Good Morning, today is Friday, 17th of July. Good to see the Study Group gaining momentum. Thanks to Josh for picking up the thread despite joining late due to OCON, really appreciate the speed of study. Now we need not postpone the group, as was the possibility being considered before. Thanks also to Greg for the discipline and punctuality shown. This has helped give impetus to the activity.
Lets continue the great work. It might look small, and maybe even insignificant in bigger scheme of things… But as Burgess demonstrated through his writings in “The Aristotle Adventure” and this book, its these small steps in various civilizations that paved the way for Renaissance and Enlightenment that transformed the world.
Today I answer the questions posted on Monday.
POWER AND GLORY – THE KEY IDEAS AND CRUSADING LIVES OF EIGHT DEBATERS OF REASON VS FAITH
RAND : A PHILOSOPHICAL NOVELIST DEFENDS REASON – OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING
WEEK 3
AN IDEAL MAN, THE MAN OF REASON contd…
Q1. How was “The Fountainhead” received and promoted?
Ans: The Fountainhead appeared in market in 1943. It was sold to a major publication house. It received far fewer reviews than We The Living in both U.S. and in England. Some reviews identified theme of virtue of independence and underlying egoism in incomplete form. However it sold well, and its explicitly thematic passages implying support for reason disseminated her ideas.
She sold storyline to a filmmaker, and with movie the novel rose again to bestseller lists.
[ References :
a.) For close study of reviews, Essay “The Fountainhead reviews” by Michael Berliner in Mayhew’s Essays on Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead.
b.) For general comparisons of reviews [between The Fountainhead and We The Living] Essay “Publishing The Fountainhead” in Mayhew’s Essays on Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead”.
c.) For selling of The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand by Britting, p61.
d.) For her return to Hollywood : Britting, Ayn Rand p. 68.]
Q2. Why did she move primary attention from “Ethics” to “Metaphysics and Epistemology” in her thinking and writings?
Ans: While writing non-fiction book on the ethical principles in her novel The Fountainhead, she discovered that she needed first to further develop the foundations of her ethical ideas in metaphysics and epistemology. Thus she moved up in philosophical hierarchy.
[References: For beginning of non-fiction book on her ethics, Ayn Rand by Britting, p73 and 76]
THE FINAL NOVEL
Q3. What was the political environment like, when writing of “Atlas Shrugged” got started?
Ans: Rand started developing Atlas Shrugged in the year 1946. By that time World War II had ended, with National Socialist and Fascist states being crushed by US and its Western allies. This allowed equally destructive collectivist movement Communism to spread to Eastern Europe.
Also, during that time cultural atmosphere in U.S. was gloomy, and statism was rising during the Depression and the war. Further, there was no intellectual opposition to the spread of Communism at that time.
[References: For Rand beginning “The mind on strike”, Ayn Rand by Britting, p79]
Q4. Describe her general view on philosophy, and her particular views on philosophy of Kant?
Ans: Philosophy was her favorite subject of conversation, and she considered it to be a matter of life or death in its consequences.
Her evaluations, and therefore her emotions towards Kant’s philosophy were negatively charged. Because Kant in his metaphysics had claimed that there is no reality. And this metaphysics invalidates efficacy of your mind in its epistemological consequences. And values like your husband, your work, the music you like, and your freedom are invalidated in its ethical consequences.
[References: For Rand’s philosophical passion, Ayn Rand by Britting, p76-77**]**
Q4. What is a “theme” and “plot-theme”? Explain “theme” and “plot-theme” of Atlas Shrugged, working title of which was “The mind on strike”? How and why did scope evolve overtime?
Ans:
Meaning of Theme and Plot-Theme : A theme is the summation of a novel’s abstract meaning.
The link between the theme and the events of a novel is an element which Ayn Rand called the plot-theme. It is the first step of the translation of an abstract theme into a story, without which the construction of a plot would be impossible. A “plot-theme” is the central conflict or “situation” of a story—a conflict in terms of action, corresponding to the theme and complex enough to create a purposeful progression of events.
Theme : Theme of Atlas Shrugged was the relationship of the mind to reality, objectivity that is. More specifically, it was about logical relationship between facts of reality and ideas in the mind. Reason being the faculty that establishes that relationship. So the theme of Atlas Shrugged can be summarized as role and importance of reason.
Plot-Theme : What would happen if the most creative – that is rational people, in a society went on strike against demands that they devote their lives to the service of others.
Evolution of scope of the plot : Initial purpose of “The Mind on strike” was to show economic consequences of the philosophy implicit in her previous novel. Given the limited scope, she expected to complete the novel in 2 years. However, on proceeding she realized that she needed to integrate and demonstrate metaphysics and epistemology, along with ethics and politics.
Metaphysics of this world, epistemology of reason, ethics of rational self-interest, and politics of lassiez-faire capitalism.
Given this wider scope, the development of novel took fourteen years.
