Sunday, November 04, 2007

Capitalism's Epic

This is probably a little late to mention, but October 10th marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of Ayn Rand's philosophic novel Atlas Shrugged.

So what you say?

Well Robert Tracinski has written an interesting piece on the book's historic significance.

Like her or hate her, Rand, as Tracinski points out "was the first thinker and artist to fully grasp the meaning of capitalism and the Industrial Revolution and to give them expression both in literature and in philosophy."

5 comments:

Iain G. Foulds said...

... Thank you Gerry... an excelent article and tribute.
... I have read both Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead at least eight times.
... Without Ayn Rand, I would be a Liberal.

Anonymous said...

My all time favorite book, next to the Bible, is Atlas Shrugged. You can read it as simply a great story, or try to understand the message, either way, the test of a great book is how it stands the test of time, and it is still as relevant today, as it was 50 years ago.

I often think about the book when the NDP or Liberals start talking about a universal daycare.

Iain G. Foulds said...

... Hunter... I have also spent the past years considering the crucial alignment of the Bible and Ayn Rand. (Of course, she would go crazy at the suggestion.)
... However, this is truly the foundation of the Right.
... The Left cannot conceive of true charity... the fruit of Christian faith, and thus demands forced economic redistribution by the state...
... Even Mother Theresa could be an excelent Ayn Rand hero, for pursuing her highest value- helping the poorest of the poor.

Iain G. Foulds said...

... Perhaps, the greatest error in political economic philosophy in the past 100 years or so, is the entirely erroneous notion that capitalism is a value system embraced by those who only care about getting as much money as possible for themselves: whereas socialism/ communism is the system for those who are just full of love for others.

John M Reynolds said...

I don't know if you heard, but Atlas Shrugged is apparently going to be a film:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/