Ayn Rand, the Russian-born writer and self-styled philosopher
who died three decades ago, is back in the news as a favorite
author of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. In
recent years, the passionately individualist, pro-capitalist Rand
has been embraced as a champion of freedom by many conservatives
and libertarians, and denounced as a prophet of greed and
narcissism by many liberals. Yet, if Rand admirers tend to ignore
the flaws of her vision, her detractors reduce her to grotesque
caricature—and invoke her popularity as proof of right-wing
nuttiness.
One major misconception is that Rand worshipped the rich and saw moneymaking as life’s highest goal. In fact, most wealthy characters in her novels are pathetic, repulsive, or both: businessmen fattened on shady deals or government perks, society people who fill their empty lives with luxury. (There are also sympathetic poor and working-class characters.)
In The Fountainhead, Rand’s first bestseller (and best novel), the hero, architect Howard Roark, describes “the man whose sole aim is to make money” as a variety of “the second-hander” who lives through others, seeking only to impress with his wealth. Roark himself turns down lucrative jobs rather than sacrifice his artistic integrity, at one point finding himself penniless.
Read more: http://reason.com/archives/2012/08/23/what-liberals-dont-understand-about-ayn
One major misconception is that Rand worshipped the rich and saw moneymaking as life’s highest goal. In fact, most wealthy characters in her novels are pathetic, repulsive, or both: businessmen fattened on shady deals or government perks, society people who fill their empty lives with luxury. (There are also sympathetic poor and working-class characters.)
In The Fountainhead, Rand’s first bestseller (and best novel), the hero, architect Howard Roark, describes “the man whose sole aim is to make money” as a variety of “the second-hander” who lives through others, seeking only to impress with his wealth. Roark himself turns down lucrative jobs rather than sacrifice his artistic integrity, at one point finding himself penniless.
Read more: http://reason.com/archives/2012/08/23/what-liberals-dont-understand-about-ayn
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