...Activity 3.4 - Essay on Rand's Ideas Using "The Ethics of Emergencies" by Ayn Rand (pp. 215-218), develop an essay between 2 to 3 pages discussing her ideas in today's moral environment. Provide one other reference in addition to our text. The Ethics of Emergencies describes how some people base their ethical principles on emergency situations. The classic example is the lifeboat scenario. The scenario is that what if you are stuck on a lifeboat with some other people, and there's not enough water for everyone to survive the trip to shore. In order to live, you have to sacrifice someone else. The lesson of the scenario is that you have to choose between your life and the life of another person. There is a fundamental disharmony of interests, and it is to kill or be killed. Which means in life, you are either a murderer, you are a victim, or you can sacrifice your life for other people. The problem is that these ethics-derived-from-emergencies are anti-contextual. It is not true that there is a disharmony of interests and we do not have to choose between killing and dying in day to day life. We do not have to choose between sacrificing ourselves to others or others to ourselves. So abstracting general principles from these situations is a really bad idea. By trying to use these situations as a representation of real life, it actually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you accept that life is full of conflicts of interest, you will act accordingly and create conflicts where...
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...commend him for his contributions to their society; inevitably, however, Equality recognizes the impossibility of his situation as the council berates him and denounces his invention, claiming that since it had not been devised in cooperation with his brothers, it was a sinful abomination that needed to be destroyed. Utilizing her characters as a means for presenting her ideas about morality, Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem illustrates a fundamental truth about the necessity of an objective moral framework within a society. Similarly, in her essay How Does One Live a Rational Life in an Irrational Society?, Rand poses her ideology that morality is objective and an absolute essential to a functional society. In both her essay and in Anthem, Rand explores the necessity for an objective morality in society, blah blah blah, and blah blah blah implications of a society....
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...When I received a copy of James S. Valliant’s book, The Passion of Ayn Rand’s Critics: The Case Against the Brandens, I was a little apprehensive about reviewing it. It seems that every time a discussion commences about the “juicy” bits of Ayn Rand’s sexual and romantic entanglements, it takes on a life of its own, and the discussion never seems to end. Cyber-forums can’t even mention this book without provoking hundreds of rancorous posts among people who are still personally involved in the developments surrounding the break between Ayn Rand and Nathaniel Branden and Barbara Branden. It’s as if the War of ‘68 is still raging. I was fortunate when I came to the study of Ayn Rand. I was eight years old when Rand and the Brandens went their separate ways. I knew none of the principals involved, and didn’t actually discover Rand’s work until nearly ten years later—when I was a senior in high school in 1977. And even after I’d discovered her work, I'd read everything she wrote without the assistance of going to live lectures or attending group meetings of people sitting around a vinyl turntable or an audio-tape player, listening to recordings of said lectures. I eventually listened to the vast bulk of those lectures as background for the preparation of my book, Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical, but even that research was pursued independently. My work was not the product of any assistance from any Objectivist institute or organization. Around 1992, however, as I was researching my...
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...School of Design (1932-1933), and the Art Students League (1933-1934). He was one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design. From 1956 to 1969, and beginning again in 1974, Rand taught design at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Rand was inducted into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 1972. He designed many posters and corporate identities, including the logos for IBM, UPS and ABC. Rand died of cancer in 1996. Early life and education Peretz Rosenbaum was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1914. As Orthodox Jewish law forbids the creation of graven images that can be worshiped as idols, Rand’s career creating icons venerated in the temple of global capitalism seemed as unlikely as any. It was one that he embraced at a very young age, painting signs for his father’s grocery store as well as for school events at P.S. 109. Rand’s father did not believe art could provide his son with a sufficient livelihood, and so he required Paul to attend Manhattan’s Harren High School while taking night classes at the Pratt Institute, though “neither of these schools offered Rand much stimulation.” Despite studying at Pratt and other institutions in the New York area (including Parsons School of Design and the Art Students League), Rand was by-and-large “self-taught as a designer, learning about the works of Cassandre and Moholy-Nagy from European magazines such as [Gebrauchsgraphik].” Early career His career began with humble assignments, starting with a part-time...
