For those keeping score at home, in August of 2008 I stated that "Atlas Shrugged" was one of my ten favorite written works. During the time since, I've thought about this book a lot as the economy crumbled and government panicked.
I don't prescribe to all of Rand's political, social and philosophical views, but if I were teaching some sort of course entitled "Classic literature and it's relevance in the world today," I'd put this in the syllabus first.
Below is an article from Newsweek reviewing a book about Rand that discusses "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." I've never read the "The Fountainhead," simply because it seemed more like another edition of the same text book, but maybe I'll try it out sometime.
I'm not drawing any big conclusions here, just providing a little something to think about here.
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5 comments:
I've often thought about reading "Atlas Shrugged" but I have also thought about reading lots of books. Can never invest that much time. The article certainly does paint an interesting picture. Although I think it is never good to follow someone to the exact word that appears to be a hippocrit to some extent or at least denounces original sin. The video game 'Bioshock' is loosely based on "Atlas Shrugged" in which this man escapes to the bottom of the sea to create this underwater utopia that eventually crumbles under greed and genetic alterations trying develop the perfect society and people. Although the end message seems to be the opposites of Rand's in that left to their own devices, man screws himself and destroys everything out of greed. That would be seem to be larger true as well.
I think Rand's philosophy is really the rule of the jungle "Survival of the fittest" applied to society. She believes that ingenuity, creativeness and entrepreneurship should be valued higher than anything else.
BTW, I have Atlas Shrugged in my library if the mood should ever strike you. I'll admit it's not the easiest or most enjoyable of a read. You can tell the characters are working as models in a philosophical construct.
I figure I am on a roll posting rambling comments and a little bored at the moment so I am gonna keep this going...
The problem with the "Survival of the Fittest" mentality is that it isnt always a good thing. It still expands the ability of 'evil' which is also subject to morals and points of view, but people like to preach Survival of the Fittest until they aren't the fittest. Then everyone wants some protection. It sounds like by the article that Rand fell into that group too with her rules.
Rand's philosophy, much like communism, looks much better on paper than in action.
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