Ayn Rand: The Unyielding Champion of Objectivism and Individualism

C. L. Nichols, Author
StoryAngles
Published in
4 min readApr 6, 2024

--

Ayn Rand’s work continues to challenge and inspire those who seek to understand the complexities of human existence and the pursuit of happiness.

Ayn Rand, born Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum in 1905, was a Russian-American philosopher and writer who played a pivotal role in shaping the intellectual landscape of the 20th century.

She is best known for her novels “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead,” as well as her non-fiction works like “The Virtue of Selfishness.”

Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism, is a comprehensive system of thought that emphasizes reason, individualism, and rational self-interest as the cornerstones of human existence and happiness.

This article examines the life and ideas of Ayn Rand, exploring her impact on Western philosophy and her contributions to the understanding of individualism and the pursuit of happiness.

Early Life and Influences

Ayn Rand was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, to a middle-class Jewish family. Her father was a successful pharmacist, and her mother was a homemaker.

The tumultuous political climate of early 20th century Russia deeply influenced Rand’s worldview. The Russian Revolution of 1917, which saw the rise of communism, had a profound…

--

--