2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

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

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market economy model provides legislators and politicians with the ability to create

equality and provide individual liberties. Something that has been magnified in

Objectivism and laissez-faire capitalism. 12

My criticism of Ayn Rand can be represented in my own student dilemma thought

experiment on Objectivism, which is inspired by the prisoner’s dilemma. Imagine, you

are going to be assessed in your final exams. There are ten people in your class. The top

five students from your class will be guaranteed to be satisfied and reach their full

potential. However, if you place anything lower then fifth you are destined for an

unbearably painful life. You are currently positioned fourth. However, your best friend

is currently in sixth place. The friend is struggling with the basic content. You can

choose to tutor him and possibly bring him up to fifth place, however then you become

in danger of missing out on the top five yourself as you must revise the advanced

content. Do you jeopardise you reaching your maximum potential, or do you help your

best friend out but risk an unbearably painful life?

The student’s dilemma promotes debate on self-interest versus altruism. If you act in

self-interest you guarantee yourself a happy existence which forms the basis of Ethical

Egoism. Suggesting that you must always act in self-interest and do your best to succeed

to be morally righteous. Therefore, it is evident that Objectivism, despite being

previously relevant, no longer satisfies the modern social contract as it places no

importance on social rights.

12 Revolutionary Misfit, 2016. On Ayn Rand and Neoliberalism. [Online]

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