Over a century ago, in the city of St. Petersburg, a girl by the name of Alisa Rosenbaum was born. And from an early age it was clear Alisa was different. At 10 years old she would sit in the back of class, a text book propped up in front of her, hiding her doings from the teacher. She wasn’t passing notes like most kids. She wasn’t drawing doodles to distract her. No, Alisa was instead writing her first novel.
Later in life these differences became even more pronounced. Alisa lived in the Russian Empire, dominated by Communism. Ideas which contradicted the norms established by the government simply weren’t welcome. At one point during her college tenure Alisa was purged from the school for her counter culture ideas. Fortunately, she was later allowed to finishes her studies. About a year after graduation Alisa acquired a visa allowing her to travel to the States for the first time. She flew into New York City, and upon seeing the skyline she broke down into “tears of splendor”, intent to make his place her home. It was here Alisa Rosenbaum formally adopted her new name:
Ayn Rand.
Enter me in video format:
Five Pillars of Objectivism:
- Objective Reality – Facts are facts whether we like it or not.
- Reason – “[Reason is] man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.”
- Self-Interest – “Man’s first duty is to himself.”
- Laissez Faire Capitalism – A system where there is, “a complete separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.”
- Romanticism
For those interested in learning more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism…
Articles:
Column: This is what happens when you take Ayn Rand seriously – http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/column-this-is-what-happens-when-you-take-ayn-rand-seriously/
Objectivism (Ayn Rand) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism_(Ayn_Rand)#Metaphysics:_objective_reality
Ayn Rand Institue – https://www.aynrand.org
Ayn Rand Lexicon — Charity – http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/charity.html
“Atlas Shrugged” Sets A New Record! – https://ari.aynrand.org/media-center/press-releases/2010/01/21/atlas-shrugged-sets-a-new-record
The Nature of the Morality of Rational Egoism: Short Notes – https://objectivismforintellectuals.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/the-nature-of-the-morality-of-rational-egoism-short-notes/
What BioShock Gets Wrong About Ayn Rand’s Objectivism – https://objectivismforintellectuals.wordpress.com/2016/11/23/what-bioshock-gets-wrong-about-ayn-rands-objectivism/
What is the Objectivist Position in Morality (Ethics)? – https://atlassociety.org/objectivism/atlas-university/what-is-objectivism/objectivism-101-blog/3369-what-is-the-objectivist-position-in-morality-ethics
Videos:
Ayn Rand First Interview 1959 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ooKsv_SX4Y
Ayn Rand Interview with Tom Snyder – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4doTzCs9lEc
Ayn Rand Interview with Tom Snyder (2/3) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ex-rVkOFHU
Ayn Rand Interview with Tom Snyder (3/3) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFy9A7WEzPA
Ayn Rand Interviewed By Phil Donahue – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZqKpfVW0i0
Ayn Rand: Philosophy, Objectivism, Self Interest (full interview with Yaron Brook) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=089xOB9bbhU&t=2128s
The Philosophy of BioShock – Wisecrack Edition – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKf4MtZ4RQA
Your most humble and obedient servant,
GW
