ipl-logo

An Egoist Identity Analysis

633 Words3 Pages

Prompt #3: An Egoist Identity “To say ‘I love you’ one must first be able to say the ‘I’” (Ayn Rand). This philosophy represents an exemplary case in which an egoist can be viewed as more than just a self-centered person. In both Anthem and “The Soul of an Individualist”, Rand depicts the same distinct image through her characters, Prometheus and Howard Roark. Prometheus’s ideals and identification as an egoist give the term a positive connotation that contradicts all immoral aspects attributed to it. By definition, the word ‘ego’ describes how high someone’s sense of self-esteem is without suggesting any negativity. Regardless, many would still argue the opposite due to lack of knowledge or misunderstanding. Although an egoist is viewed …show more content…

He starts off by being an insignificant part of a collectivist society, but later develops into a distinguished individual who is willing to fight for his and his friends’ rights; yet, Prometheus is still strongly devoted to egoism. In Prometheus’s eyes, the word ‘egoist’ is only a way to describe his experience while understanding love without the influence of his collective community. Discovering something of such importance, alone, marks a significant emotional point in the book and in the character’s fictional life. The protagonist shows his devotion to these beliefs by giving an example of confidence and bravery which today would be praised if not encouraged: “I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars” (95). As Howard Roark mentions in his speech, individuals need other individuals in order to earn recognition for their visions. Because of the brainwashed humans in his previous society and the abrupt transition into a new one, Prometheus only saw an extreme or the other: collectivism or individualism. However, by the end, the hero becomes a true individual, unveiling the secret to having eternal happiness and voicing his plans for the future: “I shall call to me all the men and the women whose spirit has not been killed within them and who suffer under the yoke of their brothers” (101). Although he

Show More
Related
351 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem, numerous objects and occurrences symbolize much more than what they are presented as. Of the more obvious symbols, light has the largest impact on the course of the story. The most important instance of light centers around Equality 7-2521’s re-invention of the light bulb. Rand uses light to provide a religious, mythic feeling to the acts of Equality 7-2521 and how he symbolizes light himself. In a society where all men and women are one equal and single minded being; Equality 7-2521 becomes the lone source of individuality and a beacon of light to the people of this oppressed civilization.

Read More
317 Words | 2 Pages

According to Ayn Rand, she is one of the few that thinks being independent in a society is better than being subservient. Anthem is not just a forceful indictment of collectivism. It is, first and foremost, a festivity of individualism — a “hymn to man’s individuality.” This is a quote by Ayn Rand. In this quote, you can understand that by this quote, she feels that being independent is much better than being dependent.

Read More
1042 Words | 5 Pages

Could you imagine living in a world where you were not your own individual? In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, everyone is the same and no one can be “better” or more intelligent than each other. In this book, the characters can not even speak the word “I” without getting executed. Think about having rules that restrict individuals from having their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions. In the book Anthem, the readers will discover that these rules and restrictions become a reality.

Read More
705 Words | 3 Pages

Individuality allows every person to be themselves and be different from each other. However, In Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem, Rand describes a society where the people were not allowed to openly be themselves, or else they would be punished for being different. The main character, Equality, notices he is different slowly throughout the novella, but kept continuing to be like everyone else for awhile. These rules exist in this society to strip human individuality in order to achieve total equality.

Read More
812 Words | 4 Pages

In Anthem by Ayn Rand, Equality 7-2521, also known as Prometheus, says that the word ego is a very holy word. Today it is seen as a negative thing to be called an egoist, but Prometheus and Howard Roark in The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand see it differently. Both characters in the novels discover something they would like to share, but their creators do no like that they are having their own ideas and think their ego is too high. In Anthem, Equality 7-2521 has a sincere desire to learn more about science, but this is seen as a sin for they are not to know anymore than their fellow brethren.

