What Are We Living What Are We Living For?For?

Ayn Rand, Objectivism, Ayn Rand, Objectivism, and and AnthemAnthem

Feraco-EberleFeraco-Eberle

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

12 February 200912 February 2009

A Note Before A Note Before BeginningBeginning

I introduced some of these concepts I introduced some of these concepts last week during the “Litmus Test,” last week during the “Litmus Test,” but I wanted to go over them a bit but I wanted to go over them a bit more thoroughly todaymore thoroughly today I don’t wish to mischaracterize I don’t wish to mischaracterize

Objectivism, so many of these Objectivism, so many of these explanations are taken directly from the explanations are taken directly from the Rand Institute’s website; I’ve taken the Rand Institute’s website; I’ve taken the liberty of simplifying some of the liberty of simplifying some of the language, but I’ve tried to preserve her language, but I’ve tried to preserve her original intentoriginal intent

Why Form a Why Form a Philosophy?Philosophy?

““The unexamined life is not worth The unexamined life is not worth living.”living.”

SocratesSocrates

The goal is to make sense of a world that The goal is to make sense of a world that doesn’t always make sensedoesn’t always make sense

I mentioned “human inertia” yesterday; I mentioned “human inertia” yesterday; philosophical study helps us resist that philosophical study helps us resist that inertia by forcing us to take a longer look inertia by forcing us to take a longer look at the reasons behind the things we doat the reasons behind the things we do

Life’s more worthwhile when you Life’s more worthwhile when you understand it!understand it!

Rand’s PhilosophyRand’s Philosophy Rand named her belief system Rand named her belief system ObjectivismObjectivism, and , and

described it as a “philosophy for living on earth”described it as a “philosophy for living on earth” vs. a philosophy that serves largely for intellectual vs. a philosophy that serves largely for intellectual

exerciseexercise Whereas many philosophers believe that Whereas many philosophers believe that

multiple answers exist to large philosophical multiple answers exist to large philosophical questions – or that, in some cases, there is no questions – or that, in some cases, there is no objectively truthful response – Rand argues that objectively truthful response – Rand argues that even abstract questions have concrete answerseven abstract questions have concrete answers

Therefore, Rand’s philosophy is less a system of Therefore, Rand’s philosophy is less a system of questions and more a system of answersquestions and more a system of answers The degree to which you buy into her system depends The degree to which you buy into her system depends

not on whether you find her questions intriguing , but not on whether you find her questions intriguing , but on whether you find her answers believableon whether you find her answers believable

Her Argument for Her Argument for PhilosophyPhilosophy

In order to live, man must act – we can’t wait In order to live, man must act – we can’t wait passively for life to happen to uspassively for life to happen to us

In order to act, he must make choices – we can’t In order to act, he must make choices – we can’t always be the acted-uponalways be the acted-upon

In order to make choices, he must define a code of In order to make choices, he must define a code of values – our choices need to be consistent because values – our choices need to be consistent because they’re made in the interest of living a consistent lifethey’re made in the interest of living a consistent life

In order to define a code of values, he must know In order to define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he iswhat he is and where he is

This means knowing himself – his thought processes, This means knowing himself – his thought processes, his nature, etc. – and the nature of the world and his nature, etc. – and the nature of the world and universe surrounding himuniverse surrounding him

People cannot escape from this need; the only People cannot escape from this need; the only variable is whether the philosophy guiding them will variable is whether the philosophy guiding them will be chosen by their minds or by chance.be chosen by their minds or by chance.

Objectivism 101Objectivism 101 The nature of reality: Objectivism holds that The nature of reality: Objectivism holds that

things are what they are, independent of things are what they are, independent of anyone’s knowledge or wishes. anyone’s knowledge or wishes. Objectivism rejects both the view that reality is Objectivism rejects both the view that reality is

some supernatural realm inaccessible to reason or some supernatural realm inaccessible to reason or that everyone has his own subjective reality.that everyone has his own subjective reality.

Knowledge: Objectivism holds that reason is Knowledge: Objectivism holds that reason is man’s only means of knowledge and tool of man’s only means of knowledge and tool of survival and that certainty is attainable. survival and that certainty is attainable. Objectivism thus rejects both the view that there is Objectivism thus rejects both the view that there is

some non-rational means of knowledge (e.g., faith some non-rational means of knowledge (e.g., faith or intuition), and the view that knowledge is or intuition), and the view that knowledge is impossible and truth is relative to the individual or impossible and truth is relative to the individual or culture.culture.

