Ayn Rand: The Virtue of Selfishness
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
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Source/Further reading:
Britannica biography: www.britannica.com/biography/...
Biography: www.biography.com/writer/ayn-...
American National Biography: www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/...
Biography via the Ayn Rand Institute: aynrandlexicon.com/about-ayn-r...
Claremont Review of Books, two biographies of Ayn Rand: claremontreviewofbooks.com/wh...
NY Mag: nymag.com/arts/books/features...
Slate, the liberal view, but some good details on her childhood: slate.com/culture/2009/11/two...
Rand and religion: www.wsj.com/articles/can-you-...
Rand and social security: www.snopes.com/fact-check/ayn...
Sex in the Fountainhead: / discussing-the-so-call...
February Revolution in Russia: www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-w...
October Revolution in Russia: www.history.com/topics/russia...
This is actually one of the best summaries of her I've ever seen simply because it was fair and even handed. Nearly everything else is either fawning praise or venomous hatred.
We live in a polarized world where bias is the norm
Well said! She didn't live up to the standards of her own characters but she truly was one of a kind.
@@thotslayer9914 And always will be. Unity is the kyrptonyte of the elite "powers that be".
Resisting... urge to troll comments...
I guess "unbiased" just means "agrees with my preconceptions".
Europeans: This book is 8 cm thick.
Americans: This book is the length of 1/114300 of a football field.
Simon: This book is thick enough to kill.
My definition of a tome has always been "a book large enough to commit assault with," so I appreciate that Simon shares similar thoughts.
Oh if books could kill they probably will with names without frontiers and words on pages without tears. Paper sheets were so popular paper sheets were so popular. 👍🤓
Stereotyping much?
He's probably tried it. Where do you think all the previous Business Blaze writers ended up 😎
@@stephjovi allegedy
Your channel never ceases to make 20 min feel like at least an hour.....but in a good way. Such concise and essential writing, and a good mix of the personal life and the public.
You feel the 20 min -> 1 hour thing, too?
Holy s*** that just 20 minutes!?!😳 I just finished the video and was reading comments, it really felt like much longer - in a good way
There is some sick humour in how her 'friends' treated her when she went broke. They demonstrated how well they had absorbed her lessons when they utterly ignored her when she was desperate. She worked hard for that result.
Yeah she’s a classic case of going off the edge of an extreme cliff. In practice, extremes never work.
We need to boost this comment. This is important. This contrast and the consequence of one actions must be spoken.
When did she go broke? She had a considerable income till the day she died, and left an estate of over $1/2 million to Leonard Peikoff.
Correct! She lost and paid the price. Look at you and your ilk! You cancel people, dox them and shout down the opinions of others so only your voice is heard, only your world view prevails! YOU are the selfish one.
I now have a powerful desire to replay Bioshock.
A man chooses
A slave obeys
NO GODS, NO KINGS, ONLY MAN
@@solortus 😎😎😎
I love bioshock and read Atlas Shrugged a long time ago and you just made me realize! Once again just like in the games... mind blown.
Which wont teach you rands philosophy in the slightest. But have all the Rand-unrelated fun you want.
It's nice to see something about Ayn Rand that's not either praising her as the second coming of Jesus, nor shitting all over her. Good, objective portrayal and analysis.
That was one of the most objective/fair takes on Rand. Thanks for the effort
I know… I was actually surprised.
Agreed 100%, it was a very balanced overview of her life and work. I'm impressed.
Yeah, now I can say I looked at her "objectively" and still disliked her
@@curranfrank2854 I can certainly agree with disliking the person however [IMHO] there are nuggets of thought in her espoused belief systems that have value once properly refined & generalized.
@@curranfrank2854 Fair enough -- though this says everything about yourself and nothing about her.
Cheers! :)
Ironic that her individualism philosophy would become the bane of her existence as she couldn’t accept the fact that individuals do not need to agree with her.
Although I think this video was fair in its representation of her, this is not true. She didn’t banish anyone for disagreeing with her. That is absolutely ridiculous. Nathaniel Brandon cast himself out of objectivism because he himself admitted to not fully believing in the philosophy. It had nothing to do with an affair
@@stefanburns3797 No.
She wasn't perfect, let the power get to her head.
@@JoshSweetvale what power
No you've pointed out the problem with Socialism, and group representation
@Ayanna Little Then tell us how he’s wrong.
Her philosophy is too ruthless for me, but her exploration of what we owe ourselves(and not others) is hard to ignore
What exactly is ruthless? You sound like someone who barely read anything about it.
I think people who claim to be "virtuous" are far more ruthless when it comes to taking from others
@@blacksocrates1 It also leads to substantial waste if a bureaucrat/central planner is deciding where best to allocate resources. Coerced spending on businesses (mandatory health insurance with specific items in the policy)/causes (issues that supposedly aren't political yet somehow dominate politics) also means the recipient doesn't have to be clever or innovative in its approach to ultimately getting your money.
