Steemit Libertarians: Could Ayn Rand's writings have been merely satire?

davidpakman (76) in news • 7 years ago

This is a sort of funny voicemail from a viewer about this...I actually think there is NO CHANCE Ayn Rand's writing was satire, but it's a clever question...

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7 years ago by davidpakman (76)

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maverickinvictus (64) · 7 years ago

I studied Philosophy back in college and one of the books and ideology we discussed were Atlas Shrugged and Objectivism.

In a nutshell Objectivism places logic and rationality as what must be used and the highest virtue a man can achieve is the pursuit of his ideals and happiness.
What is good for him and his desires is what he must pursue. Compassion for his fellow men and social responsibility are but shackles to bring him down.

I admit in my naivety in young I believed in her philosophy of Objectivism. When I was growing up my school was near Malacanang palace, the seat of the President of the Philippines. Everyday there would be protesters who would have Communist and Socialist inclinations always shouting how the government was an American Lapdog and I grew tired of their tirades because they can never present to me a valid way of fixing things.

A lot of corporate America is operating under the principles of Objectivism on mass lay outs, the bottom line and their view of greed or to them what is right.

In hindsight I am ashamed that I once believed in such drivel and have since taken a more humanitarian view of business. I am now following Simon Sinek and is more hopefully.

I kinda wish that it was satire because it features a bleak and greedy dystopian future for us if it is adopted by a lot more people.

Unfortunately she believed it and had very disturbing views on humans in particular females, old people and children.

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aegyptiangod (40) · 7 years ago

"Unfortunately she believed it and had very disturbing views on humans in particular females, old people and children."

I think she called them 'parasites'.

The first time I ever saw her speak I was like: 'really?? people look up to this witch??" I didn't get it from hour one. That feeling matured into me being unable to read a single paragraph of her writing without contorting my face in disgust. Her literature is like reading Charles Manson.

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maverickinvictus (64) · 7 years ago

Yeah I had to kick myself for getting swept up and believing that drivel. There is someone here in Steemit that believes in it and I am trying my best to dissuade her from that path.

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o1o1o1o (55) · 7 years ago

Glad you found the light and found your way to humanitarianism. IMO the objectivism of Atlas is fine for people who live alone on their planet. Everyone else is deluded that they aren't dependent on the fruits of humanitarian labors over the centuries. We really should have an island to send (free one-way ticket) all people who want to live out their Randian wet dreams.

Out of interest did anything particular help you along your way out of libertraian-town? Or was it a long slow migration to humantarian-ville?

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maverickinvictus (64) · 7 years ago

I was helped by a single direct report of mine. I made the realization after he talked to me. This fresh out of graduation employee who had the guts to talk to me. Let me give you an except from an old post of mine Amazing adjustments that have happened to my life since I found Steemit: A New Hope

I questioned myself at numerous points in my life on whether I am inherently good or have a darker side. There have been instances that I am not proud of. Of decisions made, bridges and relationshops burned and reputations destroyed. At one point I lived on the moral compass of Objectivism which has in its fundamental core is man's pursuit of his own happiness through production and logic and reason his only yardstick.

My philosophy, in essence, is 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.

— Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Looking back it was dehumanizing thing to live by especially when handling a team of human beings as each one was viewed a number. A mere cog in the machinery called business. It was a pretty cold way of doing things but management just loved me and the numbers I was putting out. Efficiency and shape up or ship out mentality that did not endear me with the people that I handle.

In my mind the Imperial March themesong would be playing while I walk around. Seeing that I was very fond of Darth Vader and his persona I was being called a tyrant. A Sithlord who does not know compassion. I reveled in it striking fear to the masses. I was not evil in my mind because my justification was I was only doing my job to the best of my ability.

Then one day a lone boy stood up toVader. No we did not have that whole "Luke I am your father" spiel but more of an eye opener to me. He mustered all his courage and barred my path as I was going to my office and asked to talk to me. This was surprising because no one really liked going to my office. It was akin to having your teeth pulled they say because I have a very short temper.