Read More
749 Words | 3 Pages

Prometheus comes to understand that the reason he has felt no regret for his actions, is because they are what makes him an individual. This meaning that throughout his life he has been degraded because of how he would wonder and constantly ask questions, but this has made him a person with views and genuine curiosity on how the world works. These are all characteristics of a single person because not all people have the same views on everything. Surprisingly, in Prometheus’ society no one is considered an individual and

Read More
961 Words | 4 Pages

Differing to the societies of these ongoing “Unmentionable Times”, the world at large in the City’s time has constricting laws and controls that “bettered” the society. The inanity of the people in Ayn Rand’s Anthem shows how the whole of the laws and the controls of the City allow for the abolishment of the intellectual and psychological distinctiveness of the citizens and to replace it with a draconian net of collectivism and altruism. Throughout the story, a man named Equality 7-2521 becomes conscious of how the laws are turned against the progression that he wants. Equality grasps that loneliness is not the evil in society, but the never-ending nearness to everybody is the flaw of the society.

Read More
653 Words | 3 Pages

Anthem Essay “The sacred word: EGO.” These are the final words in Ayn Rand’s Anthem, but what does the word ego mean? The general definition of ego is “a person’s sense of self-esteem or self- importance.” Today people think that ego or being an egoist is the same as conceited.

Read More
578 Words | 3 Pages

His moral obligation is to do what he wishes, provided his wish does not depend primarily upon other men” (Rand 1). Doing what he wants to do without it involving others, is the egoist’s moral, which means that all his goals are for him to accomplish independently, and that implies that what that man makes of himself are an outcome from his independent actions and

Read More
278 Words | 2 Pages

Some theorists argue that ego has various stages and grows in a negative or positive ways, is influenced by inferiority or superiority complexes, and there are strength levels

Read More
1421 Words | 6 Pages

This new impression of life now cleans away his old principals, ethics, and morals and sets him up with new and restored ones. He discovers that he is not committed to go about as the mistreating society around him requests. Perusing an entry from Plato 's 'Purposeful anecdote of the Cave ' offers us some assistance with connecting his acknowledgment of how his general surroundings functions, and his attention to another reality: Behold! People living in an underground give in, which has a mouth open towards the light and coming to up and down the hole; here they have been from their adolescence, and have their legs and necks anchored with the goal that they can 't move, and can just see before them, being kept by the chains from knocking some people 's socks off. Above and behind them a flame is blasting at a separation, and between the flame and the detainees there is a raised way; and you will see, in the event that you look, a low divider constructed along the way, similar to the screen which doll players have before them, over which they demonstrate the manikin.

Read More
1518 Words | 7 Pages

There is an inherent need to be selfish in order to work for one’s own values and to one’s benefit, untethered by the needs of others. Literary critic Mimi Gladstein observes that “One of [Rand’s] stated purposes in writing [The Fountainhead] was to develop a defense of egoism” (Gladstein). Roark’s reasoning

Read More
591 Words | 3 Pages

The word ¨ego¨, is a word with many mixed views, ego is ¨ an Ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation for morality¨. This is a word said by Prometheus. Who was once known as ¨Equality 7-2521. He once lived in a place where no traces of modern technology are present. The life expectancy has is low, it is averaged at 45 years old.

Read More
122 Words | 1 Pages

Ethical egoism vs psychological egoism There are many differences between ethnical egoism and psychological egoism. To begin let’s discuss the meaning of them. In comparison we as people place a value on both interests. The desire th Ethical egoism is ‘the normative ethical position that people should do that’s best for their own self-interest.

Read More
1338 Words | 6 Pages

Psychological Egoism is a proposed doctrine that individuals in society are only concerned with their own benefit hence possess a motive with the ultimate goal of self-preservation and self-interest. Although we may do things that benefit others, the doctrine argues that humans are entirely selfish and we are primarily concerned with our pleasure therefore any actions that aid others are performed by us for the fruit of praise (Feinberg 6). This doctrine is false as the arguments in support for it are built on the foundations of tautology. Feinberg critics this theory by using counter arguments to the theory in order to provide insight on why psychological egoism is weak. This essay will outline and expand on arguments placed forth by Feinberg

Read More

More about An Egoist Identity Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document