You can have the greed of the individual, or greed of an overreaching state. I'll ALWAYS take my concerns to the Capitalist... I can at least make SOME profit there. There's no profit in collectivist ideologies, ir policies... only collective suffering.
@@blacksocrates1 that's called an "assumption". Change "virtuous" to any race you like. See yourself for what you are and change.
“Rand had to apply for social security benefits.” I haven’t laughed quite this hard in a while.
She was forced to pay for them like everybody else, or they would have attached her bank accounts and even put her in jail. Why not?
@@williamwingo4740
As a matter of principle.
Whenever I have the opportunity to recoup some of the property stolen from me by my government, I do the same.
steal: to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice
@@shanetoumey2835 Shhhhh, he thinks the government produces income.
@@JohnGeometresMaximos Within the system she was in, it was consistent. I don't agree with her but it wasn't inconsistent.
Thanks for another brilliant video Simon. I have enjoyed every video so far. There is an underlying theme that never varies, no matter what religious, political, philosophical or artistic path the individual subject has followed. That is the duality of success and failure. I'm not concerned with the factual stuff - it's the personal journeys that I'm interested in. Everyone of us follow this journey to some degree.
Ayn Rand applying for social security benefits has got to be the funniest thing.
Extremely funny
@@rutherzheng3981 She often criticized it but ended up getting it later in life, showing that social security is important.
@@Cindy99765 She got it not because it was important, it was because she wanted to get the money she was forced to pay back.
@@rutherzheng3981 No...Without the security benefits, she wouldn't have been able to survive on a day-to-day basis in old age.
@@Cindy99765 You know she could've gotten private health insurance right? But she chose medicare, not because she trusts it more, it is because she just feels that since she has already paid for it, that is the only to get the money back. If social security were not mandatory, Ayn Rand would have chosen private health insurance.
Anthem was a required reading at my high-school in east Texas in the early 2000's. I fount it quite amusing that a novel about individualism that ends in the quote "I am." would be required reading in an institution that squashed individuality, and self expression around every corner.
I think the education system likes to gaslight students by having slogans like 'be the best you can be' while systematically tearing down as much of you that isn't conformist as is possible in the 12 years they have you
Right?
Yeah it was required in my Texas high school as well.
Only thing I really enjoyed that was required reading in school.
And it definitely wasn't a liberal arts college?
@@SirBlackReeds nah, public High School in east Texas
Another video with top notch writing, whatever you think of the subject. The suggestion that Atlas Shrugged is a "tome with which you could give someone a concussion" is brilliant - and true on so many levels!
Ayn Rand describing childhood as "An intellectual wasteland" is the least surprising aspect of her childhood...
Void of charm and wonder she must have been a cold clinician even as a child.
@@richcherwalk6349 I find it personally beneficial to raise an eyebrow of skepticism toward those who are charming. Considering her background, culture and childhood it is little surprise she wasn't 'warm and fuzzy', that could get her noticed and or killed. Context means everything.
@@richcherwalk6349 She was the greatest genius since Aristotle.
@@micchaelsanders6286 Aristotle wasn't a genius lmao
@@SergyMilitaryRankings Of course he was.
This is why I love Simon Whistler's videos and channels. Not only well spoken and good looking, but videos are objective, and even handed. So good to finally have a channel that isn't pushing agendas or opinions one way or the other.
True!
Nice try Simon Whistler’s fake account lol
Could we get one of these biographics about H. G. Wells ?
That would be awesome! I've been waiting for that one
they did one on Tolkien and another on Bram Stoker
@@justina7300 me too!
Aldous Huxley too.. Brave New World is as relevant today as ever.
@@mikepastor.k6233 Maybe more so
Bioshock is probably most young peoples introduction to Ayn Rand and Objectivism, it definitely was for me.
Playing it right now actually
For me it was the 1976 prog rock album 2112 BY RUSH the album and first track is dedicated to the fountainhead by ayn rand. It's about the individual versus the mass
Kind of like saying your introduction to archaeology was Indiana Jones movies..... you were introduced to what someone's interpretation of her work and conflates it with her actual ideals.
Imagine a religious person writing a book about what atheist believe and people saying this book is your introduction to atheism
specifically its a warning about how fucked up it was.
@@tobasco_jones6160 And it's a crying shame too; like Wagner, the crude caricatures taint the clear and impressive artistry present in the material, and also makes it harder to forgive the boring bits.
With maybe the exception of Tom Sawyer - which rocks - I find the more overt and preachy Rush's objectivism, the weaker that material is.
It always calls to my mind the NME's oft-referenced review of an early UK tour which described their politics as both "naive" and "proto-fascist". It's kind of heart-breaking that "nice guys" and self-professed "bleeding-heart libertarians" were so militantly in favour of such a harmful and antisocial ideology, and engaged with the politics in such a superficial way.
