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Rejecting Ayn Rand: Russell Madden's Critique of Objectivism

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Rejecting Ayn Rand

by Russell Madden

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1730 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	21 pages

Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism has been praised by some for its individualism and focus on reason, but it has also been criticized for its elitism and lack of compassion. Russell Madden's book, Rejecting Ayn Rand: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon, offers a comprehensive critique of Objectivism, arguing that it is a dangerous and harmful ideology.

Madden's Critique of Objectivism

Madden's critique of Objectivism is wide-ranging, but he focuses on three main areas:

Objectivism's individualism is extreme and unrealistic. Objectivists believe that individuals are the only real entities, and that society is nothing more than a collection of individuals. This view, Madden argues, ignores the importance of social relationships and institutions. It also leads to a cold and heartless view of the world, in which individuals are seen as isolated and self-sufficient.
Objectivism's focus on reason is narrow and incomplete. Objectivists believe that reason is the only way to knowledge, and that emotions and feelings are irrational and unreliable. This view, Madden argues, is too narrow. It ignores the role that emotions and feelings play in our lives, and it leads to a sterile and unimaginative view of the world.
Objectivism's elitism is dangerous and harmful. Objectivists believe that they are the intellectual elite, and that they are superior to everyone else. This view, Madden argues, is elitist and arrogant. It leads to a sense of entitlement and superiority, and it can be used to justify discrimination and oppression.

The Rise and Fall of Ayn Rand

Madden's book also traces the rise and fall of Ayn Rand. Rand was a Russian-American novelist and philosopher who developed the philosophy of Objectivism in the mid-20th century. Rand's novels, such as The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, were bestsellers, and her philosophy was widely popular among conservatives and libertarians. However, Rand's popularity declined in the late 20th century, and her philosophy is now widely seen as outdated and irrelevant.

Madden argues that Rand's decline was due to the inherent flaws in her philosophy. Objectivism is a self-contradictory and unrealistic ideology, and it has never been able to gain widespread acceptance. Rand's novels are also poorly written and preachy, and they have failed to stand the test of time.