2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

Ayn Rand’s Objectivism and John Rawls’ Theory of Justice

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Norway and Australia. Norway is representative of Rawls’ social justice theory. By

distinct contrast, the United States has many of the attributes espoused by Rand.

Meanwhile, Australia embodies the middle ground between Rand and Rawls. Within

these case studies I use the indicators for inequality, healthcare and access to university

as a measure of societal wellbeing

I conclude that theoretically there are flaws in Rand’s objectivism and Rawls’ theory

on social justice. In practice, however, I find that the ‘middle ground’ of Rawls presents

the best opportunity for prosperity, equality and harmony for most societies.

Ayn Rand’s Objectivism

Rand argues for a philosophical system that places moral righteousness on the

selfishness of human beings. Rand coined this ideology, Objectivism. Objectivism is

founded based on secularism and is absolutist in nature. It finds its roots in laissez faire

style capitalism and promotes only minor intervention by governments. Ayn Rand uses

her fiction books and essay to convey her theory of Objectivism.

Rand’s clearest and logically sound argument is found in her magnus opus , Atlas

Shrugged. 3 In this novel, Rand expresses her disapproval for altruism and states that

instead rational selfishness is a virtue. Rand states that reality forms the basis of

Objectivism 4 and inductively reasons that reality exists and is not influenced by our

3 Rand, A., 1957. Atlas Shrugged. 1st Edition ed. New York City: Random House. 4 Ibid.

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