Ayn Rand's celebration of Individuality

Ayn Rand's philosophy which she termed as 'objectivism' celebrates individualism and rational thinking, the role of man's rational mind in existence. She says that man's highest moral duty is toward oneself.

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EVERY WRITER'S ideas, perspective and philosophy shapes up the thinking of an individual who reads his/her books and further influences the reader’s attitude and ideology in the long run, to eventually becoming a source for defining oneself , an individual’s identity and a driving force for restricting authority .

Ayn Rand, the author of books like the Anthem, We The Living, Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged,brings out her philosophy of life in her writings. Almost all her works are fictional, where she introduces her philosophy, ideology which she neatly weaves with the fictional element.

 

Rand is very vocal when it comes to expressing her ideology and perspectives to the outside world. Her philosophy is very unique and different from the conventional thought or say - a mindset which most people in general has. And she is indeed very bold and courageous in penning down her thoughts on various subjects and strongly advocating her philosophy.

 

Many of her readers have picked up her cues on sometimes resisting authority. This philosophy and ideology gives an individual the power to challenge authority or any idea that is contradictory. Sometimes, it also helps to challenge conventional thought process or a collective thinking in favour of an individual’s mind.

 

Ayn Rand’s philosophy which she termed as ‘objectivism’ celebrates individualism and rational thinking, the role of man’s rational mind in existence. She says that man’s highest moral duty is toward oneself. One should pursue one’s own happiness and should never sacrifice one’s rational self interest for a greater good, as it doesn’t make sense to sacrifice one’s soul for others. An individual’s duty should be towards one’s own spirit and soul.

 

Her book Atlas shrugged talks about how producer’s (thinkers) of the world refused to be exploited by the state, the government and went on a strike where they eventually left their work, put their mind to an abrupt halt to prevent the state (parasite) from further exploitation.

 

In the book ‘Fountainhead’, she brings out how an individual had to struggle for what he believes in when he took non-compromised path. In general, people are usually conditioned to think or act in a particular manner, which is accepted by one and all. An individual is not allowed to think independently or stand by what he believes is right. One is supposed to follow a norm, be a conformist.

 

There are some people who couldn’t stand by their own thinking, believes and ideas because of fear of rejection by the society and hence abandon their original thinking, forcing themselves to think or act according to the norm which is accepted by the society.

 

The book also talks about how people in a position of power, try to suppress an individual with original ideas and great intellect because it threatens or challenges their position of power. The latter is condemned if he dares to go against collective thinking in favour of one’s own thinking.

 

The book centred on Howard Roark, an individualistic, architecture student, unusually bright with a unique and different architectural sense of design who comes up with his own original and unique style for which he was ultimately thrown out of the college. His great mind became his worst enemy when it came to his profession. He was not allowed to work according to his architectural sense and was instead pressurized to follow the normal rules. As a result, he was always out of work, jobless as he was not ready to compromise.

 

At the end, Roark’s great mind broke all barriers after challenging the collective thinkers and men who existed on the ideas of others whom Ayn Ryan termed as ‘Parasite’ and ‘Second Handers’.

 

The novels talks about the triumph of original ideas and of men who dare to think and stand by their thoughts and ideology no matter what. The book is a celebration of courage and guts to go through difficult period in life just to uphold one’s own spirit , ideas and thinking (which is the highest moral duty toward oneself ) without compromising on integrity, individuality and in the process, fighting and challenging authority.

 

 

We should all strive to think on our own...society tries to dictate

how we should act, feel, think...but compliance is just an nice

way of saying manipulated.

 

We should treat each other with respect though when thinking

for ourselves and not take individuality to the extreme.

We can't act violently to each other...that is a fear  based action.

 

We should act out of love for ourselves and others.

 

Yours Truly,

 

mediamerlin