Philosophy: Who Needs It
by Ayn Rand 
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According to Ayn Rand, the choice we make is not whether to have a philosophy but which one to have: rational, conscious, and therefore practical; or contradictory, unidentified, and ultimately lethal. Written with all the clarity and eloquence that have placed Ayn Rand's objectivist philosophy in the mainstream of American thought, these essays range over such basic issues as education, morality, censorship, and inflation to prove that philosophy is the fundamental force in all our lives.Tags
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Uma série de palestras sobre a filosofia dessa famosa autora americana. O Objetivismo como ela chama seu pensamento filosófico e que foi e está sendo usado como base filosófica do modelo capitalista. O livro tem altos e baixos e algumas vezes é um pouco repetitivo como não poderia deixar de ser quando se reúnem artigos publicados em diversas épocas e em diversos meios. As críticas tanto à direita conservadora quanto à esquerda radical são o ponto alto mostrando como elas se encontram como lados de uma mesma moeda. O livro é um libelo por vezes iluminista por vezes utilitarista do modelo democrático e do estado de direito. Estou lendo outro livro dela agora que está me parecendo mais estruturado. Não se consegue concordar show more com tudo que Ms Rand fala mas suas críticas são tão contundentes que merecem ser ouvidas. Seu estilo trafega entre Roberto Campos, Merquior e Nelson Rodrigues, só quem lê-la vai entender o que eu digo. show less
This collection offers some her finest arguments and explanations her views on trade, law, and, of course, philosophy. Perhaps it's best as a capstone to some of her other work, but I am tempted still to recommend it as a primer into her views.
A wonderful selection of essays discussing the value of philosophy to everyone. The title of the essay encapsulates the reasons why, whether they are aware of it or not, everyone depends on their life philosophy.
Absolute garbage. You can't really consider Ayn Rand to be a philosopher.
Too prescriptive in tone.
Too prescriptive in tone.
Enjoyed immensely.
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179+ Works 76,402 Members
Ayn Rand, 1905 - 1982 Novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand was born Alice Rosenbaum on February 2, 1905 in St. Petersburg, Russia. She graduated with highest honors in history from the University of Petrograd in 1924, and she came to the United States in 1926 with dreams of becoming a screenwriter. In 1929, she married actor Charles "Frank" O'Connor. show more After arriving in Hollywood, Rand was spotted by Cecil B. DeMille standing at the gate of his studio and gave her a job as an extra in King of Kings. She also worked as a script reader and a wardrobe girl and, in 1932, she sold Red Pawn to Universal Studios. In the 1950's, she returned to New York City where she hosted a Saturday night group she called "the collective." It was also during this time that Rand received a fan letter from a young man, Nathaniel Branden. She was impressed with his letter, and she wrote him back. Her correspondence with him eventually led to an affair that lasted over a decade. He became her chief spokesperson and codified the principles of her novels into a strict philosophical system (objectivism) and founded an institute bearing his name. Their affair ended in 1968 when Branden got involved with another one of Rand's disciples. According to Rand, people are inherently selfish and act only out of personal interest making a selfish act, a rational one. It is from this belief that her characters play out their lives. Rand's first novel was "We the Living" (1936) and was followed by "Anthem" (1938), "The Fountainhead" (1943), and "Atlas Shrugged" (1957). All four of her novels made the top ten of the controversial list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century. On March 6, 1982, Ayn Rand died in her New York City apartment. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Ayn Rand has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Philosophy: Who Needs It
- Original title
- Philosophy: Who Needs It
- Original publication date
- 1982; 1989
- First words
- Since I am a fiction writer, let us start with a short short story.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)But isn't that a magnificent goal to fight for?
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)So, in my own name and in the name of many people who think as I do, I want to say, to all the men of West Point, past, present and future: Thank you. - Blurbers
- Greenspan, Alan
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- Reviews
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- (3.63)
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- 6 — Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, Turkish
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- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 27
- ASINs
- 11