So once inside he began to talk about his disappointment in being in a team like mine. Being it his first job he was idyllic and had notions of being coached and mentored, of having the best traits in him developed. Yet all he sees is fear and uncertainty. I was taken aback and no one had ever talked to me like that. I was accustomed to being followed because I knew what was good for the team's performance. Yet it seemed I neglected what was good for the individual. It takes a lot of courage to cry in front of another man but cried he did.

A spark of emotion lit in my cold heart, it beat in tandem with another human being and we silently talked for about an hour on what compromises can be done.

Change is not an easy thing to do. We are creatures of habit. It was not an overnight miracle because I followed Objectivism for quite sometime and behavior is one of the hardest things to change. I devoured new books and ideologies that dealth with a more humanizing touch of handling people. Then I discovered the Golden Circle of Simon Sinek.

It was hard and it took me awhile but we as humans we can always strive to become better versions of our selves.

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o1o1o1o (55) · 7 years ago

Great share, and nice use of metaphors... Steemit, A New Hope!

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aegyptiangod (40) · 7 years ago

"What is good for him and his desires is what he must pursue. Compassion for his fellow men and social responsibility are but shackles to bring him down."

Basically it's Satanism; the utter rejection of human kindness and mercy as ideals. How can a person who calls himself a Christian listen to this hag for a second?

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aegyptiangod (40) · 7 years ago

I've read some good arguments that Machiavelli's the Prince was satirical.

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funbobby51 (59) · 7 years ago

I read my first Ayn Rand novel the other day "Anthem" and hadn't considered that perhaps it was satire, oh man, Ayn got me! I thought she was serious about that shit! But it's just a spoof! like those "Scary Movie" movies, and about as well done. I should have know when her Prometheus tale literally said "I am Prometheus" .

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puppetmaster1111 (42) · 7 years ago

There is another widely popular book out there, that claims to have been the actual words of god, delivered through the thoughts of men. Somehow, it has become accepted as being real and true... People take it for it's literal meanings, and have dedicated their entire belief system to it. The caller's question is a valid one; But truthfully, written words, will be interpreted 500 different ways, by as many people who have read them... We can only assume to understand the intention behind them.

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aegyptiangod (40) · 7 years ago

That's kind of redundant; if there is a God then everything men do is God's action through the thoughts of men...

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roselover (57) · 7 years ago

Really great article conciliator
You are a really successful person

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aegyptiangod (40) · 7 years ago

No, I think she was actually that evil. Apparently she's not the only one. Thankfully they're a minority that just can't shut up and gives the illusion that they're prolific.

I can't read her tomes. It's just too nauseating to me.

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drillzablaze (39) · 7 years ago

For me,,an educated person cannot write that way...but having the gutts to write in an unpleasant manner in a civilized world,is questionable.I feel its a satire.i read something smiliar earlier last year,I read a book by Amos tutuola a Nigerian..the title of the book is "the palm wine drinkerd"he wrote in a very questionable way for a writer.speelings, punctuations and organization were wack..but when he was interviewed and asked why he wrote like an illiterate. He said"this is my style"."i write these way to create joy for my readers"..so it could be a style of writing.

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albertc1 (26) · 7 years ago

If you read “Calumet K” Ayn Rand's favorite book you'll get it.

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o1o1o1o (55) · 7 years ago

That would be an epic work of satire... But even if they weren't it doesn't mean someone couldn't actually produce a modern-day equivalent.

I'd actually love to see a modern satirical work - maybe a sci-fi movie or some post-apocalyptic TV drama - spearing libertarian wet dreams. Maybe you jutxapose a humanitarian utopia up against a libertaria faux-topia as neighbors, separated by a wall of course. Or transport some people from one society to the other by a time-machine or wormhole in space. Or do The Man in the High Castle thought experiment of where the US would be if America had actually turned into the post Galt's Gulch nirvana. All its inhabitants are perfectly rational, highly intelligent, un-greedy, peaceful beings who know their place in a wonderful meritocracy known as Randland.

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fmalafaya (53) · 7 years ago

If she did, things backfired a bit.

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alimuddin (53) · 7 years ago

It is really good the way you are giving a good message to the world. I love this your post sir
@davidpakman

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rizkitelco (43) · 7 years ago

Good job

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