Ayn Rand is known to the world as an extravagant writer. In her works, Rand writes mostly of her philosophy of objectivism, influencing many people with her ideas on life (Stine, 291). Ayn Rand's philosophy is shown in her novels such as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Objectivism is complete with ideas on politics, knowledge, ethics, and human nature ("Essentials of Objectivism").
Ayn Rand viewed objectivism as the ideal way of life for mankind. "This extreme form of individualism has been defined by Rand as "the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute ( Stine, 291.)"" Ayn Rand favored personal responsibility and individualism. In Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand wrote of a man who was an objectivist. Objectivism is an "integrated system of thought that defines the abstract principles by which a man must think and act if he is to live the life proper to man ("Essentials of Objectivism").
The politics of objectivism are capitalist. Capitalism deals with rights of the individual, as in land ownership and individual rights. Furthermore, objectivism deals with laissez-faire, the policy of freedom in business (Bryant, 423). In a laissez-faire system, governmental intervention is opposed. "Thus Objectivism rejects any form of collectivism, such as fascism or socialism. It also rejects the current "mixed economy" notion that the government should regulate the economy and redistribute wealth" ("Essentials of Objectivism").
In the ideals of Ayn Rand's objectivism, all men value self-interest. Men look out for the sake of themselves, not others. The reaching of personal delight is the ultimate aspiration for objectivists. "Man - every man - is an end in himself; he must work for his rational self-interest." Objectivism conflicts with altruism, "the claim that morality consists in living for others or for society ("Essentials of Objectivism").
