Atlas Shrugged Essays

Objectivism and Atlas Shrugged: We Could Learn a Thing or Two Imploding Argentinian copper mines owned by your father and his father before him; torching oil wells that took decades to bore into the countryside; eradicating your entire life’s work to keep it from those who would purloin it for their own nefarious purposes. This is the price to enter the promised land in Ayn Rand’s magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged, wherein the government’s strict regulations and the inexplicable disappearance of all preeminent

philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the temporal purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” —Ayn Rand, “About the Author” in Atlas Shrugged As a construct of Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism, Hank Rearden holds the production of his Metal as his noblest activity: the method by which he chooses to shape reality as the product of his rational mind. Under the directives of the Bureau

ocean? How high is the sky? Who is John Galt?” (45) When Paul Larkin gives the above reply to Rearden’s sincere question, “What’s wrong with the world?” (45), he implies that there’s no point in trying to answer either question. Indeed, throughout Atlas Shrugged, when people ask, “Who is John Galt?” the last thing they expect is an answer. The cryptic phrase is a way of throwing up one’s hands and pleading ignorance about questions and problems one is either unable or unwilling to deal with. Dagny Taggart

Ayn Rand and her novel Atlas Shrugged almost fully predict the American economic and social ideals that are happening in modern times. Rand foresees the gradual collapse of the American Economy that has happened in 2008 and is now predicted to happen once again in 2016. She too envisages the type of people that arise from the economic crisis such as the hard working free thinkers, and the sheep that follow in today’s society. Ayn Rand also portrays the ideal that no one can answer the most rhetorical

Considered to be Ayn Rand’s “philosophical and artistic capstone,” Atlas Shrugged proves to be her most fictionally expressive piece on her philosophy known as objectivism. In his piece, Edward Younkins, aiming for a broader audience, delves into several levels of Rand’s “Bible of Objectivism” and its present importance. Being published around the same time as Atlas Shrugged’s semi-centennial anniversary, the recent restoration of appeal in the novel and flood of copies sold throughout the current

work is laissez faire capitalism without rules and regulations so that ideas and mental freedom can thrive. All other systems inhibit the qualities that are needed to make society progress. Money is considered to be the root of all evil, but in Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, money is how the effort’s of an individual are measured. Rand proves this by demonstrating the downfalls of socialism as it is shown to be an economic system in which a person’s work goes to benefit the entire society rather than

It is no secret that humans make mistake. It is often said that mistakes are what make us human. There is no argument when it is said that there are many mistakes that characters in ‘Atlas Shrugged’ make, but it seems that those mistakes are what molded the characters and allowed them to be used just how the author Ayn Rand wanted them to be. It was clear that she had a certain way that she planned the novel to go and that she planned to use mistakes to get it there. One character that she uses is

egoism.” (Suganya and Shanthi 4). In the short nonfiction story “Prometheus” by Evslin, Prometheus could be seen as kind and caring in one’s eyes. However, did he know what his actions would lead to? In the short informational text “Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged” by Suganya and Shanthi, Suganya and Shanthi analyze Ayn Rand’s definition of objectivism and altruism. The character of Prometheus in Evslin’s “Prometheus” and the analysis of Suganya and Shanthi best represent the ideology of Altruism. On the

Atlas Shrugged is a book written by Ayn Rand, published in 1957. The book was written during the post World War II and Cold War era, in which the trends of modern intellectual culture played a major role in Rand’s writing. The overlying theme woven through the book is that without the independent mind, our society would collapse into a chaotic society. In sum, Atlas Shrugged is a defense on the freedom of a mind’s mind. Rand uses key character’s in Atlas Shrugged such as John Galt, Hank Rearden,

