Working Class Heroes
Question: I notice that Objectivism defends a lot of the big corporations. I have no problem with that, but I am having a hard time relating to those types of scenarios. Any stories of working-class American capitalist heroes? Answer: Objectivism does not regard heroism or morality as issues of wealth, "class," or level of achievement. What is important is acting in accordance with one's values, and productive achievement to the extent of one's ability.
As far as fictional heroes, Romantic fiction by its nature has to deal with larger-than-life issues, and so fictional heroes are more likely to have achievements on a grand scale (see Rand's Romantic Manifesto for more details). But if you feel that you can relate better to a hero who is not wealthy, you will still get that from the quintessential Objectivist hero, Howard Roark in The Fountainhead.
Mar 11, 2010
|
3 min