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“Ayn Rand isn’t worth your time,” muttered my professor.
I gasped. Actually, I let out a borderline scream in the middle of class. Then I covered my mouth with both hands to prevent any other ridiculous noises from escaping. But I was hyperventilating and my nose wasn’t taking in enough air, so I took my hands away from my mouth, allowing “you have to be kidding me” to fly out before I even took a breath.
Responding to the slight outburst, my professor began a very brief explaination of his outlandish remark. Luckily my friend covered my ears with her hands so I didn’t have endure more of his upsetting banter. But I watched his mouth moving and pretended he was saying, “I am obviously kidding. That was an awful, distasteful joke. I take it back and you automatically get an A in my class.”
I doubt he actually said that, so here’s to you, Prince of Darkness (that is his actual nickname. Don’t laugh — they call him that for a reason). Ayn Rand is worth my time.
My Great Books teacher’s words assaulted the hours I’ve spent absorbing Rand’s ideas through her books and essays. But I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt, assume I heard him wrong and use my bad hearing as an opportunity to address the importance of studying diverse thinkers. It is also a good excuse to bring up objectivism.
First of all, I don’t have to begin describing any of Rand’s ideas to say that studying them is worth my time. The importance of having an understanding of various philosophies warrants time spent studying them. To live a good and happy life, people have to have what Rand describes as a “sense of life.”
This sense reflects how individuals relate to people and the world around them. It provides the means to answer moral questions that affect their lives. There are many philosophies that people can use to help shape their thoughts and senses of life. Although I am still developing mine, I’ve chosen objectivism as a guide.
Warning: Objectivism is not for the average Pepperdine dweller. Here are five seconds to put the Graphic down and remain in the Pepperdine bubble where Rand is “not worth your time.” Five, four, three, two, one.
“My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” Rand prefaces most of her works with this quote, summarizing her core beliefs.
This assertion contradicts the Christian idea of God’s supremacy and religious service as the ultimate purpose in life. But this doesn’t mean that objectivism has no place at a Church of Christ university. Although she rejects spirituality, Rand advocates happiness, reason and productivity as substance for a moral existence. When people are studying philosophy to shape their beliefs, they don’t have to agree with every idea the philosopher suggests. People can be religious and still use some objectivist ideals in their thinking.
Pepperdine is an ideal setting for anyone who is exploring different ways of thinking. Students need to read, talk, disagree, react and then decide which ideas they want include in their unique “life sense.”
After reading Kant for Great Books, we discussed his ideas in class. Talking about philosophy, led to my professor’s rude comment. I disagreed, reacted (with a gasp and this column) and decided to remain an Ayn Rand enthusiast.
The incident from class is an example of using everyday experiences to reflect, think and build on my philosophical perspective. Also, you’re wrong “Prince of Darkness.”
Submitted 11-03-2005
MALIBU, CA