Objectivism 101Objectivism 101 Human nature: Objectivism holds that Human nature: Objectivism holds that

individuals have free will, are autonomous and individuals have free will, are autonomous and independent: by using reason, they can independent: by using reason, they can determine their own beliefs and values and determine their own beliefs and values and thus control their own lives (“Man is a being of thus control their own lives (“Man is a being of self-made soul”). self-made soul”). Objectivism rejects the view that an individual’s Objectivism rejects the view that an individual’s

thoughts and actions are the inevitable result of thoughts and actions are the inevitable result of factors (e.g., heredity or environment) beyond his factors (e.g., heredity or environment) beyond his control. control.

Objectivism 101Objectivism 101 Ethical standards: Objectivism holds that Ethical standards: Objectivism holds that

ethics is objective and factual; the standard of ethics is objective and factual; the standard of moral value is that which furthers the survival moral value is that which furthers the survival of man as a rational being. of man as a rational being. Objectivism rejects the view that ethics is a matter Objectivism rejects the view that ethics is a matter

of opinion, that right and wrong are determined by of opinion, that right and wrong are determined by social convention, ethnicity, personal preference or social convention, ethnicity, personal preference or religious commandment.religious commandment.

Objectivism 101Objectivism 101 Morality: Objectivism holds that every Morality: Objectivism holds that every

individual is an end in himself—which means individual is an end in himself—which means that each individual should be selfish, should that each individual should be selfish, should live by his own mind and for his own live by his own mind and for his own happiness, neither sacrificing himself to others happiness, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. nor sacrificing others to himself. Objectivism rejects the view that an individual’s Objectivism rejects the view that an individual’s

moral worth is determined by his altruistic service moral worth is determined by his altruistic service to society, the needy, the nation or some deity. to society, the needy, the nation or some deity.

Objectivism 101Objectivism 101 Politics: Objectivism holds that capitalism is Politics: Objectivism holds that capitalism is

the only moral social system and that the only the only moral social system and that the only proper purpose of government is the proper purpose of government is the protection of an individual’s right to this life, protection of an individual’s right to this life, liberty, property and pursuit of happiness. liberty, property and pursuit of happiness. Objectivism rejects the collectivist view that Objectivism rejects the collectivist view that

government exists to further the “common good,” government exists to further the “common good,” the will of the majority or any particular group (e.g., the will of the majority or any particular group (e.g., the working class); and, unlike libertarianism, it the working class); and, unlike libertarianism, it rejects the view that government is evil by nature.rejects the view that government is evil by nature.

Objectivism and Objectivism and AnthemAnthem

Does the society in Does the society in AnthemAnthem reflect these beliefs? reflect these beliefs? It does, but in opposition to themIt does, but in opposition to them We have a monolithic and collectivist We have a monolithic and collectivist

government – one that’s uniquely filtered government – one that’s uniquely filtered through Rand’s perspective on collectivism – through Rand’s perspective on collectivism – that shuns dissent and independencethat shuns dissent and independence

The society rests on the belief that individual The society rests on the belief that individual needs are entirely useless – that we can best needs are entirely useless – that we can best serve ourselves by serving others, even to the serve ourselves by serving others, even to the exclusion of our own self-interestexclusion of our own self-interest

Self-interest, in turn, is banishedSelf-interest, in turn, is banished As it turns out, scientific investigation and the As it turns out, scientific investigation and the

pursuit of knowledge qualify as self-interest!pursuit of knowledge qualify as self-interest!