Its not selfish to put the oxygen mask on yourself first because it allows you to help others more effectively
Read Atlas Shrugged and Anthem in high school after learning about her via Neil Pearl in Rush. They were influential in more ways than I thought.
@KLJF Something like this? 'Industrialists and geniuses of the world essentially carry the entire planet by their brilliance and efforts, and are despised for it, and if they were to simply shrug off the weight, the world would fall to pieces'
I respect her as an intelligent person, it’s just sad to see how bitterness and selfishness can destroy a person. It’s a fine line.
But people misunderstand selfishness, it doesn’t exclusively mean you’re out to screw everyone around you over for personal gain and stuff. Selfishness can also relate to self improvement, personal ambitions, and most importantly, the pursuit of happiness. I think selfishness is a very misunderstood word because we all have a habit of using it only in a negative context. Look at it this way, self-indulgence has a negative connotation, but anything that brings you personal happiness is essentially, self-indulgence, it’s all relative to what exactly you’re indulging in or what you’re being selfish about. For example, what if feeding the homeless brings you great joy and a feeling of satisfaction....isn’t that technically selfish and self-indulgent? In yet feeding the homeless isn’t exactly a selfish act.
As a critic of hers who actually has read her books - some multiple times - what I find fascinating, and sad, is the tonal shift between The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Fountainhead is a fundamentally optimistic work. Roark doesn't want to overthrow society, he just wants to be left alone to hone his craft. And he succeeds. But where Fountainhead says "You can live in society and be happy," Shrugged says you can *not,* and that the only path to freedom requires the deaths of millions.
I've always wondered what she would have written if she hadn't become so strident and radicalized in the 50s. Because 40s Rand and 50s Rand are almost like two different people, at least in terms of their literary output.
@@franciscofranco5739 I agree, I also tend to follow the philosophy of being selfish when it comes to taking care of yourself but also being generous when I feel like it. I don’t believe selfishness is 100% wrong
@@daveF1993 exactly
@@franciscofranco5739 But selfishness doesn't _exclude_ screwing everyone over now does it? Bit tricky to formulate a moral philosophy where any act can be justified as long as it is selfish.
I'll grant the slave morality is just as flawed (ever notice how altruism is nearly demanded of the lower classes, but rarely of those in power), but let's not go overboard in exalting the virtues of selfishness. It is simply not as bad as others make it to be.
Another enjoyable video, and the beard is looking great Simon!
One of your best videos. Good job. Nicely balanced.
“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."― John Rogers
*brings over the burn salve*
I have never loved a comment more than this.
That is one of my top five favorite quotes!!
So well explained!! I read both books in 1978. 45 yrs later my opinion has not changed one bit.
its great seeing gen z judging her work on a socialist review
The comments are gonna be good with this one.
That was exactly my thought.
And filled with people making this same comment as if you're somehow above it all
@-1- -11- All theories of morality will appear that way when you're absorbing a theory with which you dont align.
@-1- -11- Lol! This is do true. Rand is a 3rd rate novelist.
Yeah, guilty as charged. But given everything going on, releasing this episode today was clearly NOT coincidental, so rant away I say.
It was a weird coincidence that in Grade 11 just around the time I first discovered Rush my English teacher began handing out Anthem to study. Fell in love with the book as much as I fell in love with the songs Anthem and 2112 by Rush.
Another great book.
I don't agree with her on everything, but it's important to care for yourself first, then move on to support and care for others. There's no point taking on more burden when you aren't even self sufficient.
LOL, tell that to the 20 million trump fans who send half their welfare checks to a self appraised "billionaire"
@@edwardgiovannelli5191-you make a good point, but maybe if you get a lawyer you can get back rent for all that time orange man has been living in your head for free.
@@mikeoneil5741 Hey Mike, that was a great comebeck... the first time I heard it five years ago.
@@edwardgiovannelli5191It's clear the Maga maggots don't read and have an room temp iq, not to mention the religious radicalism. But, it's also about supporting causes you believe in, every one of Rands heroes would risk losing everything to achieve their central goal (Reardon metal and Roark architecture). So it's not opposite to send money to a jackass 'billionaire' if it suits your interest.
Seriously great content, Simon. Thank you!!
The Ayn Rand Institute got millions from the stimulus. Irony.
The "best" part is, the ARI is a non-profit org, so they couldn't even say they were reclaiming taxes. They just stuck their hands out to grab some government cheese when they had the chance. Lo, how the mighty(?) hath fallen...
The state stole their money. They're only getting less than a fraction of it
@@jasonblalock4429 and what about the people who work there that get taxed to hell??
Unsurprising, given that Rand herself lived her last days off on her husband's dime, plus some welfare on the side.
It’s only ironic if you forget that she viewed the government taxation as stealing money from her. So, if someone steals your money and offers back a fraction....you shouldn’t take it? I am not a fan of Rand’s views, but she is wildly misunderstood and many of the common critiques of her you see (like yours) just show a complete misunderstanding of her views.
