The Definition of Evil: Ayn Rand’s Perspective on Human Nature, Morality, and Overcoming Adversity

Ayn Rand contributed many things to the philosophical world, based on herphilosophy of Objectivism. Objectivism is the idea that rational self-interest should bethe basis of action and that self-fulfillment is an individual s moral responsibility, withproductive achievement the noblest activity. Ayn Rand proposes that, [o]bjectivereality exists independently of any perceiver or of the perceiver s emotions, feelings, wishes, hopes or fears. With this in mind, we will explore some of Ayn Rand sarguments about her views on human existence. Rand s views on human nature state that, in general, people please othersbefore pleasing themselves.

The general population of people, therefore, differs fromher philosophy of human nature. For Rand the external world exists independently ofman and man s consciousness; yet man, gifted with superior reason, is capable ofunderstanding, interpreting, and using this reality. Because most people in today s world feel a moral obligation to help others, whether truthfully or not, they go against what Rand encourages people to do. However, there are some people in the world today, especially in the U.S., that all theydo care about is themselves. Their primary goal in life is to gain money, and earn asuccessful career that will entail them to live a happier, more enjoyable life. Thesepeople are determined and positive and obstinate, in Rand s eyes.

This type of personis becoming more and more apparent in today s ever-growing society, and it is ouropinion that Ayn Rand would be happy with the way the United States is today. Morality and happiness play a big part in Ayn Rand s philosophy. Man exists forhis own sake, that the pursuit of his happiness is his highest moral purpose, and that heshould not sacrifice himself to others, nor sacrifice others to himself .The rational mandoes not borrow the values of others, nor does he impose his values on anyone else, particularly by physical force. In order to be prosperous, one must follow what he/she believes to be right and by pursuing this one will reach moral achievement. An example of Rand s ideas is present in her text of the book, We The Living.

Order custom essay The Definition of Evil: Ayn Rand’s Perspective on Human Nature, Morality, and Overcoming Adversity with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

Now look at me! Take a good look! I was born and I knew I was alive and I knew what Iwanted. What do you think is alive in me? Why do you think I m alive? Because I havea stomach and eat and digest the food? Because I breathe and work and produce morefood to digest?

Or because I know what I want, and that something which knows how towant-isn t that life itself? And who-in this damned universe-who can tell me why I shouldlive for anything but that for which I want? This quote directly emphasizes Rand sphilosophy. Her ideas and values come through in this piece of work which relatedirectly to Objectivism. Overall, happiness and morality play a major role for Ayn Randin developing her thoughts and reflections. One question that any philosopher must face is the presence of God. First off, they must decide if He exists, second if so, how does He play into the ideas of his/herphilosophy?

Ayn Rand describes people and God as such: No, they (people) do not believe in God in the same way as they believe in food, money or their materialexistence--but their material existence has no full reality for them either-and that issome special state of consciousness, that is the root of the faking, ...the unreality whichl sense about most people and...as of they do not merely wish to destroy existence, buthave never even permitted existence to exist. Rand is simply stating that a person can believe in God but not in the same way
as a person believes that they are real.

If the state that the mind is in when thinkingand analyzing is, as Rand describes, then nobody would fully understand God and Hismysteries. In completion, one of the queries that each philosopher must explore wouldbe the one about God and his impact on their own ideas. Going hand in hand with exploring the existence of God, comes the task ofinquiring the reality of evil and of the Devil. Ayn Rand s thoughts about evil are quite simple.

Basically, she states that evil can be of no harm to us as long as we don t let itbother us. The following verifies this: You think the world is essentially a mixture ofgood and evil, and one must compromise with the evil, and you re sick of that, so you regiving up the world? Nonsense. Evil, by definition (if we have made the right definition), is the impotent, the impractical, powerless, that which does not work. So it is no threatto us, it cannot stand in our way-- unless we permit it and help it to do so. It cannotpoison the world for us--unless we carry the poison and spread it. The parasites cannotexploit us or rule us-- unless we voluntarily agree to be exploited and hand them thetools with which to rule us. Let us withdraw the tools. Therefore, another point thatRand makes is that evil is easily overcome, if people would stop allowing the Devil torun their lives, then all would be content.

Ultimately, people should not waste their timeworrying that evil is going to corrupt them and destroy them, but instead, should plungeforward and stop giving the Devil the power to run and ruin lives. The final question that is posed to Ayn Rand is: How would Ayn Rand respond tothe article focusing on Andrew Carnegie? Carnegie was a poor boy, in poverty, whengrowing up. Now that he is an adult, he has a lot of money and is very successful. Hisarticle states that poverty stricken people are more happy and content with their lives,that their lives are more full of meaning and that family is constantly supporting eachother. However, children growing up rich are more spoiled and that their lives aredevoid of meaning.

The following is an example. As a rule, there is more genuinesatisfaction, a truer life, and more obtained from life in the humble cottages of the poorthan in the palaces of the rich. This was said by a man who never knew what it waslike to grow up rich or to be poor as an adult. Ayn Rand would question Carnegie s logic. She believes that a person shouldalways delight themselves before others. If it is, in Carnegie s opinion, more pleasing tobe poor, then why is he rich now? A poor person, according to him, always has, hisfather in constant companion, tutor, and model, and in his mother-holy name!-his nurse,teacher, guardian angel, saint all in one, has a richer, more precious fortune in life thanrich man...

So if poor people have these things, why did he give them up to becomerich? Ayn Rand would certainly disagree about the way that Andrew Carnegie wentabout his life. She would advise him to remain poor, if that was what had made himjoyful. Overall, Carnegie s paper has some very uncertain issues within it and Randwould most certainly differ with most of them. In conclusion, the previous questions have been answered by the opinion of Ayn Rand, based on her writings, journals and documents. By knowing some very crucialopinions of philosophers, it allows easy comparison and most of all, a delightful insightinto the mind of a remarkable, abstruse, content woman. Because Ayn Rand was sodedicated to her cause of Objectivism, it could be easily assumed that her life was fullof merriment, vivacity and exuberance.

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer