“Man cannot survive except through his mind”
~Howard Roark, “The Fountainhead”.
The theory of Objectivism was first propounded by the writer, novelist and philosopher, Any Rand. According to Wikipedia , Objectivism is derived from the principle that human knowledge and values are objective: they are not intrinsic to some inaccessible reality, nor created by the thoughts one has, but are determined by the nature of reality, to be discovered by man's mind. Rand characterized Objectivism as "a philosophy for living on earth", grounded in reality, and aimed at defining man's nature and the nature of the world in which he lives.
Rand when asked to simplify the terms of her theory said that Reality existed as an objective absolute. Facts are facts independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes or fears.
She identified Reason as man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival. According to her, Man - every man is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
Rand believed that there must be only three supreme values allowed to govern a person's life: Reason, Purpose, and Self-esteem.
Reason, as his only tool of knowledge.
Purpose, as his choice of the happiness which that tool must proceed to achieve.
Self-esteem, as his inviolate certainty that his mind is competent to think and his person is worthy of happiness, which means: is worthy of living.
These three values implied and required all of man's virtues, and all his virtues pertained to the relation of existence and consciousness: rationality, independence, integrity, honesty, justice, productiveness, pride.
It is like Roark says at the Cortlandt trial, “Mind is an attribute of the individual. There is no such thing as thing as a collective brain.”
Bibliography-
~Wikipedia
~Ayn Rand Institute
1 comment:
that was some knowledge, thanks a lot for sharing it dear.
Post a Comment