Simon starts speaking:
*why do I hear boss music*
It's now or it's never, and I've got to
Make my decision
This time it could be my moment
Is this a mirage or a chance to fulfill my mission?
Thank you. I was looking for a bio on Ayn and this was the perfect fit.
People watching this like:
- in bed
- not in a full screen
- reading comments
I've always found it interesting that Ayn Rand's (one of the most well-known atheists) biggest fans tend to be republican, diehard Christians.
You need to take a closer look at Ayn Rand
If anything she was a hypocrite
@@jamesricker3997 she live on social security.
@@vaughnreedjr6592 She lived on social security the last years of her life because she reasoned that since she had payed millions in taxes during her life time, she could get some of that wealth back through social security. This is not a “gotcha” argument. She knew that she lived in a system that would steal from her, the only thing she could do was to get some of that back.
She also was not a pro lifer.
I don't understand why a lot of her staunchest fans love her. Atlas Shrugged is so, so, so anti government, especially anti crony style government, and all of the politicians who adore her are the most crony of all. She's very survival of the fittest when it comes to businesses. She would never go for the corporate welfare and tax cuts that a lot of her followers are so in favor of. She's hugely anti religious. I honestly don't get why the right likes her so much. I'm 99% certain that most politicians who say they love Atlas Shrugged have actually read it. It's like they read super biased Sparknotes of it and said, "Good enough."
Could we get a Bio on Haile Selassie I?
dubs
Simon, this is one of your very best, most thoughtful & important videos. Bravo! ❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
More brain power went into this than Rand had in her whole head. Does not take much brain power to be more thoughtful than her anyway.
"Love is an expression and assertion of self-esteem, a response to one's own values in the person of another. One gains a profoundly personal, selfish joy from the mere existence of the person one loves. It is one's own personal, selfish happiness that one seeks, earns, and derives from love"--Ayn Rand
Edit: Now recently I've changed my mind about Using Quotes to get a point across.
I now find the practice of quoting people to be lazy.
My posting this quote was meant to show the beauty in a Philosophy maligned for its basis in Selfishness.
In spite of many peoples opinions about her. I personally feel that her writings had a positive influence on my life. It made me more confident.
And if the person you love lies about their values?
puke making.
My favorite quote.
@@johnransom1146then he/she is not worthy of love.
Golly what a romantic
Do one for Dr. Jose Rizal. A filipino doctor. Writer. Revolutionary. National hero. And a life worth writing about.
I was pretty high when i watched that and went down a rabbit hole wondering what she would think of the current world.
Nothing that positive I assume. She became increasingly cynical as time went on about the fate of the world
@@undeadwill5912 Who can blame her? Look where we are now.
She would despair, but for the completely wrong reasons.
@@undeadwill5912 her, and George Carlin, would have made an interesting older couple. Both just became angry old people.
She'd be very relieved about the end of the cold war and the collapse of Communism, which sadly she didn't live to see.
Great, fair and very well informed dissertation on Ms. Rand. Thank you!
I don't subscribe to Rand's philosophy but I don't have a problem with it. Different ideas help us grow as a society. I wouldn't say there are none with no value, see Nazism, but it's important to give each one a fair look.
Suggestion: Voltaire, John Locke, or Rousseau
Suggestion: American author James Baldwin.
helllllll yes
YES!!!
Yes👍🏼
Yes please.
No
Thanks for this one, Simon!
Great summary on a very interesting person of whom had the Anthem as a required HS book that I never understood or gave much thought. I can see what is happening now after her interviews and this summary. Thanks.
Suggestions:
Rene Descartes
David Hume
Immanuel Kant
Lev Tolstoy
Epicurus
I would never criticize Simon but we need more philosophers.
I wanna see one on Bruno Sammartino.
Descartes and Hume have interesting bios. Kant's life is interesting because it proves you can lead a life of mediocre anonymity and then suddenly churn out world-changing philosophy in your late fifties.
Tolstoy would definitely be an interesting video. His works are great and really make you think, but his personal life was even more interesting and it's clear how it influenced his work.
just do Plato and Aristotle. Everyone after that spawned out of those 2.
One of your best yet. I appreciate your (ahem) objective summary of her life and legacy.
Someone had to do it 😉
Wow. This is so interesting. I have heard of Ann Rand before. A long time ago, I did substitute teaching. I just babysit the kids while they do quiet school work at thier desk. I was able to do the quiet work I want at the teacher's desk while still keeping an eye on students. I usually did personal writing and sketches. One day the students were reading Anthem for English class. Out of curiosity, I quickly read the book. I read the whole thing within the span of a school day. I don't remember anything about the story now. I just remembered that it was interesting and meaningful. Now I remember Ann Rand. So I look her up on CZcams.
