CollectivismAyn Rand: Maybe she’s not so crazy

Who was Ayn Rand?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjaHeALTPgE

Objectivism

Follow reason, not whims or faith. Work hard to achieve a life of purpose and

productiveness. Earn genuine self-esteem. Pursue your own happiness as your highest moral

aim. Prosper by treating others as individuals, trading

value for value.

At the dawn of our lives, writes Rand, we “seek a noble vision of man’s nature and of life’s potential.”

Altruism

Loving others as oneself.

Self-sacrifice for the benefit of others

Altruists choose to align their well-being with others - so they are happy when others thrive, sad when others are suffering. Essential in establishing strong relationships, most societies acknowledge the importance of altruism within the family. By motivating cooperation rather than conflict, it promotes harmony within communities of any size.

www.altruists.org

Altruism – Ayn Rand

What is the moral code of altruism? The basic principle of altruism is that man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the only justification of his existence, and that self-sacrifice is his highest moral duty, virtue and value.

Do not confuse altruism with kindness, good will or respect for the rights of others. The complex principal of altruism, the basic absolute, is self-sacrifice--which means: the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of the good.

www.aynrndlexicon.com

In 3-5 sentences, explain what this quote means, without using the phrase “this quote

means that…”

"My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being,

with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity,

and reason as his only absolute.”

--Ayn Rand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT_RpzYohdI - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT_RpzYohdI

What is dystopia?

An imagined place in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a TOTALITARIAN or environmentally degraded one. Usually in the future.

A TOTALITARIAN society is of or relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life.

exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others; authoritarian; autocratic.

What does Totalitarian mean?

A TOTALITARIAN society is of or relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life.

Exercising control over the freedom

Can you think of examples?

Collectivism

The practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.

The theory and practice of the ownership of land and the means of production by the people or the state.

Society fi rst, individual second.

ALTRUISTIC – belief in acting for others; the greater good

What are some examples?

Individualism

The habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant.

Self-centered feeling or conduct; egoism.

A social theory favoring freedom of choice or action for individuals over society control.

Me first, you second

Name an example of this.

Which is right or better?

Create 3 pros and 3 cons for both societies.

Which society would be better in which to live: COLLECTIVE or INDIVIDUAL

What is a theme?Life lesson, meaning, moral,

or message we learn from the story

Theme Statement

The theme statement can help you interpret and write about literature in two main ways:

(1) it forces you to decide on a clear, simple interpretation before you begin writing.

(2) it provides your reader with a summary of your interpretation.

A successful theme statement must be general enough to capture the overall meaning of the work, but specific enough so that it conveys your unique interpretation.

Every literary work makes a statement or has a

point. Simplify the meaning somewhat to get it into a single

sentence.

Your theme statement itself should make a point.

The theme statement should be a complete sentence.

The theme statement should describe the general meaning of the work, not the specific events, actions, or characters.

The theme statement should reflect the values of the entire work. In particular, look at the end of the work to make sure that the story's outcome matches what you think its general meaning is.

Theme of Anthem

With your small groups, write down three sentences that explain the theme of Anthem.

The Theme Statement of Anthem

Two themes:

When the individual ("I") is absorbed into the collective ("we"), men degenerate into mindless, uncreative, and uninspired automatons who do nothing but live to work and die young and exhausted.

The spirit of freedom and individuality lives on even in such a world, and a rare man will survive the oppression of the collective to create, think, dream, and love.

Say / Mean / Matter

ESSAY – 1st draft due Wednesday

How does Anthem’s theme connect to collectivism vs. individualism? Altruism vs. Objectivism?