AnthemAnthem’s Society’s Society Rand has carefully crafted a society that Rand has carefully crafted a society that

violates each of the beliefs she defines violates each of the beliefs she defines as Objectivist principlesas Objectivist principles

The society does not worship a divinity, The society does not worship a divinity, but it does worship a concept (unity) to but it does worship a concept (unity) to the exclusion of realistic analysisthe exclusion of realistic analysis Rand’s main problem with faith is her belief Rand’s main problem with faith is her belief

that it blinds people to reason and truththat it blinds people to reason and truth The truth (as she presents it) is that The truth (as she presents it) is that

Equality 7-2521 is so clearly superior to Equality 7-2521 is so clearly superior to the rest of his peers that any sort of the rest of his peers that any sort of judgment that fails to recognize this judgment that fails to recognize this represents a crimerepresents a crime

AnthemAnthem Characters: Characters: Chapter IChapter I

Equality 7-2521Equality 7-2521 Henceforth known simply as “Equality”Henceforth known simply as “Equality” A curious and intelligent young man who suspects A curious and intelligent young man who suspects

he’s different from others – an awful thing! – at an he’s different from others – an awful thing! – at an early ageearly age

Union 5-3992Union 5-3992 A mentally handicapped youth who suffers from A mentally handicapped youth who suffers from

epilepsy and works with Equality in the streetsepilepsy and works with Equality in the streets International 4-8818International 4-8818

Equality’s only friendEquality’s only friend Someone honest enough to decide against Someone honest enough to decide against

reporting Equality’s discovery, but lacking the reporting Equality’s discovery, but lacking the courage to do anything to support himcourage to do anything to support him

The Characters and The Characters and SocietySociety

International is an artistInternational is an artist Equality is a scientist or scholar (and, Equality is a scientist or scholar (and,

according to Rand, a genius)according to Rand, a genius) Neither is an ideal street-sweeper, obviously (if Neither is an ideal street-sweeper, obviously (if

such people exist)such people exist) Rand implies that Union is oneRand implies that Union is one

Rand stacks the deck by placing the novel’s Rand stacks the deck by placing the novel’s two thinking characters in the same position two thinking characters in the same position as Union 5-3992as Union 5-3992 This implies that the society’s structure of “job This implies that the society’s structure of “job

placement” is so blind to people’s individual placement” is so blind to people’s individual abilities that it sees Union and Equality as equally abilities that it sees Union and Equality as equally capable (a conclusion Rand’s Objectivist beliefs capable (a conclusion Rand’s Objectivist beliefs cannot support)cannot support)

Pragmatism v. Pragmatism v. BlindnessBlindness

However, there’s also the argument that the society’s However, there’s also the argument that the society’s leadership is merely behaving pragmaticallyleadership is merely behaving pragmatically It sees Equality and International as dangerous to its rule’s It sees Equality and International as dangerous to its rule’s

stability because it believes them to be capable of sowing stability because it believes them to be capable of sowing dissent and individuality dissent and individuality

Contrast this with the harmony of a collective agreementContrast this with the harmony of a collective agreement In this case, the leadership isn’t blindIn this case, the leadership isn’t blind

Indeed, it’s very aware of the perceived threat Equality Indeed, it’s very aware of the perceived threat Equality posesposes

It simply chooses to act in a way that defies the very It simply chooses to act in a way that defies the very reality it recognizesreality it recognizes That’s what angers Rand – the leadership’s decision to act in That’s what angers Rand – the leadership’s decision to act in

defiance of truth and reason in order to compromise defiance of truth and reason in order to compromise freedomfreedom

Freedom!Freedom! Another aspect of the collectivist society that Another aspect of the collectivist society that

offends Rand is its hostile attitude towards free offends Rand is its hostile attitude towards free thoughtthought Equality struggles to think for himself Equality struggles to think for himself

Society has given Equality purpose, but it has tried Society has given Equality purpose, but it has tried to rob him of his self-awareness and his ability to to rob him of his self-awareness and his ability to reasonreason

Equality represents Rand’s argument that the Equality represents Rand’s argument that the freedom to think can be threatened, even freedom to think can be threatened, even compromised – but never fully eliminatedcompromised – but never fully eliminated Thought is instinctiveThought is instinctive While morals are largely dedicated to While morals are largely dedicated to regulatingregulating

instinctive reactions, they cannot eliminate the instinctinstinctive reactions, they cannot eliminate the instinct When Equality chooses not to ignore his instincts, When Equality chooses not to ignore his instincts,

Rand posits that he seizes his freedom back from Rand posits that he seizes his freedom back from the collective that has compromised him until thenthe collective that has compromised him until then

We’ll Continue…We’ll Continue…

……with your presentations!with your presentations! Keep reading and annotating…Keep reading and annotating…