This video is a good introduction. Ann Rand led an interesting life. She lived during the Russian Revolution, and then moved to America. I am interested in the Russian Revolution. So having someone leave that an go to the one country that was the polar opposite is intriguing for me. I wonder what are Rand's thoughts on the Cold War. She could really see things from both sides. I did learn that she opposed monarchy, religion and communism. I can see how one would oppose such things. It makes even more sense considering Rand's background. This video gives labels to Rand's philosophy, but I don't entirely understand. I am curious enough to dive deeper. Personally I mainly identify as a centrist. However I have lived in the harsh polarizing times of the war in the Middle East and the great recession. That nudges me into being a liberal leaner. I may or may not agree with Rand. If she witnessed both the Romanovs and the Bolshevics screwing up, than she could be just about anything and still make sense in context. She is still worth checking out. I like stories with deep themes. Heck I may even enjoy a story without agreeing with the theme. Geting me to think at all is way better than the mindless drivel that is so common. It would be enlightening at best and refreshing at worst. So the potential downsides are not very high. Even preachy stories don't bother me even though they should bother people. So next stop, I would like to find out what Rand's "objectivism" is about in more depth and detail.
I strongly recommend the following: The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, Capitalism, The Unknown Ideal, The Virtue of Selfishness.
Cold War? I assume she was definitely a fighter against the Communist World.
Good video. This is becoming one of my favorite channels.
"Ayn Rand couldn't stand me so she banned me"
Ayn rand doesn’t want things band but socialists
She died the way she hated other people living: addicted to drugs and living off of government assistance.
@@seanjames6642 I see someone still thinks having "The Fountainhead" on his desk means he "gets it". Sorry....she was an utter failure of a human being, and a real hypocritical selfish piece of trash.
@@ryanedwards7487 exactly!
@@ryanedwards7487 Who hurt you?
Here's some video ideas.
- Harald Fairhair(first High King of Norway)
- Ingólfr Arnarson (founded Iceland)
- Úlfjótr(built the Code of Laws for the Icelandic Commonwealth)
- Lao Tzu (Chinese philosopher, Father of Taoism)
- Geirr Tveitt(Norwegian Composer and Germanic Pagan)
- Zdzislaw Harlender(Polish Pagan, pilot during WW2, and author)
- Yukio Mishima(Japanese author/poet, actor, nationalist)
- Julius Evola (Italian philosopher, poet, painter, nationalist)
- Thorstein Veblen(economist, sociologist, Technocrat)
@@automaticninjaassaultcat3703 and why not? Many of those people had large impacts on history. Wether in terms of a countries people, Philosophy, or the Arts.
I have my doubts that the first High King of Norway stated, "Here's some video ideas."
Thanks for that. Great snapshot bio.
Technically, the city that was renamed Leningrad was in fact Petrograd, as St. Petersburg had already been renamed during World War I.
Here's an old Russian joke from the later years of the Soviet Union:
"Where were you born, comrade?"
-----"Saint Petersburg."
"Where did you grow up?"
-----"Petrograd."
"Where do you live now?"
-----"Leningrad."
And where would you like to live?"
-----"Saint Petersburg."
This channel doesn't always get its facts right.
I'm really pleased to see so many commenters making so many suggestions. It gives me hope that there are people younger than I who care about history and the history of ideas.
right on
Except, her ideas spawned a society of selfish people who would rather take her ideas as gospel than actually help other people in need.
There is a more to life than the BS she spouted.
@@Debiddo_33 Welcome to the discussion. Go back to the main thread.
@@Debiddo_33 You have no idea what you’re talking about, much less any valid criticism.
The reason why Rand is so despised by the academic circles is because she tells students to think for themselves and if they can succeed without the help of the self appointed betters.
It's cause Objectivism has been debunked a few hundreds of times
@@jimtroy4380 no it hasn't. Only an absolute idiot would think a philosophy can be debunked
She was probably one of the greatest thinkers of modern History, definitely she was the most unique!
Definitely not
I can't think of many books that impacted my thinking as a younger man the way 'Atlas Shrugged' and 'The Fountainhead' did. They are not perfect by any means - 'This is John Galt Speaking' was good, then too much, then excrutiating. And I could have done without the dom/sub angle of the sexual relationships - but to each their own. But each book led me down a path of exploration of power, corruption, the value of the self. I've read each several times. They will always be classics to me. This was a great video. Thank you.
You should read her non-fiction. Her essays on politics, society, and economics go straight to the cerebrum - no crafty emotional manipulation.
@@aliensoup2420I have. People forget that she’s espousing a philosophy. People have no problem accepting the idea of an Ubermensch but criticize a John Galt/Francisco D’Anconia/Howard Roark.
“Money will not purchase happiness for the man who has no concept of what he wants”
Ayn Rand
I want true love
Sure bought her a lot of drugs and the chance to take advantage of teenage boys.
