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Ayn rand essay on objectivism
Easy about The Objectivist Ethics by Ayn Rand
Easy about The Objectivist Ethics by Ayn Rand
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Prompt #2-Objectivism The book the Anthem, written by Ayn Rand was the woman who illustrated the idea of Objectivism through her writings. Objectivism is described as everything having an identity, and that identity has the right to do whatever needed in order to make themselves happy, now days we see this as being a selfish person. For example Objectivism is seen specifically in the book on page 78 where it states “For I know what happiness is possible to me on earth”. Later it goes on to read “I do not surrender my treasures, nor do I share them.” Still later on that page it states “I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them”. These quotes describe that Equality has finally found the things in life that truly make him happy and he is not willing to give them up, even if it goes against the council's orders .In essence this shows part of the idea of Objectivism through Equality’s thoughts; he has found happiness and is not …show more content…
Another area where we see objectivism in the Anthem is on page 81 where it reads “there was a time when each man had a name of his own to distinguish him from all other men. So let us choose our names”. This quote shows that Equality has discovered during the unmentionable times there were names gifted upon every single man to show the diversity between all men. This shows another part of the idea objectivism through that Equality and the Golden one choose to get certain names placed upon them to show they are free and no longer restricted to being like all other men upon the council’s orders and that they now have their own identity. Objectivism is seen in many different ways and throughout the book and the book takes you through a journey of seeing all different
In the book Anthem, written by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521 had never seen his physical appearance. He was surprised seeing such a strong individual staring at him. One day after escaping into the woods, he finally met himself at a flowing stream and gained new confidence. This was an essential part to the theme of "Anthem." This shows how Equality finally found himself as an "I" in order to help others see themselves as an "I." This is an important part of "Anthem" since it reveals Equality 7-2521's determination, bravery, and development as a person.
Equality 7-2521 aspires to be a self-proclaimed individual. In the novella, Anthem, Ayn Rand discusses of a dystopian society in which every man and women are set equal to each other. Equality is damned by the World Council after a discovery of light and electricity, and a contradictory belief in individualism. Freedom is an essential factor in the happiness of man. Equality is scorned for his different looks, mental competence, and independent beliefs but laughs when he recognizes that he should be glorified for understanding that his perception of life leads to contentment.
Ayn Rand, in Anthem, illustrates a futuristic, socialist society. In the novel, Rand destroys any sense of individuality and describes the social setbacks endured after living ‘only for the brotherhood’. The individual person fails to exist and is but a ‘we’ and recognized by a word and a series of numbers rather than a name. Additionally, she describes the horrors encountered within this different system of life: from reproduction methods to punishments. Through the life of Equality 7-2521, Rand demonstrates a person’s journey from obedience to exile in this socialist society. Throughout the entire novel, Rand criticizes Marxist theory as she demonstrates socialism’s failure to suppress revolution, thwart material dialectic, and its detriment to humanity.
In the novel, Anthem, written by Ayn Rand takes place when mankind has entered another dark age. A man named Equality 7-2521 lives in a society where he struggles to live equal within the brotherhood. In the world he lives in people are told they exist only for the sake of serving society, and have no other purpose. Therefore, each individual is assigned a vocation as a permanent life career which determines who they socialize and live with. However, Equality being very different from his brothers, believes in individualism and rejects the collectivism society around him. The concept of individualism vs collectivism is portrayed in the story because individuality is unknown to the people where no one is unique or excellent in any way. The people
Anthem, by Ayn Rand, is a very unique novel. It encircles individualism and makes the reader think of how people can conform to society and do as they are told without knowing the consequences and results of their decisions. Also, it teaches the importance of self expression and the freedom that comes along with being your own person and having the power to choose what path to take in life. Figurative language is used often in this book and in a variety of quotes that have great importance to the theme, plot, and conflict of the novel.
