The Fountainhead

I read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand because two good friends recommended the book to me. I can’t say I agree with the philosophy presented (in a rather round-about way). I do see that some of the points (sticking to your convictions) can be good, but I think the underlying basis (where do these convictions come from?) is not sound.

Here are some of my notes:

My main criticism is that the ‘good/main’ characters seem to know their convictions innately, with little room for the environment or uncertainty. Are principles always better than guidelines? The contrast between deontology and consequentialism troubles me here: torture may be wrong as a rule, yet a difficult case can force a choice. I also question the book’s devotion to struggle as a source of fulfilment. Why must principles and struggle dominate the goal of life, rather than happy days? Rand seems to write so much in terms of winning and losing that I wonder whether she sees life as a zero-sum game.

The tensions I noticed are certainty against uncertainty, principles against having no spine, and deontology against consequentialism. There is also the love of struggle and a recurring contrast between obedience and dominance in the book: who has power over whom, and can you really be your own boss? Rand contrasts creators with parasites, though I think everything is a remix. I also noted her idea of the unsacrificed self.

Musings before reading any other critique – I think the main goal was (/should be) that you live life on your own terms. You’re not being led by others and make your own way in life. And that Rand tries to say that sticking to your principles may hurt in the short-term but lets you be the ‘right’ person in the long-term. I don’t understand the whole struggle and why everything needs to be so difficult. Why not enjoy along the way, whilst still sticking to principles. But is there then room for improvement or forgiveness, change of mind and adaptation?

In my opinion, life could be seen as two phases that move in and out. One is rigid and planning and sticking to it. The other is more loose and seeing what life brings you. The second is what many people are being lived by (without themselves being ‘in control’) and the first is what you might want to aspire to. But that is also too rigid and maybe less enjoyable.