@@ShinigamiInuyasha777 Rand wanted to impress everyone how much better than them she was.
@@edwardgiovannelli5191 Sarcasm?
@@ShinigamiInuyasha777 No, objective truth.
You should do a video about Tony accardo. Because he is the only mob boss to have never spent a single day in jail
Not true. There are plenty of politicians who have never spent a day in jail.
Bankrupted by America's healthcare system and forced to claim social security benefits: chef's kiss.
I love how you bring Ferris Buehler into almost everything you do :)
"NEE-ETCH-EE-AN SUPERMEN"
bruh
dgaf
@@Prosper_Dean me too
@Major Mike It's impossible to do meth and NOT trip over your own ego
"Holy sh%#, I'm so excited for this bio!"
~Michael Malice
I lol'd _waaayyyyy_ to hard at this
I love this channel so much...you have no idea Simon.
Ayn Rand's life is a cautionary tale of why you should never "preach to the choir". She preached capitalism and individualism to a nation that was already capitalist and individualist, and she ended up despising how "the choir" interpreted her work. She spent her last years rallying against the very movement her novels inspired.
ever since it's founding the America has been loosing fight for individual.
I disagree as a history major. When escaped the ussr for the us, the new dealers were firmly in control, this is the context of which her books were written. If she wrote her books in the 1920s I’d agree with you, but a major shift happened in the 30s
"There are two novels that can change a bookish 14-year-old's life: The Lord Of The Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally-stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world.
The other, of course, involves orcs."
John Rogers
Great quote 👍
Nice
I saw it coming, but it was still pretty good
I read Lord of the Flies in high school, I believe it was Literature class. I also read the grapes of wrath.... I did not become familiar with rand until my mid thirties. However I did not really even start to understand grand until now, I'm 55, I'm a liberal and I'm a social worker everything she hated
Depending on when you read Atlas Shrugged, it is possible to love the book or hate it. The more you know about the world when you read it, the less you will enjoy the book.
The more you learn about Ayn Rand's life, the more you realize she was a truly miserable financially successful abject failure.
Please do one on President James K. Polk. Multiple interesting stories during his time in office.
Dutch historical characters first
James Polk is probably one of the most influential US presidents as far as the international stage is considered, yet despite being consistently listed in the top 10 US presidents list he's often forgotten. Polk would be a good choice for a video. The Napoleon of the stump.
I second this motion... would not be angry to see a US presidents series
@@casper6405 No! It's America First! America First! But the Netherlands second!
Didn't he have a pig?
“If any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of altruism that men have to reject.”
💯
the rational for her taking social security is completly justifited. It was her "money in a lock box" why wouldnt she take it back
Ayn Rand: What applies to thee does not me!
Isn't that the mantra of anyone who gets a taste of power and riches? Can't think of too many exceptions to that case, political leanings be damned.
Oodat Ooitis power and fame corrupt the soul
That applies to every dogmatic person, most obviously communist/left-wing leaders in recent history, living the high life as their economies stagnate and people starve, or at least are rigidly controlled as we see in China. Oh well, beer time for me!
@@owenshebbeare2999 The most American of understanding and comments.
@@owenshebbeare2999 Same for every right wing leaders too, hungary, India, US all bastions of hypocrisy. The main word is "Authoritarian" not left/right. It is the inherent dichotomy of power, where you victimize yourself while being the aggressor.
As a black man I see nothing but potential in objectivism and it's tenets. I'm practicing it in my own personal life.
Have you read OPAR? Great read.
Booker T. Washington was a proto Rand. And he secretly agreed and worked with his polar opposite rival, W.E.B. DuBois. There is no single magic bullet. She was an annoying proto-pop psychologist.
Thanks for making this informative and interesting video
When asked about his opinion of Ayn Rand, Milton Freidman said that Rand is a tremendous positive influence on those that have not become Randians....I agree.
Wanna know the fastest way to piss off a philosophy student/teacher? Say "How is Ayn Rand always right about everything?"
Lmao, especially not in college ... in a lecture hall.... filled with over a hundred people
That’s because actual philosophers have the tools needed to understand that Ayn Rand isn’t a philosopher. It’s obnoxious to deal with grown humans who believe is such childish nonsense.
@@wintersmill4853 yuuuuuuup!
@@wintersmill4853 She makes some good points tho.
Communism is the very definition of failure.
I should know, my country used to be communist, and frankly, I em disgusted at seeing Americans and westerners in general embracing it.
She was contradictory - she criticized racism, then turned around and said killing Native Americans and taking their land was okay, because they "weren't using it" (they sure as hell were, just not as destructively as settlers). Conservatives latched on to her ideas about individualism, but not how she extended it to logical extremes in favor of things like abortion or serial killers.
Cue the "Welcome to Ancapistan" song
What?
Interesting. Thanks for such a good review. I felt like I read her books after this.