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...The Fountainhead Essay Contest Howard Roark, the main protagonist of The Fountainhead, embodies Ayn Rand’s depiction of individualism and originality, trying to fulfill his potential in a manipulative world. He never regrets any of his actions or decisions despite rejection from the rest of society. Even from the beginning of the novel, he was clearly aware of the obstacles ahead of him and was confident in his abilities to succeed in a selfish environment. “He knew that the days would be difficult… he knew also that he would not think, because everything was clear to him already” (pg. 15). As an independent man, his interactions with the other characters of the novel clearly represent the author’s notion that being self-sufficient in a collectivist society is a virtue. Rand’s main point throughout the book is that Roark dismisses conventions and is driven by passion, not like the others around him that only lust for power. Ayn Rand’s characteristically dry writing style accentuates the relationships between the characters of The Fountainhead, especially the ones between Howard Roark and his “rivals” like Peter Keating and Ellsworth Toohey. Roark is unique in his willingness to embrace his individualistic mind, act on his own decisions, and be generally indifferent towards the opinion of others. This is a stark contrast to a head figure of architecture like Toohey who is blinded by his own hubris, taking advantage of the work of others in order to achieve his own standing and...
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...Ayn Rand’s novella, Anthem, follows a 21-year-old named Equality 7-2521 and how he fits into the collectivist society in which he resides. In this society, all men work for the benefit of mankind, from the ages of fifteen to forty. Once somebody turns 40, they are sent to the House of the Useless until they die, usually before age 45. However, the main question is: why it is so unusual to reach the age of 45 in Equality’s society? This essay will present a few possibilities. One possibility is that the work people in this society have to do for 25 years is incredibly debilitating. On page 28, Equality 7-2521 writes: “At forty, they are worn out. At forty, they are sent to the Home of the Useless where the Old Ones live. The Old Ones do not work… they do not speak, for they are...
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...talk whenever they see each other in secret because of the consequences of this transgression. He later names her “The Golden One” because she is not like the others. Equality believe you should be allowed to love who you want. He realizes he would go against the council for Liberty, for he did not want her to be randomly assigned to another man for mating. As a result, he felt hatred towards the council’s loveless ways. In Ayn Rand’s “How Does One Lead a Rational Life in an Irrational Society”, Rand states: “there is no escape from the fact that men have to make choices; so long as moral values are at stake, no moral neutrality is possible” This is what is believed to be Equality’s understanding, he would strongly approve of this writing by Ayn Rand. He believes in his own morals correlating to his society, “The Council” believes that in order to be equal everyone must have the same mindset, goals and abilities but as said in Ayn Rand’s short essay: “No Moral Neutrality is Possible”(Rand,. Everyone has their own thoughts and morals making the council’s idea of peace unrealistic and out of reach. Thankfully some citizens such as Equality, have learned that the council is wrong, there is no complete peace as long as moral values are in the mindset of every individual. Equality did the world justice by going against The Council and wanting to show everyone a better way of living. To live a life where you can speak freely, have your own morals, and love someone or something without...
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...morality which is not based on faith, emotions and etc, but only on reason. Rand further explained that man has to hold on reason as his only guide to action and live by independent judgement of his own mind, Ethic of Emergencies Theory The Ethic of Emergency Theory is based on Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism. This theory challenges the understanding of altruism where it argued about the self-interest of a man who she believes that the highest moral purpose is to pursue own happiness. She mentioned that altruistic persons suffer from lack self-esteem, failing to respect others, have sceptical morality and pessimistic idea of existence. She also pointed out that this people are those who did not value their own existence as they sacrifice themselves for others sake. Rand also pointed out her extreme opinion that altruistic person who rendered assistance to others are actually failing to respect them as she regarded those that they are helping are like “beggars crying for help”. And she believes a man is not obligated to save or aid another who is not within the person hierarchy of values to help others. Opinion In my opinion, it would be challenging and prevalent to accept her philosophy and ideas in today’s moral...
