These “prosocial tendencies” were problematic for Rand, because such behavior obviously mitigates against “natural” self-interest and therefore should not exist. The fly in the ointment of Rand’s philosophical “objectivism” is the plain fact that humans have a tendency to cooperate and to look out for each other, as noted by many anthropologists who study hunter-gatherers. WATCH: Why do the rich get richer? French economist Piketty takes on inequality in ‘Capital’ (It is perhaps worth noting here that the initial sex scene between the protagonists of Rand’s book “The Fountainhead” is a rape in which “she fought like an animal.”) In “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal,” Rand put it this way:Ĭollectivism is the tribal premise of primordial savages who, unable to conceive of individual rights, believed that the tribe is a supreme, omnipotent ruler, that it owns the lives of its members and may sacrifice them whenever it pleases.īy this logic, religious and political controls that hinder individuals from pursuing self-interest should be removed. This, she believed, is the ultimate expression of human nature, the guiding principle by which one ought to live one’s life. The core of Rand’s philosophy - which also constitutes the overarching theme of her novels - is that unfettered self-interest is good and altruism is destructive. Among her devotees are highly influential celebrities, such as Brad Pitt and Eva Mendes, and politicos, such as current Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz. Thirty years after her death, her book sales still number in the hundreds of thousands annually - having tripled since the 2008 economic meltdown. They taught me to rely on no one but myself.”Īs I look at the freshly scrubbed and very young face across my desk, I find myself wondering why Rand’s popularity among the young continues to grow. “Ayn Rand is my hero,” yet another student tells me during office hours.
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