Hi Simon and co. Long time fan, love your work. I just learned of the existence of a man called Count Dante from 70s Chicago and Holy Balls is it a weird story.
Milton Friedman put forward a Rand based Economic system that started to be adopted in the 70's and was Fully Embraced by Regan in 1980, this Replaced the former economic system that helped America recover from the Depression, survive WW2 and "Made America Great", Namely Keynesian Economics. During the Keynesian period Employment was very high, wages were high, National and personal Debt was very Low or Non Existent and social programs were fully funded without debt. When Regan embraced "Trickle Down" based on Rand's book "The Fountainhead", wages began to Drop, workers rights disapeered along with stable jobs with good benefits. Education became ever more Expensive and Social mobility Dropped to an almost standstill.
Inflation increased, Real Wages Stagnated, and Social benefits operated at a loss and were mostly cancelled. Wealth was slowly concentrated into a smaller and smaller pool, creating an economic reality for most people that was more or less the same for the poor as the one Rand grew up in. Rand's ideas were just ideas, but when put in practice for 40 years we can see the Amazing Damage by the Numbers and by the loss of Faith in the American Dream. The ideas of Rand have proven a Failure just as Communism did. A balanced system that rewards hard work but provides opportunity for all is what actually works.
As usual the Truth is in the Middle, not in a Radical Idea like Trickle Down.
For real
Completely wrong. Her ideas were never put into practice. Rand was a critic of Regan.
@@cristiana5305 Depending one where you start to measure, Conservatism40 to 50 years and is now a Complete Failure ending in Coup Attempt.
Meanwhile Scandinavian Countries that Steered a Continued Path of Keynesian Economics are Bulletproof. All Rand did is give Selfish Free Loaders a Lame Alibi to hand off to Common People Stupid Enough to believe that Rich people would Include Them.
@@robertstevens1537 Conservatives don't like Ayn Rand and never put her ideas into practice. Conservatives in America are keynesians and have been for years.
@@cristiana5305 Christians, Especially Evangelicals consistently Vote for Politicians who support the Friedman's ideas. I will believe that the Church is Keynesian when the Campaign for A.O.C.
Ayn Rand was friends and neighbour to Milton Friedman and Alan Greenspan i hear.
Yeah - I hear that the Eighth Layer of Hell is a great place to live. Great schools. But yeah, a lot of our favorites in that neighborhood :)
I don't think she had friends. She had collegues.
Ah…more of the “tribe” I see.
@@deadlyoneable quite interssting.
This was very respectful and informative I really appreciate that
Brilliantly done. Thank you
That was well done. Quality content, every time!
1:15 - Chapter 1 - Power to the people
4:30 - Chapter 2 - "You say you want a revolution"
7:50 - Chapter 3 - Tinseltown
11:40 - Chapter 4 - Atlas shrugged
15:25 - Chapter 5 - Rand's gulch
You da mvp.
Typical of the biased to bring up Hickman - an unimportant and cast off entry into a journal, but serves as ad hominen to the idiot woke.
Thanks, you've really expressed this unique human. I only outgrew her books after reading Atlas Shrugged many, many times, though Objectivism never appealed. Your bio here makes me want to read it one more time.
The Fountainhead is another good Rand book.
@@Calvin_OBlenis no it's not. I love reading, so when I bought this book, I read it with zeal, ending in confusion. People like this book? So I read it again, and again and again, trying to understand what I was reading. When I finally shed the idea that Roark was a hero and reread it, it finally made sense to me. All of his building ARE hideous. His ideas are terrible and make little sense. He ends up a terrorist for his bad ideas. In the end, I realized there was nothing I liked about that book. It was about everything I hate the most in the world, only it was praising those things.
@Trentstone121 A person that cared enough about their craft to not be a sellout and destroy a bastardization of it ? You seem to be the type that would applaud everything he did if he were a hippie burnout with some 'art' rather than an educated architect.
Excellent work Simon
I've read about as many great American novels as movies Simon has seen. I had never actually heard of this person. Learned a lot
She's is in no way a great novelist, though.
@@tophers3756 Agreed. The assessment that her "characters [were] stereotypes and her storylines obvious" is dead on.
I've read Atlas twice, once as a teenager because many of my friends were reading it, and many years later as an adult to see if I missed anything. I didn't. There is not subtlety, no craft to her writing, it is merely an ode to inflated ego.
You neglected to mention that the reason her books kept selling was because her devotees set up groups to buy them in bulk. Not because people were actually reading them.
Bingo.
CAPITALISM BREEDS INNOVATION
@@IDONTKNOW6906 Well, your name's correct . . .
Sort of like the Bible?
Ouch....i did not know that....ooof
Thank you for this
Even though my degree is in English literature and I've read voraciously since I was a kid, I still knew next to nothing about Ayn Rand. This was an enjoyable introduction to her. Also, I'm betting not a lot of people pay attention to this kind of thing, but kudos to the person who did the music/sound engineering for this video, especially the opening music. As someone who has been classically trained in music, I tend to notice how sound is woven through something like this to propel the story forward. Kudos to all of you! I'm a huge fan of this channel (and the other sister channels) and can't wait to see what comes next.
