My biggest problem with her philosophy of "Objectivism" then and now is the tired old anti-atheist argument of: What will act as a restraint if not a belief in a higher power? I think the principles of humanism address this more than what I read from Ayn Rand.
BTW, I'm agnostic/atheist and I really can't explain what it is that keeps me from being a horrific sociopath. The Bible believers will of course be quick to say it's my God-given "conscience" in spite of my non-belief. I can't explain it intellectually. But for me it's deep-seated and real to me.
In a nutshell: if I buy into Objectivism 100%, then what is to stop me from grinding everyone in my path into dust? (through legal means, of course)
A related nutshell: Is there any call for charity in Objectivism? I don't recall it being there. I just remember Ayn Rand ranting on page after page about how people would try to "out need" each other. Given her background in Soviet Russia, I can understand her hatred of this idea.
I hope I've put these questions out there in an understandable manner.
Thanks,
Open Mind
Rand, as you are well aware, escaped from the Communist takeover of Russia where her parents had been bourgeoise until the Soviet Socialists reduced everybody to "equality" of poverty and starvation.
She moved to America for opportunity to survive and thrive which she did by perserverance and talent. To be a woman in the times in which she lived; to be a "foreigner" and not a native speaker and to become a dazzling success as an intellectual, philosopher, writer and original thinker was an amazing feat. She never asked for charity; only opportunity to earn. Rand expected the same of others; that they seize every opportunity to better themselves by hard work and indefatigable will to succeed.
Grinding everybody to dust is hardly necessary unless you are a sociopath. As Dr.Phil says, "it is a kill and eat world", but; we don't have to kill to eat; we only have to apply ourselves and our efforts to honest work.
A rational person clearly sees that competition requires having something extra to offer in the marketplace. Success often depends on preparation, talent and jumping onto an opportunity quickly and not letting go. Rand, for example, went to Hollywood where she gained access to the backlot of a movie studio. There she got the attention of Cecil B. DeMille and impressed him with her intelligence and will to overcome obstacles. He employed her to come up with scenarios and read scripts.
Eventually, Rand was able to achieve the nearly impossible feat of having her book, The Fountainhead, made into a movie to which she wrote the script using the actor of her choice, Gary Cooper. The movie was a vehicle for demonstrating her newly minted philosophy of Objectivism.
So, to answer you question pointedly, Rand and her philosophy require tough justice and not brutality or violence to achieve just ends. People must seize control of their own mind and direct themselves to building a better life without relying on the goodwill of strangers. Ultimate responsibility for success or failure rests with the individual.
That seems pretty clear-headed and just to me.
