By CMG Student Ambassador Izzy Reyes
What is philosophy, and how does it affect us? Our government and morals are two key forces that help define every community we encounter.
First, let’s take a look at a philosophy that is not as commonly discussed: Objectivism. ScienceDirect describes Objectivism as advocating “a system of pure, unregulated capitalism grounded in strict individual and property rights.”
Simply put, Objectivism emphasizes rational self-interest, meaning that individuals should make moral decisions based on reason and their own well-being rather than sacrificing themselves for others. At face value, this may seem ideal. Why not have a society where every person is responsible for themselves and free to pursue their own ideas?
The problem is that a society based entirely on Objectivist principles would be radically different from the governments we live under today. Objectivism rejects many forms of government intervention, including taxation and government programs that redistribute wealth, such as welfare and Social Security.
Rand also criticized existing capitalist democracies because she viewed them as “mixed economies,” in which capitalism was compromised by government intervention and altruistic principles. Therefore, Objectivism does not simply support the capitalist democracies that exist today. It calls for a much more limited role for government, centered primarily on protecting individual rights.
So, why does Objectivism matter? If no country has fully adopted it, why should we care about it?
The answer is that a philosophy does not need to be completely implemented to influence society. Ideas can shape political movements, economic policies, and the beliefs of individuals, even when those ideas are never adopted in their entirety.
Prominent figures such as former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan, who was part of Rand’s intellectual circle in the 1950s, were influenced by her writings and her defense of free markets.
Objectivism therefore matters not because it has become the governing philosophy of a nation, but because elements of its ideas have entered broader debates about capitalism, individual rights, government intervention, and personal responsibility.
By CMG Student Ambassador Izzy Reyes
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