Although capitalism exists in many places other than America; without a doubt that the most examples and Ayn Rand’s philosophy sprouted from the American way of societal traits. Therefore, America will be used as the example throughout the text. This form exists in every part of the world, however, is most prominent in America.
American capitalism of the day is often referred to as the “public good” but is that what capitalism is. The true definition of capitalism is “an economic and political system where a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit rather than by the state.” However, America does not live by this “capitalism” definition. Capitalism is supposed to be viewed as a society with little government intervention, no monopolies, and is all based merely of the producer's self-interest. America does not live up to these standards considering the country is based widely on government intervention and regulations, taxes, and unfair practices such as the ability to take away a person's property upon failure to pay them. However, could it fall under the objectivist society that Ayn Rand proposes in Atlas Shrugged? Is the government's ability to interfere in other people's lives a practice of objectivism as it may seem the best in their own self-interest to interfere with the people of their country? Or is America the exact opposite of what capitalism means under Rand’s philosophy?
America; home of the free, where equality is equality and
Capitalism is the ideology of a market economy, where most production and forms of the economic system were privately owned. There was an idea of liberty and freedom that went along with the ideologies of capitalism which sent rushes of fear to the possibility of what the U.S.'s understanding was of the absolute
Henslin explains in chapter eleven that in the United states the capitalism that we have is state or welfare capitalism (Henslin, 2015). There is know such thing as a whole country being capitalists. Therefore, state capitalism means “private citizens own the means of production and pursue profits, but they do so within a vast system of laws designed to patent the welfare of the population, and not incidentally ensures that the government can collect taxes.” Moore’s documentary explains why capitalism is hurting our country in so many different ways. But big CEOs and business owners do not want to hear what the middle class people have to say because it is the big companies like that, that are taking everyones money and work.
Anthem by Ayn Rand is a dystopian novel written in the 1930’s. The novel displays a society that confines the human mind and body. The rights humans are restricted to what the government believes is fit. The characters are ruled by collectivism and communist. Communism is the belief that the government should own everything. Collectivism is the belief of a superior group that controls society. Rand reveals the nature of the main character’s society and the values of the main character, Equality 7-2521 by writing this excerpt of the novel in the character’s perspective in an assertive tone and beginning with the rights and wrongs of their society.
Society is extremely controlled in this book so that their world will be perfect, although by not making mistakes at any point in time is that honestly going to make the world perfect or help them to learn new things? The council believes everyone should do as they are told and that will make everything perfect, but Equality thinks the opposite. The author Ayn Rand shows that people don't get to choose their jobs, everyone is supposed to do what the council tells them to do during the day, and they are not allowed to have relationships.
In 1946, Ayn Rand wrote, “‘The greatest good for the greatest number’ is one of the most vicious slogans ever foisted on humanity. This slogan has no concrete, specific meaning. There is no way to interpret it benevolently, but a great many ways in which it can be used to justify the most vicious actions.” Collectivism is defined as the practice of assigning primacy to a group over each individual within it. At its core, the ideology stems from prioritizing the well-being of all. However, when allowed to run rampant as it is in Anthem, collectivism contorts into a binding institution that impedes individual evolution. Idealistically, collectivism is utopic, but in practice it negates the significance of the identities of its subjects.
1) In dystopian societies, an identifying characteristic often found is uniformity, or the idea that all citizens are equal. This can be seen in Ayn Rand's Anthem. In her novel, she describes a quote inscribed "[o]ver the portals of the Palace of the World Council ... cut in the marble... 'We are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever'" (19). The ideals of the society in Anthem are based upon the conformity of its people. Even little things - such as names - are too personalized, and the citizens are given serial numbers instead.
America is often described as a capitalist country because of the many monopolies that control different trades within the nation.
Imagine a world where every aspect of your life is controlled. Everything from your job to your house is regulated for you. This is known as a dystopia. In a dystopia, the government controls citizens’ lives to constitute a false image of a perfect society. The world in Ayn Rand’s Anthem closely resembles a dystopia. Anthem is a story about a person’s experience being a rebel in a collectivist society. This person, known as Equality 7-2521, broke the rules of his society to realize himself as an individual. After sneaking out to his secret tunnel, falling in love, breaking out of jail, and escaping to a house in the Uncharted Forest, the resolution of the story includes him declaring his commitment to make individualism an important concept
The collectivist society portrayed in Ayn Rand’s Anthem is technologically primitive because it does not allow personal initiative. Rand describes an extreme collectivist society, claiming that in order to make progress, one must have personal initiative, individual thought, and the desire and ability to do things for personal happiness.
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
The juxtaposition of the society in Anthem with today’s society is surprisingly terrifying. The dystopian society in Anthem promotes the ideology of collectivism and the oppression of individualism with resemblance to how aspects of those ideas are portrayed in our society. Anthem primarily focuses on a controlled society, yet our society focuses on the competition of prosperity amongst the population. Using Ayn Rand’s satiristic writing elements, the events in Anthem depict a correlation to today’s society, confirming Rand’s warnings to the ignorant public.
Ayn Rand was able to accurately explain the capitalistic system in which we live in through the quote, “America’s abundance was not created by public sacrifices to ‘the common good,’ but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes.” Evidently, Rand believed that all the work people did within America was purely in their own self-interest, notwithstanding the work for “the common goal,” or benefit of everyone else. Rand, however, emphasises the meaning of “the common goal” to reveal the idea that if people can say they’re doing it for more than just themselves, it removes the moral weight from their shoulders and acts as a shield of justification, allowing people to do anything. The only limit on what people were able to accomplish depended only upon themselves, or whoever else was a part of this group of free (working) men, meaning that any resources that can be utilized, in most circumstances, will be utilized. The only time these resources wouldn’t be taken advantage of are when they are in the possession of those who do not truly strive for true abundance but, instead, take enough for themselves to survive, thus making the abundance only available to a select few genius individuals. Ayn Rand’s quote states that people are corrupt and greedy, and after examining the past examples of the world, this statement
The overall message for Francisco’s speech from Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is that money is actually good, but the people who use it can be bad. To begin with, Francisco points out that money is simply a way to exchange goods and services. He states, “Money is a tool of exchange, which can’t exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them.” He explains how money can’t do anything else other than being used to exchange for goods and services. Another example of money being good is when he says the money will never be the cause of your own problems.
Capitalism stresses private economic decisions. People are free to decide how they will earn and spend their income. Companies may choose which goods and services to produce and how much to charge for them. They also compete with one another to sell products. Nations whose economies are based on capitalism include the United
Capitalism stresses private economic decisions. People are free to decide how they will earn and spend their income. Companies may choose which goods and services to produce and how much to charge for them. They also compete with one another to sell products. Nations whose economies are based on capitalism include the United