It's interesting that outside of the US, Ayn Rand has virtually zero influence at all and her philosophy is not considered serious philosophy.
@@lolilollolilol7773 And observe that lunatic postmodernists and literal proto-Nazis are still held in high regard in Europe. Truth is not a democracy - thank goodness for that.
@@sybo59 which "lunatic postmodernists" and "literal proto-Nazis" are you talking about ?
@@lolilollolilol7773 Literal proto-Nazis, I can think of one? Wagner. But while musically in high regard, I wouldn't say anyone is a proud fan of his music AND his proto-Nazi ways. It's always embarrasment. I'd love to know which people they talk of, cos I don't know of any that are held in high regard regarding their people-hating bits.
@@lolilollolilol7773 I can tell you that in Post-Soviet context she has lost to the semi-religious branch of non-libertarian liberals slightly leaning right or left. But she's known and her early novel was compared to Zamyatin's We. She's mostly known as prominent immigrant writer of Russian descent and her radical ideas of individualism is studied as response to Soviet Union and its ideology.
"declare herself an atheist at 13"
Ah, a fellow intellectual watcher of Ricardo and Mortimus 🧐🍷
Yes, quite 🧐
The Chad Rand
😂😂😂
She actually was ,at least philosophically, a follower of Aristotle and a student of St. Thomas Aquinas ( even naming her cat Thomas ) but she was never convinced of the arguments of St.Aquinas and his proofs of the existence of God. I think she was probably more of an agnostic than a staunch atheist.
Would you rather a well known author write your biography or Simon do you a biographics video?
Simon!!
Simon
Depends on your ethnic/religious background.
If your of the same background as Rand, he will be flattering to you, if not oh well
How many times would you like your name mispronounced?
I want Simon to do a biographics video on himself.
Marking testifying against communists as “a moral low point” is an opinion typically only afforded to those who’ve enjoyed a complete life experience in the quasi-freedom and quasi-free markets of the West. Ive personally never met a pro-communist Hungarian, Cuban, Romanian or Vietnamese in 18 years of living amongst the 180 ethnicities who comprise metropolitan Los Angeles. In fact they are all passionately, even vehemently, pro-liberty and pro-West. Although they escaped a theocratic dictatorship and not communists per se, the Iranians in Southern California share the same sentiment. As a side note the aforementioned 18 years were spent making a living in Hollywood. In the film & television industry. An industry where the political convictions & opinions of the writers shape the thinking of billions of people worldwide.
Excellent..many thanks
Waiting for the BioShock comments!
Would you kindly hit the like button.
Would really like podcast versions of these does anyone know where to get them everywhere I look the last episode was last year
Really good bio clip!
"The Poet and the Murderer" a book written by Simon Worrall. I would really enjoy a biographic about everyone involved; most notably, Mark Hofmann. If you were interested that would be awesome!
She knew what it means to live under the coercive control of others.
She rejected all forms of coercive tyranny.
Nice, could you do one of these Bigrapphics on Ludwig Von Mises pls???
Her dying on welfare is the greatest irony.
Also developing her theories during a post-war boom brought about by socialist policies. That boom didn't just happen. It was made. It was a concerted political effort to rebuild America (and the rest of the west) which she then worked to bring right back down. Talk about the American Dream.
She did not die on welfare. She left an estate worth $1/2 million. She still had an income big enough that she was paying more in income tax every year than she was getting back in SS payments. And since she was forced to pay taxes against her will all her working life, she saw it as restitution. Inadequate restitution at that.
@@mindy56374 Government spending and regulation were at a minimum. That was the time when America was closest it had ever been to her ideals since the New Deal. And the New Deal is part of what kept America in The Great Depression so long.
You discuss the Fountainhead without mention of the second most important element in the book: the accuracy of her portrayal of the character and motivation of villains. To those who wonder why Rand’s works cause apoplexy in many, it is because they see themselves not in her heroes but in her villains, precisely and damningly portrayed from psychology to deepest premises. It was during the early years in Hollywood-when you say she was failing-that she was cataloging the character traits of the individuals - good and evil-she saw around her. judge for yourself whether her time was well spent.
And it's seeing themselves portrayed as villains, when they have convinced themselves they are the heroes.
the only problem is, all of her "heroes" are villains too, even bigger ones than the so called villains she created.
@@reverendbarker650but they aren't, they just match the profile that they cast them in in every other piece of content
Basically any work of propaganda that artificially makes one group heroes and paints another as villains even when the opposite is the case. Besides that's HER perspective and not any objective truth.
@@rebelblade7159 What story doesn't do this? Every single story casts one group as heros and the other as villains.