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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rand is still Relevant - We live in the Age of Guilt, Jul 13 2005
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is my favourite of all of her fiction and non-fiction work.
I discovered Rand's work at age 23 at the end of a five-year social work degree. I was anti-free trade, anti privatization, anti-free trade and pro-tribalist, as well as a drug user. I had low self-esteem and had fully and unquestioningly accepted the notion that the most moral and ethical way to live one's life was to live for other people. I had chosen to enter social work instead of pursue my own dreams, because I thought I would be a better person. I was wholly concerned with what other people thought of me.
I cannot begin to describe how accurately Rand's writing described a need for philosophy in my life. The postmodernism presented to me in university was what led me to Rand, because although I could be convinced of socialism through guilt-inducing tactics, the non-existence of objective reality was too much for me to swallow. Her writing caused my mind to re-awaken, and to name all of that unnecessary deep down guilt I held. I am not on the path of following my own dreams.
Many commenters take pleasure in pointing out specific mistakes or inaccuracies in Rand's work. The main message of her work is : Believe in yourself, follow your dreams, say "I" confidently, and don't feel guilty unless you've actually and personally done something wrong. I highly recommend this book for anyone feeling self-doubt, a lack of self-esteem, or confusion on how to acheive personal happiness.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Choose Life, Sep 3 2009
As history unfolds Ayn Rand's views are proving to be prophetic, which explains the current popularity of her great novel Atlas Shrugged. In this collection of essays, all but one from the 1970s, she deals with philosophy as the basic force that shapes the mind and character of the individual and of nations. Explaining the forms that abstract theory take in daily life, Rand discusses the profound consequences that flow from ideas by identifying and evaluating the hidden premises at work in the life of the mind. The ideal is to attain a conscious rational philosophy. The theoretical first part is backed up by concrete examples of how concepts operate in the subconscious of a culture and direct the course of history.
The two introductory essays focus on the importance of philosophy. They are followed by those dealing with the Law of Identity, the primacy of existence and various dissections of the anti-conceptual mentality. Metaphysics (the study of existence) and epistemology (the means of cognition) are the theoretical foundations of philosophy, whilst ethics (morality) is its `technology' which influences character, determines actions and establishes the values that guide one's choices. She shows how to distinguish truth from falsehood, i.e. intellectual achievement versus criminality. Reason is a process whereby perceptual data are integrated into concepts. Recognizing the primacy of reason and applying it consistently are the primary means of survival.
All evil philosophies are systematic rationalizations of vice characterized by hatred of reality, as Rand convincingly argues in the critical essays on Kant and his heirs like Hegel, John Rawls and BF Skinner. These include Pragmatism which rejects principle and future, Linguistic Analysis (deconstruction) which is not an integrated philosophy and Existentialism that proclaims the supremacy of emotion in a chaotic anti-world. All of these false philosophies, including Logical Positivism, are collectivist propagations of human sacrifice. All fear judgment, choice and reason, elevate emotions and believe in determinism. The anti-conceptual mentality is tribal although there are anti-conceptualists that are predatory lone wolves intent on manipulating any type of group. Beware of catch-phrases like `keeping an open mind' that lends legitimacy to the irrational. Cultivate an `active mind' instead - one that critically examines ideas.
Faith & Force, written in 1960, diagnoses the neurotic anxiety of western culture. This early essay is a lucid analysis of the postmodern mindset and a blistering attack on the worship of altruism or self-sacrifice. She calls faith and force the enemies of freedom and reason and the destroyers of the modern world that promote the notion of the human being as a sacrificial animal. Religion may be very evil but in this regard Rand is a bit biased in my opinion (or perhaps it's a problem of definition) as faith can also be beneficial to individuals and communities and has inspired sublime art and music. The chapters on the Establishment and Censorship demonstrate how statists undermine our cultural life. They study the reasons and results of conformity and timidity, agenda-driven cliques and parasitical groups that leech on taxpayers' money via government grants.
The antidote is discussed in the chapters Fairness Doctrine for Education and What Can One Do? that provide practical advice on how to counteract the destructive forces that undermine our civilization. Rand points out that the battle is primarily intellectual, that politics is merely the last consequence. Her advice for the defenders of freedom is to embrace intellectual honesty, constantly expand their knowledge and stand up for truth under the appropriate circumstances. Remaining silent in the face of lies is lethal; one has to speak up at the right time, keeping the response brief and rational.
The final chapter discusses the American sense of life as a beacon of hope. The future may to a large extent be predicted by the present course of action, conscious convictions and sense of life of nations & individuals. In Europe the dominant emotional keynote is that man belongs to the state whilst in the USA the primacy of the individual has always been the popular view. From these opposing attitudes flow envy and admiration for success. The author presciently recognized the 'progressive' coalition of academics and entertainers all those years ago, an unholy alliance representing the European view that has become more influential in recent years. Rand's advice is to oppose toxic trends by steadfastly promoting the supremacy of reason.
For further information, I highly recommend Explaining Postmodernism by Stephen Hicks, Our Culture: What's Left Of It by Theodore Dalrymple, Lives Of The Mind by Roger Kimball, The Unlearned Lessons of the Twentieth Century by Chantal Delsol, The Dragons of Expectation by Robert Conquest and Science, Faith and Society by Michael Polanyi.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Sir, can you spare a dime?, Oct 28 2003
It would be a bit silly to run on about this book, since all territory seems to have been covered exhaustively. 5 stars if you like her, one star if you hate her. All I would say is that this is an excellent book of essays which, even if you don't take all of it as the gospel, articulate some incredible points that certain political quarters would like to see disappear. Say what you will, she was an extraordinary intellectual force (which is obviously why she elicits such strong reactions) and her ideas aren't going away. I can't wait to read more of her work.
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