“In proportion to the mental energy he spent, the man who creates a new invention receives but a small percentage of his value in terms of material payment, no matter what fortune he makes, no matter what millions he earns. But the man who works as a janitor in the factory producing that invention, receives an enormous payment in proportion to the mental effort that his job requires of him. And the same is true of all men between, on all levels of ambition and ability. The man at the top of the intellectual pyramid contributes the most to all those below him, but gets nothing except his material payment, receiving no intellectual bonus from others to add to the value of his time. The man at the bottom who, left to himself, would starve in his hopeless ineptitude, contributes nothing to those above him, but receives the bonus of all of their brains. Such is the nature of the ‘competition’ between the strong and the weak of the intellect. Such is the pattern of ‘exploitation’ for which you have damned the strong.”
[Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged]
The primary problem I have with Ayn Rand is that it doesn't fit reality. Everything referenced to her philosophy that I read makes me think "but that's not true!"
Inventing something is all well and good, but it is the guy who sells the invented product who does the real work. A person with a very limited intellect can be much more valuable than someone with a great intellect.
I remember reading her novel about the architect many years ago, and I can't say that I enjoyed it or remember much of it. It struck me as a very self-indulgent work.
Just to get the conversation going, what is it that you like or admire about Ayn Rand and her philosophy/novels? |