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...The Rogue Individual In today's constantly connected world, finding solitude has become a lost art. In fact, Western culture tends to equate a desire for solitude with people who are lonely, sad, or have antisocial tendencies. Solitude is the basis for individualism which is an essential aspect to a successful society because individuality reflects strength in a community as a whole. Self-reliant individuals together create a capitalist society in which people are forced to compete for success. Individuality spurs progress, originality, and self-sacrifice. However, expressing individuality is a weak action if it cannot be maintained in the real world. Upholding this is Ralph Waldo Emerson who states in his essay Self Reliance, “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude” (Emerson 146). Society and individuals are bound by a harmonious union in which the productive outcomes of individuals who spend time alone collectively lead to a progressive civilization. Although Emerson’s nonconformist ideals may come off as selfish when he declares, “What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think,” the principle of self-reliance is a significant and valuable asset to have for a gratifying life. The more self-reliant people are, the more they can help others. Justified by the fact that those who are...
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...Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy Volume 3, Number 1 (Winter 2003), pp. 1‐26 Ayn Rand and Contemporary Business Ethics Stephen R. C. Hicks Introduction: business and the free society Advocates of the free society think of business as an integral part of the dynamic, progressive society they advocate. In the West, the rise of a culture hospitable to business has unleashed incalculable productive energies. Business professionals have taken the products of science and revolutionized the fields of agriculture, transportation, and medicine. Business professionals have taken the products of art and dramatically increased our access to them. We have more food, we are more mobile, we have more health care, we have more access to works of fiction, theater, and music than anyone could reasonably have predicted a few centuries ago. The result of business in the West, and more recently in parts of the East, has been an enormous rise in the standard of human living. We have gone, in the space of a few centuries, from a time in which perhaps 10% of the population lived comfortably while 90% lived near subsistence to a time in which 90% live better than comfortably and 10% live near subsistence. And we haven’t given up on the remaining 10%. Intellectuals who study the free society have, in the fields of economics and politics, a good understanding of what makes this possible: individualism. In economics there exists a well worked out understanding of ...
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...Egoism By Jenny Taylor Philosophy P120 October 30, 2011 Egoism is “The moral view that everyone ought always to do those acts that will best serve his or her own best self-interest.” (Pojman & Fieser page87) It is contrasted with altruism, “an unselfish regard of concern for others”. This essay will explain the relation between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. It will examine how someone who believes in psychological egoism explains the apparent instances of altruism. It will also discuss some arguments in favor of universal ethical egoism, and exam Pojman's critique of arguments for and against universal ethical egoism. Psychological egoism, a descriptive claim about human nature, states that humans by nature are motivated only by self-interest. To act in one's self-interest is to act mainly for one's own good and loving what is one's own (i.e. ego, body, family, house, belongings in general). It means to give one's own interests higher priority than others'. "It (psychological egoism) claims that we cannot do other than act from self-interest motivation, so that altruism-the theory that we can and should sometimes act in favor of others' interests-is simply invalid because it's impossible" (Pojman 85). According to psychological egoists, any act no matter how altruistic it might seem, is actually motivated by some selfish desire of the agent (i.e., desire for reward, avoidance of guilt, personal happiness). For someone who believes...
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...[pic] TOPIC: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UK Student: Pham Trang Huyen My Student ID: 77142444 10 weeks Pre-sessional course December, 2013 List of content Abstract 3 1. Introduction 4 2. Literature review 5 2.1. Higher Education in the UK 5 2.2. Teacher-student relationships and the quality of teaching 5 2.3. Different learning styles 6 2.4. Group work 7 2.5. Financial issues 8 3. Methodology 9 4. Results 10 5. Discussion 14 6. Conclusion 16 List of References 17 Appendix 19 Abstract Higher education is a competitive business which produces huge benefits for the UK economy. This paper reveals international students’ attitudes about UK higher education and focuses on direct factors which can affect students’ opinions. Reports of international students’ attitudes already carried out in Leeds Metropolitan University are analyzed and the main findings are emphasized. A total of eighteen international students interviewed provided data on their experience in UK education that involves the challenges they have faced and what they have achieved. The project concludes that not only UK tuition fees but also the quality of education can affect international students’ decision to study in the UK. Therefore measures should be taken in...
