne, once wrote “no man is an island.” with that phrase Donne probably meant that we are social beings and depend on other people in society. As much as I respect Ayn Rand said, I disagree with her quote.

Ayn Rand considers morality a matter of principle, rather than divine revelation or subject desire. Howard Roark, the protagonist of The Fountainhead, is the only character who faithfully and consistently observed his own fundamental and guiding principles, despite the fact that the whole of collectivist society deemed him and his actions entirely evil—especially in regard to dynamiting Cortlandt Holmes. Roark’s main argument for his actions is stated in the courtroom; however, his whole life is his response and justification for the rectitude of any and all of his actions. Roark’s principles are not only rational, but also moral (as one cannot exist without the other): he does not condone the infringement upon the rights of other

How should we live our lives? Do you live for others or for yourself? What do you deem to be the ideal: selflessness, or selfishness? Why? Ayn Rand’s novel The Fountainhead addresses these issues and her philosophy behind it called Objectivism. Her rebellious rhetoric is to convince us that the only true virtue is selfishness and that we should abide by its standards and live for ourselves.

In her book, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand uses a fictional story to critique the end result of several commonplace ideologies. The book most closely deals with the ultimate result that stems from a Marxist slogan, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” The world that Rand creates has few differences from reality at its start, but as the story progresses, real world ideologies are taken to the extreme, and societal collapse appears to be imminent. Much of this is revealed through the thoughts and actions of a character that appears to be Rand’s self-insert, Dagny Taggart. Dagny finds herself alienated from both her peers and those in charge of industry based on her beliefs and her gender. Rand uses Dagny’s struggle

  The Fountainhead provided and continues to provide a powerful inspiration to the individualist movement in America, and throughout the world. More than any other single work, The Fountainhead revived popular enthusiasm for a way of thinking, and a way of life, that in 1943 was regarded by virtually every sector of intellectual opinion as outmoded. Ayn Rand's courageous challenge to accepted ideas was rendered still more courageous by her willingness to state her individualist premises in the clearest terms and to defend the most radical implications that could be drawn from them.