mike@hpfclk.UUCP (10/18/83)
#R:rdin:-32700:hpfclk:1800003:000:1863
hpfclk!mike Oct 13 11:40:00 1983
I too, have just finished reading The Fountainhead for the first time.
I found the following themes recurring throughout the book which
of course, constitute the basic premises and attributes of
Objectivist Philosophy, and the highest values of Rand's archetypical
rational human being.
1) Reason is the rational person's only tool of survival.
2) There is no such thing as a 'collective thought'.
3) Each person is free to do whatever he wishes so long
as he does not forcibly or detrimentally interfere with
the lives of others.
4) If an agreement is made and one party fails to uphold its
part, then the other party has the right to revoke its own part.
5) Progress is the direct consequence of man's ego applied to
reality.
6) A rational person does not seek the admiration of others
(e.g. He does not derive his self-respect from what other
people think of him; he is not a 'second-hander').
7) A rational person does not seek to restrain or rule other
individuals (no master/slave relationships are possible).
The only relationship possible to the rational person is
a 'value for value' one.
8) A rational person does not live his life for others.
9) A rational person does not earn his existence by peddling
to human weaknesses or irrationalities.
10) A rational person will never compromise or sacrifice his values
(e.g. definition of integrity).
I think Rand illuminated all of these points in the novel quite well.
And although you say you're glad the the world isn't full of people
holding Roark's values, I would sleep better at night if it was.
Michael Bishop
Hewlett-Packard, FSD
hplabs!hpfcla!hpfclk!mikelaura@utcsstat.UUCP (Laura Creighton) (10/23/83)
The problem, though, is that "rational" never gets adequately defined. Whatever I use to appreciate music and art and the taste of strawberries probably isn't reason. And I refuse to live according to a moral standard that does not include an appreciation for strawberries and whipped cream. Laura Creighton utcsstat!laura