[ References:
a.) For the meaning of theme, Ayn Rand lexicon referring from “Basic Principles of Literature,”The Romantic Manifesto, 81
b.) For the meaning of plot-theme, Ayn Rand lexicon referring to “Basic Principles of Literature,”The Romantic Manifesto, 85
c.) For origin of “The Mind on strike”, and evolution of the novel. _Ayn Rand _by Britting, p73]
Q5. What was the plot of Atlas shrugged? Explain challenge in creating it, and role of Epistemology in fixing that challenge?
[Hint: The answer will require knowledge that is not given in the text being studied. Knowledge of Atlas Shrugged storyline in more detail.]
Ans: Plot is a logical but complex series of actions that the characters take to reach their goals. Actions of Dagny to build “John Galt Line”, or to find the destroyer. Actions of Francisco to convince Rearden to join the strike. Or actions of John Galt to ensure that the Objective of the strike is completed. ( Objective was to demonstrate the role of prime movers in the world, by pulling them out from society and causing the society to disintegrate because of their absence. And therefore clear the path for forming his kind of world. )
Challenge in writing the story : The major challenge of writing a story is integration, which involves three essential elements.
a.) Particular characters.
b.) Plot as a series of concrete actions.
c.) Theme as an abstract meaning of story.
The theme of Atlas Shrugged involved integrating metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, politics and economics to build characters and plot. The magnitude of integration involved was the major challenge in writing the novel.
Role of reason in fixing that challenge : Applying reason involves integrating data of senses into abstractions about the world. One role of reason is to integrate various characteristics observed in man to form characters. Similarly, to integrate various events to form a logical plot. The selection of elements for integration, to form characters and plot being determined by theme, also involves reason. And the theme itself is formed by observation and integration of good and bad actions in real world.
Q6. Explain concretization by explaining the role it plays in novel?
Ans: Concretization enables “Objectification of values”, which is the primary purpose of art. (Of course, it assumes that artist has some values in first place). Objectify means to make values real by presenting them in concrete form. (While abstractions are also real, I assume here real is referring to sense-perceptible). “I think courage is good” being the example of abstract statement. And presenting courageous characters like John Galt and Jean Valjean in stories being the Objectification of courage.
Theme of the story is the abstract value, and elements of story like particular scenes, actions of characters, and various other objects are the concretes that convey the theme. Rather than giving away just the Theme, writer conveys it through concretes. And reader comprehends the theme through concretes while he reads, and forms the abstraction(of theme) from these concretes. The formation of theme in readers might just be an impression(visual or part-visual plus associated emotions), rather than the theme in words that writer had thought of.
[ References:
a.) For objectification of values, Art of fiction by Ayn Rand, pp13-14
b.) For the artistic circle starting with abstract theme in artist’s mind, and ending as abstract theme in reader’s mind. The transmission happening through the concretes like plot and characters of story. Art of fiction by Ayn Rand, pp12-13 ]
Q7. John Galt speech was complex to create. How can you infer this from current text?
Ans: John Galt speech in the climax was a 35000 word passage. Ayn Rand invested two years in thinking it through, then outlining, writing, rewriting, editing, and proof reading it for accuracy and clarity.
(I read somewhere that initially she had thought that she will complete Galt speech in 3 months).
[ References:
a.) For the development of Atlas Shrugged, “Ayn Rand” by Britting.
b.) For evidence of development of the novel, Journals by Ayn Rand. Part 4(“Atlas Shrugged”) in general, but Ch. 14(“Notes While Writing Galt’s speech”) in particular.]
Q8. On what basis did she select the publication? Show that her apprehensions were correct?
Ans: Ayn Rand had no trouble finding publisher for Atlas Shrugged because of the success of The Fountainhead. She wanted publishing company that could withstand the hostile criticism she expected. So she selected publisher where management recognized that the book was a radical rejection of Judeo-Christian culture.
Reception of Atlas Shrugged among reviewers : The novel was attacked by both conservatives and the “progressives”. By former for atheism and egoism, and by the latter for defending Capitalism based on egoism.
[a.) For choosing Random house as the publisher, and for various types of reviews, Ayn Rand by Britting, pp84-85.]
Q9. Summarize Objectivism from what is given in the text?
Ans:
1. Metaphysics : Facts exist independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes, or fears.
2. Epistemology : Reason is man’s only means of perceiving reality, only source of knowledge, and only means of survival.
3. Ethics : Pursuit of rational self-interest and own happiness is the highest moral purpose in life.
4. Politics : Capitalism is the ideal political system, because here men deal with each other by free, voluntary exchange for mutual benefit.
[References : The above answer derived from the quotation in first column Ayn Rand wrote for “Los Angles Times” in 1962. Burgess has referred from “Objectivism” in Ayn Rand Lexicon, p344. And this “Objectivism” entry refers to “The Objectivist Newsletter”, August 1962, p35. The full text of the original column is available in the book The Ayn Rand column by Peter Schwartz. This book is a collection of twenty-six columns Ayn Rand wrote.]