Rand's "Objectivism"

Ayn Rand's collective philosophy is called Objectivism.

Its ideals include the necessity of Capitalism for a functioning society, check this link for a well-rounded summary.

The Fountainhead was the starting point of what will become a thorough foray into Rand's works. Her hero, Howard Roark, embodies the beauty of independence and unencumbered creativity, yet lacks social grace and stability in the sense of wealth, home, companionship. His life is one lived for the gratification of his creative potential. In a sense, Rand paints him to be the only character in the Fountainhead who is wholly good.

The other characters lives are completely entrenched in the mire of society. Even Roark's love interest, Dominique, lives interconnected to the world, though she takes an oppositional stance. I found myself identifying with Dominique well early in the novel - a woman who valued intelligence and was intimidated by none, a journalist to boot. As she battles throughout the acts, her inability to embrace happiness and her ceaseless pursuit of deep, complex conflict exhausted me. Worse, it was almost boring... except it was Dominique, and she was a stunning character.

Some of the best and most diabolical traits of humanity are powerfully illustrated in Rand's character development. Having seen it splashed into being on the pages, I feel as if some things within me are being sifted and filtered, that I've been given a chance to view life through a perspective I could have missed had I chosen another novel.

During a writers group meeting this weekend, I was speaking with some friends about the novel, noting my attachment to some of the ideals of Objectivism. One friend mentioned that she had been into it upon her first encounter, but she had a disabled son down the road, and the cut-throat, elitist values of Objectivism seemed to become null.

For an objectivist society to function as a whole, without large portions dying off from starvation or abuse, everyone would have to be perfect. In a way, this makes sense - in the dry, scientific outlook of survival of the fittest. The concept of "brother's keeper" does not apply. There is no care, except for oneself. Rand paints humanitarianism and altruism as being weak and debilitating to the individual and society.

What if altruism is sincere? What about when someone, such as her Gail Wynand, has climbed to the top of the capitalist's ladder, and has resources that even when squandered in glorifying his name, will not be exhausted? Is it so much that he give back to the society that offered him the liberty and opportunity to accumulate wealth in the first place?

I really don't know. But I love Rand's writing style, and already bought the next book in the lineup. I need to go do grad school one day, so I can get paid for this. (So says my genius PhD candidate friend, who spends her days making money doing exactly what she wants... living the dream.)

-JH