phylosophy
Lovely58
AynRandAtlasShrugged12Onye.pptxAyn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
Introduction to Philosophy
Fall 2017
Jennifer K. Greene
1
Rand’s Overarching Philosophy
“the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute” (Atlas Shrugged, afterword)
2
Money as the Measure of Ethical Values
The moral principle
“The words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality” (272)
The “trade principle” – value for value
Human Nature
The symbol and measure of human worth (effort, thought (mind), purpose, creation, & accomplishment)
Man’s capacity to think as central value
Money makes it possible to pursue and trade
3
“there was for the 1st and only time in history a country of money – and I have no higher, nor reverent tribute to pay to America, for this means: a country of reason, justice, freedom, production , achievement.” (272)
“The self-made man – the American Industrialist”
American Dream
“every man is the owner of his own mind and his effort”
“man’s mind is the root of all goods produced and all of the wealth [$$]”
∴ Therefore, goods and wealth can only be owned by individuals, not collectives
The Value of Capitalism
Individuality
Freedom from state interference
Personal rights (property)
Exchange value
6
Marx -- money is the root of all evil
allows accumulation power exploitation
exploitation = no choice, less than human
no choice = no possibility of effort, ambition, success
basis for private property and ∴ propertylessness
only solution = get rid of $$ (private property) to the betterment of society (collective) vs. the individual bourgeois
Rand – against “money is the root of all evil”
“Money is the creation of the best power within you and your passkey to trade your effort for the effort of the best among men” (271)
Money as the objective measure of man’s effort and production
“Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue” (272)
“Money is men’s protection and the base of a moral existence” (272)
“The words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality” (272)
“I work for nothing but my own profit” (274)
