Objectivism In Ayn Rand's Anthem
Anthem Essay Outline
I. The Problem: Why does the Council of Vocations assign Equality the job of street sweeper? Is it due to error, incompetence, or a more sinister motivation? Explain.
II. The Solution
A. Objectivism
1. Objectivism is the belief that certain things, especially moral truths, exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them.
2. Objectivism, as defined by Ayn Rand in the book Objectively Speaking is that man exists for his own sake, that he must neither sacrifice himself to other nor sacrifice others to himself and that his highest moral purpose is the achievement of his own happiness. This shows that man exists for himself and that his greatest value is the achievement of his own value, or happiness. Objectivism is a near synonym for individualism and a near opposite of collectivism. …show more content…
B.
Collectivism
1. The society portrayed in the novel Anthem is one where collectivism is the main form of government. The word “I” is destroyed and substituted for the words “us” or “we”. This shows that Collectivism is an evil which will create a dystopian society similar to the one described in Anthem.
2. Collectivism shows that people exist for the society and this causes jobs to issued not to the ones most skilled in the field but because of the need for the job in society. For example, in the novel Anthem Equality, a man with a high intelligence is given a small position or post of “street sweeper”. Here street sweeper, is one of the jobs society requires so goals can be reached and the needs of society are answered. Equality exhibits objectivism which is detailed in the previous paragraph, and because of this he is assigned this position. This shows the true purpose to why Equality is assigned this occupation.
C.
Freedom
1. Another reason why the Council assigns Equality this loathsome occupation is because of Equality’s idea of freedom. This is frequented illustrated throughout the novel: “I do not surrender my treasures, nor do I share them. The fortune of my spirit is not to be blown into coins of brass and flung to the winds as alms for the poor of the spirit. I guard my treasures: my thought, my will, my freedom. And the greatest of these is freedom.” This shows that Equality greatly values freedom however, the society around him views freedom in a quite different light: “And if you are not needed by your brother men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies”. These quotes help demonstrate and show the clash between the ideas of Equality and society at large.
Closing: The Council of Vocations assigns Equality with the job of street sweeper for three reasons, he expresses objective ideals, the objectivism of the society Equality lives in and the clash of Equalities ideas of freedom and society’s ideas of freedom.
I. The Problem: Why does the Council of Vocations assign Equality the job of street sweeper? Is it due to error, incompetence, or a more sinister motivation? Explain.
II. The Solution
A. Objectivism
1. Objectivism is the belief that certain things, especially moral truths, exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them.
2. Objectivism, as defined by Ayn Rand in the book Objectively Speaking is that man exists for his own sake, that he must neither sacrifice himself to other nor sacrifice others to himself and that his highest moral purpose is the achievement of his own happiness. This shows that man exists for himself and that his greatest value is the achievement of his own value, or happiness. Objectivism is a near synonym for individualism and a near opposite of collectivism. …show more content…
B.
Collectivism
1. The society portrayed in the novel Anthem is one where collectivism is the main form of government. The word “I” is destroyed and substituted for the words “us” or “we”. This shows that Collectivism is an evil which will create a dystopian society similar to the one described in Anthem.
2. Collectivism shows that people exist for the society and this causes jobs to issued not to the ones most skilled in the field but because of the need for the job in society. For example, in the novel Anthem Equality, a man with a high intelligence is given a small position or post of “street sweeper”. Here street sweeper, is one of the jobs society requires so goals can be reached and the needs of society are answered. Equality exhibits objectivism which is detailed in the previous paragraph, and because of this he is assigned this position. This shows the true purpose to why Equality is assigned this occupation.
C.
Freedom
1. Another reason why the Council assigns Equality this loathsome occupation is because of Equality’s idea of freedom. This is frequented illustrated throughout the novel: “I do not surrender my treasures, nor do I share them. The fortune of my spirit is not to be blown into coins of brass and flung to the winds as alms for the poor of the spirit. I guard my treasures: my thought, my will, my freedom. And the greatest of these is freedom.” This shows that Equality greatly values freedom however, the society around him views freedom in a quite different light: “And if you are not needed by your brother men, there is no reason for you to burden the earth with your bodies”. These quotes help demonstrate and show the clash between the ideas of Equality and society at large.
Closing: The Council of Vocations assigns Equality with the job of street sweeper for three reasons, he expresses objective ideals, the objectivism of the society Equality lives in and the clash of Equalities ideas of freedom and society’s ideas of freedom.