'Ethical Egoism Revealed In Ayn Rand's Anthem'

Within the pages of Ayn Rand’s novel, Anthem, a government which resembles a dictatorship is exhibited. Both the leaders and the society itself seek to control mans body and mind as they follow ideals similar to that of a communist party. The leaders and society in Anthem seek to control mans mind using tactics such as collectivism and suppression of the past to accomplish a tyrannical end.

In Ayn Rand’s book Anthem, The character Equality 7-2521 also known as Prometheus ran into the uncharted forest after being told that his box of light was a sin to create because he now knew more than his brother’s in the uncharted forest he found out that the golden one had followed him. Then the two uncovered homes from the unmentionable times. In the uncharted forest he discovered the unspeakable word “Ego”. Throughout the book he expressed traits of an Egoist. But in the book because prometheus had been in a dystopian society where they had to think of themselves and their brothers as a whole they were not allowed to think of themselves. So was Prometheus really a egoist? Or was it just his little bit of selfish coming out after not ever being allowed to think about himself?

In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand the social classes are portrayed in a way that is very different from the way social classes are viewed today. The way the power is divided in the social classes is not very different from the way it is in our society. The government has exaggerated control in the novel, but as well in our society. Although the government’s control obviously differs from the novel to our society, in the novel the control has total control from what your name is to what you will do as an occupation. In this Dystopia the government’s reach is extensive, the fact that they chose these things for their citizens almost makes it feel like anarchy.

Ayn Rand’s idea of objectivism that she displays through Equality’s motivation and struggle envisions a world where everyone is free to do whatever they please, and free to do it only for themselves. As the theme of Anthem shows, one cannot and should not be enslaved to others, but be equal to them and treat them as fellow people also trying to better themselves. This philosophy sounds well and good until you think realistically. Rand seems to envision society being set up in a meritocracy: those who succeed in life have put in the hardest work and are the most skilled, and those who aren’t as successful must be lazier and not work as hard. People work on himself or herself alone, and rise or fall because of it. A meritocracy cannot truly exist on Earth by any means. Natural disasters, catastrophes, war, genetics, illness, and random accidents will inevitably get someone, causing them to either lose money, or not be as happy, or somehow “lower” them. Is it their fault that a flood destroyed their home? Did something they do cause them to have to suffer through that? Any rational being would recognize that no, that’s not fair at all. But in a meritocracy, that’s what one might

There are many different meanings of the word egoist, and one of the most commonly found definitions would be "a self-centered, or selfish person; an arrogantly conceited person." When one is an egoist they tend to only care about themselves and not put others before them. People may get an egoist confused with someone's ego. The word ego means someone's sense of self-worth, self-importance, etc. As an example, in the book Anthem the main character states "I know not and I care not. For I know what happiness is possible to me on earth. And my happiness needs no higher aim to vindicate it. My happiness is not the means to any end it is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose" (Rand 95). This quote is showing egoism because Prometheus is thinking about himself and his own happiness rather than the happiness of everyone around him.

However, In Anthem, Rand makes a critical mistake. Rand, being from an oppressively communist country, has equal or greater right in relation to any other voice of her time, to critique and illuminate problems with totalitarian

“To be a judge one must possess an unimpeachable character…” (Rand, ”How does one lead a rational life in an irrational society?” Paragraph 4). Equality is that “unimpeachable character” in Anthem. He is not afraid to judge. Ayn Rand is a philosopher and a writer and she wrote Anthem and How does one lead a rational life in an irrational society. Anthem is a about a post-apocalyptic society with a government with morals that are against our morals today and humans knowledge destroyed in the disasters that took place, and the article is Ayn’s outlook on life. In Anthem, Ayn Rand uses Equalities actions to emphasize that when you are discontent with the government's morals you should denounce them.

Sharing is caring. This we are taught from a very young age, that if we do not share with our peers then we do not care about them and, therefore, are despicable human beings. However, members of modern western society are not the only ones taught this, as it is also ingrained in the heads of Anthem society members. “All things on Earth belong to all men” (p.46). I high key want to die

In the novel Anthem, Ayn Rand writes about a future dark aged society. Anthem takes place in a totalitarian society. Imagine being born into a life of slavery. A life where you have no freedoms. A life where you aren’t free to express yourself. A life where every person is suppose to be the same. A life with no ego.

Society to this day is very dependent on many things, to be exact the government. Some people would call and find this to be a normal and fine thing as it is common, yet there are also those ethical egoism believers who in contrast to ethical altruism are in any way possible against someone who is dependent on the government. In Ayn Rand’s book, Anthem, she creates a dystopian story in which she tells of what a government in full control can lead to. Ayn Rand a woman seen with a sense of “apparition,” whose thoughts were greatly influenced throughout her life, who believed in ethical egoism and used her dystopian story as a way to alert the population was indeed a women with knowledge and mind.

The story of Anthem takes place in some unspecified future in which freedom and individual rights have been obliterated. Equality 7-2521, the protagonist, is a street sweeper who finds a tunnel where he conducts his science experiments. Throughout the book we see him change and move towards individualism as he discovers how capable he really is. Ayn Rand uses vast amounts of literary devices to describe the evolution of Equality 7-2521. In the dystopian novella, Anthem, Ayn Rand expresses epochal symbolism and poetic personification in order to passionately display the individual’s superiority over the collective.

In the book Anthem carefully composed by the great mind of Ayn Rand. There is a great conflict between Individualism and Collectivism. In a world where individualism is said forth to be a sin and henceforth against the law. All men are then required by law to live, breath, and work, for the community otherwise, the are a burden to the earth. With this enactment of extreme collectivism, Ayn Rand conveyed the meaning of collectivism. In addition, this helps define Individualism toward the end of the novel. Therefore showing her beliefs of how she views individualism as an important role in a successful society. Therefore making her extreme sense of collectivism in this book, very important.

Ayn Rand believes in the power and expression of the individual. This novella takes place in a society where the individual is suppressed and forced into collective ideas and groups. The main character, Equality 7-2521’s profession is a street sweeper, which was assigned to him by the Council of Vacations. In this collective society, they have no choice as to who they are, what their job is, or even their name. Due to that simple example, I believe that Rand would agree with most of the constitutional amendments such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and that involuntary servitude shall not be permitted unless it is for the punishment of a crime. A law in which she may not believe in would be registering for the selective service, which was put in place in order for the United States to build up a military in case of war and for the president to be able to draft soldiers. This law states that any male, 18 years of age, must register.

"There are two sides to every issue: one side is right and the other is wrong, but the middle is always evil," Ayn Rand, author of Anthem, once said. This being said, being in the middle of self rights and the majority vote would never work for it is evil. It is only evil because of the way nothing can progress and after all progress is the main part of a society. Choosing a side is the first step to a better society, but more importantly its the side you choose to follow. Objectivism is the route one should pursue to find a better tomorrow.

Ethical egoism is a prescriptive theory about pursuing our best, rational self-interests (Boss 202). On the other hand, psychological egoism is a descriptive theory, in other words it doesn’t tell us that we should do something, it just tells us that we are doing it (Boss 204). Furthermore, psychological egoists believe that we are always pursuing our own interest, even when we appear to be charitable or help someone else. To illustrate the difference imagine you and a stranger are both bleeding out from a gunshot wound and there are only enough medical supplies to save one of you. An Ethical Egoist would say you are morally obligated to save yourself because it is in your rational self-interest. Conversely, a psychological egoist wouldn’t