Ayn Rand and Objectivism

Ayn Rand’s novels are ideological in nature, their central themes dealing with individual compromises and the battle with a distant and oppressive state, and the consequences to society when the innovators stop innovating.  Her lasting contributions to ideology however were in philosophy.  In her non-fiction writings, which she commenced after the publication of Atlas Shrugged, she inveighed against force as immoral and against reason, and condemned all forms of communism or statism.  She advocated for a free economy, which she felt was the only system that would protect the individual against the arbitrary use of power by the state.  Her philosophy finds common ground with libertarianism and certain conservative thought. 

She termed her philosophy objectivism, principally because it relied solely on reason (and was thus, “objective”), and did not invite faith or religion into its constructs.  Objectivism was characterized by man having his own happiness as his moral purpose, and productive achievements as his highest acts.  In political philosophy, objectivism encompassed libertarianism and rejected all forms of state intervention in the economy.  She was a popular philosopher in her lifetime, and had a small following of objectivists throughout her life. 

Although her novels were excoriated by mainstream critics, her books sold well, with 25 million copies reportedly sold as of 2007.  Many accomplished individuals have cited Ayn Rand as a positive influence on their lives notwithstanding the chorus of criticism of her novels and non-fiction during her lifetime.  She also had a U.S. postage stamp of her image (a 33 cent stamp issued in the early 2000s).   Her work continues to be supported by certain foundations for further study in objectivism, and organizations have made grants to academic institutions for further work on Ayn Rand’s work and thought.