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...Africa 11 2.4 Primary exports and import, trading partner. Graph the historical rate of the exchange between your South Africa 's currency and that of the United States dollar 12 2.4.1 Primary exports 12 2.4.2 Primary imports 13 2.4.3 Primary trading partners 13 2.4.4 Exchange rates 13 Part 3 14 3.1 Resources, Initiatives of business organizations and South Africa’s government policies 14 3.1.1 Resources and Initiatives of business organizations already exist in South Africa 14 3.1.2 South Africa’s government policies aid such initiatives (Include Financial, Marketing, & Human Resource issues) 16 3.2 Advices for businessmen 17 3.2.1 Business culture 17 3.2.2 Business notices 19 References 21 SOUTH AFRICA ESSAY Part 1 1.1 Introduction 1.2.1 The reasons why we choose South Africa * South Africa is a country of BRICS In 2010, South Africa began efforts to join the BRIC grouping, and the process for its formal admission began in August of that year. South Africa officially became a member nation on 24 December 2010, after being formally invited by the BRIC countries to join the group. In June 2012, the BRICS nations pledged $75 billion to boost the lending power of the International Monetary Fund. * Nelson Maldela He is one of the greatness mans in the world. He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He...
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...| Business Leadership and Human Values Seminar2 CreditsBU 131.601.F5Summer Session 2016Wednesdays 1:30-4:30pm -- June 8 – July 27 Harbor East Room 230 | Instructor Rick Milter, Ph.D. Contact Information Phone Number: 410.234.9422 milter@jhu.edu Office Hours Typically before class session or by appointment. Required Learning Materials This course is a series of thematic conversations about human values and your responsibilities as an emerging/aspiring business leader. There is no traditional textbook, but there is much reading. You are required to read The Moral Compass: Leadership for a Free World, a workbook by Lindsay Thompson available online as a PDF in Course Documents. You will find details about required learning materials in the Bibliography and Theme Briefs sections of the Syllabus. Course Description and Overview This course explores ethical leadership as a framework for enterprise value creation in a complex environment of competing economic and moral claims. Students examine the intrinsic ethical challenges of leadership and the concept of a moral compass as a foundation for responding effectively to the ethical challenges of corporate citizenship and value creation in a competitive global economy. (2 credits) Syllabus Table of Contents Page Topic 2 Bibliography & Learning Resources 6 Calendar, Seminar Structure, Theme Briefs, Content 42 Seminar Preparation Toolkit 48 Learning Objectives, Graded Assignments...
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...PROLOGUE Fortress of the Light Pedron Niall's aged gaze wandered about his private audience chamber, but dark eyes hazed with thought saw nothing. Tattered wall hangings, once battle banners of the enemies of his youth, faded into dark wood paneling laid over stone walls, thick even here in the heart of the Fortress of the Light. The single chair in the room heavy, high-backed, and almost a throne - was as invisible to him as the few scattered tables that completed the furnishings. Even the white-cloaked man kneeling with barely restrained eagerness on the great sunburst set in the wide planks of the floor had vanished from Niall's mind for the moment, though few would have dismissed him so lightly. Jaret Byar had been given time to wash before being brought to Niall, but both his helmet and his breastplate were dulled from travel and battered from use. Dark, deep-set eyes shone with a feverish, urgent light in a face that seemed to have had every spare scrap of flesh boiled away. He wore no sword - none was allowed in Niall's presence - but he seemed poised on the edge of violence, like a hound awaiting the loosing of the leash. Twin fires on long hearths at either end of the room held off the late winter cold. It was a plain, soldier's room, really, everything well made but nothing extravagant except for the sunburst. Furnishings came to the audience chamber of the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light with the man who rose to the office; the...
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