Who is John Galt? John Galt reveals himself throughout Atlas Shrugged, although he is only seen face-to-face during the last third of the novel. “Who is John Galt?” is used as an expression of hopelessness, frustration, or of apathy throughout the story, but this use of his name is actually in direct contrast for what he actually stands for. Ayn Rand created, through Galt, the ideal Man. He is the blending of reason and emotion, of mind and body, inextricably mixed together, he is the ultimate in

asked the boy. “If it’s true, as I’ve read in your ads, that your Metal will last three times as long as any other and at half the price, wouldn’t the public be getting a bargain?” “Oh, have you noticed that?” (220) This profound exchange embodies Atlas Shrugged’s philosophy on business and morality, exemplifying the code Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden, and the other producers live by: the idea that earned profit isn’t a motive for a well-run business; it’s the only motive. This credo may be misinterpreted

Recently, I read 1984 by George Orwell, while reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Upon finishing the former book, it occurred to me how Ingsoc is the polar opposite of Objectivism in several issues. Thinking more about the matter made me realize some profound philosophical differences between authoritarian/totalitarian and liberal ideologies of the real world. The most crucial one, in my view, is in the outlook taken when examining society — whether one ideology sees it in terms of groups or individuals

Hank Rearden asked himself in the solitude accompanied with his achievements " who started him and kept him going?" --a question most people should indulge in- who was the ignition to the motors of our minds, the fuel that fed these motors, the blood that nourishes and provides life to our existence, who was John Galt? By implication, John Galt is a feeling that burns inside one's soul, and idol that drives a person into a intellectual embarkment. It is an idea one lives by, that may be all

marketplace with their innovation and creation of a new enterprise. In John Galt’s speech he says “the man who produces an idea in any field of rational endeavor the man who discovers new knowledge is the permanent benefactor of humanity.” In Atlas Shrugged, Rand portrays rational, economic man as a being who gradually gains the knowledge and resources necessary to attain his ends. • ECONOMIC JUSTICE Rand propagates economic justice. She believes that justice is a form of adherence to the facts

Ayn Rand’s ideology centralizes on the idea that total human individuality can only be obtained by means of reason, self-esteem, and total respect of our virtues. Atlas Shrugged ideal hero, John Galt, is the major example of objectivism and its complex layers. John Galt is the symbol of no guilt, no fear, no submission, no doubt. John Galt is the reality that lays behind any human; the use of reason and self-interest as the motor for the improvement of the world, and in consequence, the right to

essence is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity and reason as his only absolute” (Atlas Shrugged Centennial Edition, pg. 1170) “Who is John Galt?” is the first question we are greeted with in Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand’s magnum opus of her philosophy, which she dubbed Objectivism. This question appears throughout the sprawling novel and gathers facets each time. “Who is John Galt?” is a question

Ayazhan Akhmetova Capitalism in Crisis ANT/PLS 204 Academic review #1 “Atlas Shrugged” – is a novel written by Ayn Rand in 1957. The book includes different genres such as romance, philosophical and science fictions, mystery that makes it unique in its way. Many people criticized the book, but still Atlas Shrugged is one of the greatest books in its time and it did not lose relevance in our time. The story of the book starts in the United States in certain future time, the author presents anti

In the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Roark is a character that goes unchanged unlike others throughout the book. He focuses on himself and his work with no account for others or their opinions. He is hardly influenced by anyone; he thinks for himself and doesn’t let others dominate his life regardless of what they think of him and his work. Dominique on the other hand is quite the opposite, all she did was let others dominate her life. Her only independcy was not letting anyone change her mind or call

In Ayn Rand's renowned novel "The Fountainhead," Ellsworth Toohey is a complex character who presents himself as selfless, advocating for altruism and self-sacrifice. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that Toohey's actions do not align with his professed beliefs, and he engages in self-sabotage. This essay will explore Toohey's actions of self-sabotage and analyze whether the author agrees with his assessment of motivation. Toohey is portrayed as a cunning and manipulative character

Propaganda and misdirection has become a worldwide political strategy. Harold Lasswell's propaganda theories seemed to carry the weight of real world proof, the world had been submerged by a devastating world war, The War to End All Wars in fact, yet global turmoil continued to rage. These conflicts were infused with worldly and apparently successful propaganda. Yet there was an opposition. One outstanding critic of propaganda theory was philosopher John Dewey. These two scholars have different views