Sunday, October 19, 2008

Altas is Shrugging


Buckle your seat-belts: The world of "Atlas Shrugged" is here.

I've excerpted a brief description of the book's plot for those who haven't read it. Following is a link to an article of a sad reality which, depending on this election, may become all too common.

..."Atlas Shrugged" Plot:

The theme of Atlas Shrugged is the role of the mind in man's life and, consequently, presentation of a new morality- the morality of rational self-interest.[4]

The main conflicts of the book surround the decision of the "men of the mind" to go on strike, refusing to contribute their inventions, art, business leadership, scientific research, or new ideas of any kind to the rest of the world. Society, they believe, hampers them by interfering with their work and underpays them by confiscating the profits and dignity they have rightfully earned. The peaceful cohesiveness of the world disintegrates, lacking those individuals whose productive work comes from mental effort. The strikers believe that they are crucial to a society that exploits them, denying them freedom or failing to acknowledge their right to self-interest, and the gradual collapse of civilization is triggered by their strike.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companies_in_Atlas_Shrugged

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1 comment:

Melissa said...

I've been meaning to read Atlas for a while now, especially of late, because I see it referenced more and more with the coming (ugh, dare I say it?) change. I think that I may try to pick it up over X-mas break, but I'm afraid that I won't have time to finish before school starts back.