At the start of Anthem, Equality is a collectivist who knows there is something wrong with the world he lives in. This allows him to evolve into an individualist. Equality says , “It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own” (Rand 17). Equality admits he has committed a transgression and hopes to be forgiven. Equality, at this moment, is living to the standards of others because he lives in a society where no man is to think differently than another. This contradicts Rand’s philosophy because she says that a man is entitled to his own happiness and that you are in charge of it, but since Equality is living to the rules of his society, he cannot find his own happiness, for he is almost forbidden to do so. Likewise, it states in the text, “I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask none to live for me, nor do I live for any others. I covet no man’s soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet” (Rand 96). Equality realizes that he is not to live nor commit himself to the standards of others. He has come to the understanding, as Ayn Rand says in her interview, “That he cannot demand that others give up their lives to make him happy, nor should he wish to sacrifice himself for the happiness of others.” Equality finds his own happiness because he has found himself, and he has learned that he cannot put his happiness in the hands of others nor put the happiness of others in his own hands. This allowed him to find himself, and to find
Ayn Rand wrote Anthem as a critique of Communism, yet along with that she demonstrated her own belief system of individual ideals. Objectivism was aptly shown throughout the entire novella with the thoughts and actions of the main characters, Equality and Liberty in contrast with the universal thought of the city and society. Rand clearly showed her philosophy well in this story.
He defends not only his rights but his society’s. There is a quote by a Greek poet, Sappho, that says “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” The Council of Scholars gives every resource available to the society so they will be able to survive in a world where the word “I” does not exist. A person should not go against someone that has done everything for them. It is supporting that Equality should not become critical of his leaders, but his moral values were stronger than the fact that the Council helped him to become the human he is today. The leaders of Anthem select the best decisions according to them to be able to provide resources for people. Equality decides go to against them and bring a new perspective to his society, which puts the leaders’ moral reputation in doubt about how secluded they keep the society. Furthermore, Rand stated in her essay, “There is no escape from the fact that men have to make choices; there is no escape from moral values; ...” (Rand, 7). It does not matter the situation, men have to make choices even if others disagree with them. Equality makes multiple choices to improve his society, while the leaders make choices that only helps them to be in control of every single thing happening in Anthem. At some point Equality started to realize that there was more to learn and enjoy, it was not just to work with his “brothers” and support each other. He
Ayn Rand’s Anthem is a politically satirical novel is set in a future society that is so highly collectivized that the word “I” has been banned. The world is governed by various councils who believe that man’s sole reason for existence is to enforce the Great Truth “that all men are one and that there is no will save the will of all men together” (Rand, 20). Any indication of an individual’s independent spirit is swiftly and brutally put down, with the transgressors being punished with severe prison sentences or even death.
The word collectivism often makes people cringe. Overall, there is a general fear of not being able to make personal decisions in America. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, collectivism can be defined as; emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity (“Collectivism”). In Anthem, Ayn Rand describes an extreme collectivist society. Although Anthem’s society seems extremely surreal, aspects of its collectivist society closely mirror today’s society.
Few things have impacted the United States throughout its history like the fight for racial equality. It has caused divisions between the American people, and many name it as the root of the Civil War. This issue also sparked the Civil Rights Movement, leading to advancements towards true equality among all Americans. When speaking of racial inequality and America’s struggle against it, people forget some of the key turning points in it’s history. Some of the more obvious ones are the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the North, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s march on Washington D.C. in 1963. However, people fail to recount a prominent legal matter that paved the way for further strides towards equality.
Following what one knows is right can sometimes come at a great price, often going against what has always been known. This can be difficult, and people do not have the drive to find their own happiness most of the time. The secrets of the earth are not for all men to see because discovering new things requires freedom to have a voice of your own and the will to search.
“It is a sin to write this.” So begins Anthem. Equality 7-2521 thought that being alone, thinking alone, and writing thoughts down was all sin. In the end Equality now thinks he was correct to think the way he did. It is a basic human right to live as an individual, so Equality was right because it is a human right; everyone is unique, and this perfect society does not exist.
“It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no other think and to put them on paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking to no ears but our own. And we know well that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone. We have broken the laws. The laws says that men may not write unless the Council of Vocations bid them so. May we be forgiven!”(17). In Anthem, Equality 7-2521 is motivated by his search for individuality, his love of his work and to fulfill his curiosity.
Throughout the novella Anthem written by Ayn Rand, Equality comes to understand the life he really lives in. In Anthem Equality lives in a brotherhood society, the thought of yourself or speaking the word “I” is a sin. Equality is very curious and suspicious of his society and discovers things from the unmentionable times, which are events from the past life and are forbidden for any member of the society to uncover. With his new discoveries he finds new ways to live. By going against his leaders and starting a new chapter where he can do for himself. As the story concludes, Equality denounces his leaders and changes his lifestyle, because he discovers new ways of life: he is correct in his new ways because he has evidence