'How Does One Lead A Rational Life In An Irrational Society'

Equality 7-2521 denounces his leader’s way of thinking. Equality is correct in doing so. Even though Equality 7-2521 had agreed with his leaders in the beginning, he soon realizes through discovery and the acquirement of knowledge that the society is thinking in the wrong way. He would agree with the advice offered by Rand in her short essay, “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society” and could even learn from it.

“It’s not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them. The Teachers told us so, and they frowned when they looked upon us” (21). Equality in the beginning had recognized that his individuality was wrong because that’s what he was told. However, Equality 7-2521 doesn’t have a desire to control his individuality. “‘We are on in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever.’ We repeat this to ourselves, but it helps us not” (19). He even says, “We know that we are evil, but there is not will in us and no power to resist it” (18). He struggles with accepting his individuality or conforming into the society.

Because Equality couldn’t control his inquisitive nature, it leads him to a discovery. Climbing down the ladder, Equality said he was damned because he had touched something from the Unmentionable Times, but he still continues

to climb down, giving into his curious nature. He puts his life on the line for this small area to be able to express himself. “And yet there is no shame in us and no regret. We say to ourselves that we are a wretch and a traitor…in our heart, there is the first peace we have known in twenty years” (37). Even though he could be caught and be in serious trouble, Equality feels at peace because he is able to express himself. Equality allows himself to be glad to be alive. “If [being glad in living] is a vice, then we wish no virtue” (47). He is gaining self-interest.
Equality breaks any hope for society changing when the Council of Scholars shuns him and his gift. This is when he fully accepts his individuality. “And we have heard of the corruption to be found in solitude…We know these things, but we do not care” (76). He finally realizes he didn’t build the lightbulb for the sake of his fellow men; he did it for himself. “We have not built this box for the good of our brothers. We built it for its own sake. It is above all our brothers to us, and its truth above their truth” (76). Equality has been taught that he shouldn’t do anything for himself and should only work for the benefit of others—however Rand would disagree to that ideology. When Equality is given the opportunity of reaping the benefits of his labor, he enjoys the benefits more than when it is handed to him.
When Equality starts to think for himself and not follow the group blindly, he starts to question everything he has been taught. He recognizes the ideology is wrong. “There is some error, one frightful error, in the thinking of men” (86). He was weary when he worked only for his brother, and the only things that truly brought him joy were the things that were solely his. He is gaining all the benefits of his labor. Equality even calls the World Council of Scholars “thrice-damned fools” (75) for not recognizing their mistake in thinking.
Equality would agree with Rand’s essay.

In the essay, Rand addresses how one should always pass moral judgement. Equality does pass moral judgment about his leaders. “The moral principle to adopt in this issues, is: ‘Judge, and be prepared to be judged’” (How to Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society). Rand welcomes judgment from logical reasoning. Even though Equality didn’t know why, he knew the society was wrong. It was his ego. His ego—his self—is fighting the society’s standards. Equality is different—he wants to learn; he wants to know why things are the way they are. In that society, that sort of questioning isn’t

welcomed.
Equality could also learn from the essay. “Ask yourself why totalitarian dictatorships find it necessary to pour money and effort into propaganda for their own helpless, chained, gagged slaves, who have no means of protest or defense. The answer is that even the humblest peasant or the lowest savage would rise in blind rebellion, we he to realize the he is being immolated, not to some incomprehensible ‘noble purpose’, but plain, naked human evil” (How to Live a Rational Life in an Irrational Society). Rand is saying that the totalitarian governments tend to distract their people so they don’t see that they are being oppressed and the “noble cause” they had believed in is not really happening. Equality’s government has a “noble cause” and the people are brainwashed with propaganda to believe that what the government is going is okay. The people can’t do anything to stop this. They are under full control.
“An irrational society is a society of moral cowards—of men paralyzed by the loss of moral standards, principles and goals. But since men have to act, so long as they live, such a society is ready to be taken over by anyone willing to set its direction. The initiative can come from only two types of men: either from the man who is willing to assume the responsibility of asserting rational values—or the thug who is not troubled by the questions of responsibility” (How to Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society). Equality’s society doesn’t pass moral judgment; they don’t question whether something is right or wrong. If it is law, then it is okay. Equality needed to learn how to pass moral judgment and this essay would push Equality into the right direction. In an irrational society, one doesn’t have a sense of responsibility. It is always someone else’s fault, but it is truly the fault of the people for letting this happen.
Equality has been—throughout the book—developing as a rational human being even though he was raised as an irrational one. He would agree with Rand’s teaching as he is able to take his experiences in his old society and relate them to her works. He would be able to see the similarities and support Rand’s ideology.