In the book The Fountain Head, by Ayn Rand........?

Question

Do you like the Roark character, do you agree with his philosophy????

Roark is selfish but in a more artistic way. He rewords the term, by adding the the lack of self *selfless" is worthless. He builds what he wants, without minding what other people feel about it. He doesn't depend on anyone. I sort of admire him but..... some of his conversations are cruel....

Answer 1

I don't agree with all aspects of Ayn Rand's philosophy, but I do think that Howard Roark is, in some ways, the most theoretically perfect man ever written in literature.

Roark is a man who ostensibly has pure self-esteem: the love of himself without the need of validation from others. That is indeed an enviable trait.

This pure self-esteem is proven in the fact that he has no ill-will towards others. He does not hate or judge others, or allow them to hurt him. They don't hit his radar at all. He just lets it go. I can see how this may seem cold or insulting to others (both characters in the book and readers), but in truth I think it is this quality that proves the quality of his self-esteem better than any other. Someone who is truly at peace with himself does not hate others for their opinions.

However, there is a corollary to that concept which I believe Ayn Rand missed...

If the character of Howard Roark were made of real flesh and blood, not the two dimensional archetype that Ayn Rand wrote, and if he truly did have pure self-esteem, he would be somewhat different.

Someone with truly pure self-esteem, who loved himself that much, would be far more loving of others as well. That is what real love is: the love of oneself that overflows onto everyone else around us. And Roark, as he is, is far more reserved with his love. Which thus points to some deficiency in his self-esteem.

Rand believed in man (or woman) as hero; she believed in our limitless potential; and above all (for me) she believed that life is meant to be joyful. I love these aspects of her philosophy.

But she also believed that some people were unworthy of love. I have heard her say in interviews that she believed others were only "worthy of love" based on their superior actions and thoughts.

This is where I disagree with Ayn Rand. If Roark was de facto perfect in his love of himself, then he would have been able to love others unconditionally. And he did not. Ayn Rand was a brilliant philosopher and author, but if she herself had a higher self-esteem, she would have discovered no conflict between the rest of her wonderful philosophy and being able to love others unconditionally.

This, in my opinion, is the true definition of Selfishness: Selfishness is love of oneself - NOT to the exclusion of others, but to the extent of EMBRACING others. But we must love ourselves FIRST. Our capacity to love others is determined by our capacity to love ourselves. So-called 'love' when it is without self-love is not love at all. It's fear. It's trying to fill the void within ourselves through external means - and that is impossible.

So, to whatever extent you agree or disagree with Ms. Rand's philosophy, both, enjoy those aspects for what they are. As for the rest of it, do what someone with pure self-esteem would do: just let it go.

Enjoy!

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Answer 2

Ayn Rand is Satan's Hand. As I like to say. Ayn Rand advocates pure capitalism, i.e. pure selfishness, and rejects the moral code of every major religion. Try reading her collection of essays, "Objectivism, the unknown ideal", where she clearly spells out her hostility to normal moral behavior. She is a shill for the devil. Capitalists, including Alan Greenspan (who has an article in the above mentioned collection) love her, but she is totally evil, as far as I can tell.

Answer 3

I don't like cold, selfish people. I don't believe in the philosophy of selfishness. I don't agree with Ayn Rand most of the time; she encourages ruthlessness and cruelty and disdains anyone who disagrees with her. She was a lonely and very unhappy woman in real life. Read her biography, you'll be surprised at how she alienated everyone around her.

Answer 4

Yes, I like the character and his philosophy. Read "Atlas Shrugged" too. Thought it was carrying the message of self-determination a little far. Now I'm beginning to see the decay she imagined before my own eyes in my own city.
The lady was a prophet as well as a darned good writer.

Answer 5

Roarke was a man who absolutely refused to compromise his principles.in today's society,that's a damn good lesson to learn&try to emulate(not to the point of blowing up buildings,but you get the idea:-)

Answer 6

I do not know if I agree with it, but it is different