Posted by Anonymous on January 29, 19104 at 13:18:47:

In Reply to: Re: Howard Rourke posted by Jenna on December 21, 19101 at 08:41:16:

I think a few points are being missed...

Ayn Rand never said to be an different or alone for that sake alone. Roarke wasn't being different for the sake of being different. He reasoned that his method of building was superior for objective reasons, not simply because he believed so. He didn't say 'It's better because I believe so.' He said 'It believe it because reason and reality say so.' He rejected the idea of building a house a certain way just to conform to everyone else, nor did he build a house different just to be different. His houses were built for the specific purpose of being good houses, not popular houses.

One of the main points of the book is to show the difference between counterfeit individualism and true individualism.

The life Roarke lived was not that of a lone wolf, it was of a man who lived his own life for his own reasons rather then conforming to society. That is not as hard to live upto as one might think.

While it is true that weak people do long for groups to think for them, which is tribalism if I remember correctly. Objectivism is not a place in which such a person will survive for long.

It's not 'every man for himself', it's 'every man for himself first'.

And judging for your critque it is easy to see you did not read the book, or at the very least understand it. Roarke never came out on top, the victory of Roarke is not of money, or of fame, or of acceptance, but the victory of freedom.

As for convertion you to this 'cult', no thanks. Ayn Rand herself said that first and foremost one shouldn't go into a debate with the goal of winning the acceptance of the other party. You, like the people you find weak, probably have a very vague understanding of her philosophy.

This post is most likely from 2+ years ago, but oh well... at least someone who finds it, as I did, will not take your critique as truth by default.

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