International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-4, Issue-6, Jun-2018 http://iraj.in COMPARISONS ON THE MAN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

1AMRUTA SHARMA, 2ASHUTOSH DUBEY

1Asst. Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Bada Bangadda, Super Corridor, Near Airport, Indore 453112. 2Professor and HOD, Department of English, Mata Jija Bai Govt. Girls’ P.G. College, Opposite to Collector Office, Near Lal Bagh Palace, Indore. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Abstract - The paper presents a comparative study of the concept of an ideal man as in different philosophies with special reference to the concept of ideal man by Russian-American philosopher Ayn Rand as portrayed in her novels. The paper aims to find the common thread, if any, that exists in all the definitions. This work considers the philosophical premises established by different thinkers in the world, presents an in-depth analysis and Rand’s ideal man and then compares and contrasts its implications with other premises.

Keywords - Ayn Rand, Philosophy, Man, Ideal.

I. INTRODUCTION choose. Man is endowed with a brain which helps him to decide beyond stimuli, talk beyond time, and Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist and think ahead of immediate circumstances, which other philosopher who established her philosophy of animals cannot do. through her novels. Her novels portray Man though is an organic animal made of flesh and stories of individualists asserting themselves in the blood with basic instincts and sensory perceptions of collective ideals present in the society. She believed pain and pleasure still he is far beyond the reach of in portraying man as he ought to be rather than man any other on this planet. The individualistic view of as he is. She had no interest and was actually against man where he can assert his individual discretion the fundamentals of Naturalism and Realism. Like makes him the master of his own destiny. In addition her ideal Aristotle, she considered fiction of higher to this, the moral and religious nature of man helps philosophical significance than history because, him to achieve that which is beyond him, a union “history represents things as they are, while fiction with the mystical. represents them as they might be and ought to be” So being a complex creature that he is, Philosophers ( 71). She insisted on the have hitherto explained man differently in different purpose of art, which she considered was to show not times and ages. The ancient era of philosophy to instruct. And she said, that it is only through art considered human beings as an infinitely small that men can ever visualize their highest potentials. element of the vast universe and were more inclined Writing on her beliefs and her philosophy, all of toward the powers of the universe. But since Socrates Rand’s novels portray the ideal man. Man as he the view and importance of man has changed should be and can be. She implanted the image of her manifolds. ideal man mostly by showing how mostly men Socrates was the first philosopher to have had a keen actually are. She asserted through negation. And that interest in human life and its intricacies. He sought at was the strength of her characterization. length discussions with people around him talking However, the way Rand has portrayed her ideal man about their likes, dislikes, and many other things and is by drawing up the image of a man who has then also probing an enquiry into why they thought perfectly exemplified her philosophy. But Rand’s what they thought. But Socrates never intended to philosophy in itself was very controversial and so influence the thinking of others rather wanted people Rand’s ideal man’s image. Moreover, her image of to find out their own truths. the ideal man also could not meet most of the However, we don’t have any written treatise from philosophies existing in the world. So, after defining Socrates and it was only through his disciple Plato Rand’s ideal man and ideal men of other that we came to know about the Socratic philosophies, a comparison on the same has been phenomenon. Socrates did not undermine the undertaken to meet the closest semblance in the same. importance of man but recognized and avouched his supremacy over all other animals. He considered II. MANUSCRIPT social life and justice to be indispensable to human growth and also separated the material and Human beings are by far the most developed animals intellectual existence of man as the soul and the body. on earth and what sets them apart from all the other He considered the soul to be the guidepost of a man animals is their capacity to exercise their volition and and thereof laid a lot of stress on nurturing it as well.

Comparisons on the Ideal Man with Special Reference to Ayn Rand

79 International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-4, Issue-6, Jun-2018 http://iraj.in He argued that the knowledge of one’s own thought, Rand also asserted Objectivism to be based on reality reasoning and nature would help man to understand, as it is with the reasoning capacity of an individual as control and influence his own behaviour. In a sense a tool to realize and perceive this reality. Man must then knowledge can take man to those heights which live by the sole reasoning and judgment of his mind, he himself doesn’t believe and know of. and his actions should also be only guided by his Furthermore, Aristotle added to the Greek thought reason and nothing else. and stressed on human being’s capacity to speak and Rand also made it clear that to serve others is not a meditate. But his most startling declaration was about negative quality but if that’s assumed to be a the limitation of human knowledge and its validity. compulsion on mankind then it is not correct. However, he stressed that the nature of education Moreover, she asserted that such a relationship can should be such that it helps to imbibe virtues. only be possible in long term when any man agrees Aristotle’s method was more practical and liberal as with the other person’s values and philosophy. well and he never denied to quench the desires of the Thus her ideal man is not afraid to show his real self material self, but he always warned not to forget the to others, he is productive and contributes for the need for an absolute supremacy of reason in a man’s betterment of society in some way or the other and life and actions. never places anybody over and above his own It is there that Ayn Rand grabbed the essence of individual and creative pursuits. Thereof comes the Aristotelian Ethics and set forth a new philosophy of role of rational self-interest and rational-selfishness her own, more suitable and apt to the age in which into Rand’s philosophy. She declared virtue and not Rand was living. In addition to this when Rand feelings and emotions as the deciding factor in all defined her ideal man and the philosophy associated kinds of relationships including romantic love. with him, she started right off from the need for a Further, if we take a look at the Jewish concept of conscious philosophy and went to deliver a lengthy man, it is quite the contrary of what Rand proposed. thesis defining the same. In this process she also According to the Jewish beliefs a man is always in sufficed reasons for not adhering to the current search of something greater than himself, a philosophies and the faults with them in general. justification of his existence, a meaning for his being. Rand was in serious opposition of the view of man And so, man never exists as an end but always which tells that man is born with a sin, to suffer and questions his very existence – the question being – repent. She hated the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Will he also like other animals just take birth and die? she considered that an ideal man is to be applauded Is that it? Or is there something greater in life? This not crucified. quest of his own leads man to view his life as a need She turned down both mysticism and socialism as of God. Man exists for fulfilling God’s purpose on both these philosophies told men to do everything for earth and thus he is neither useless nor unneeded. either the supreme power which is unknown and The Chinese philosophy however, sees man as the unseen or the society which is nothing but a gang of center of all affairs and unlike other schools of powerful people. thought, wherein the existence of man is to suffer and She argued that the Nietzschean egoists, representing repent for his own sins quite unknown to him, the absolute free will, came into being only to represent Chinese school considers the nature of man and life the other side of the altruist coin which induced a as basically good. subconscious enmity in humans against morality as it The dominant thought in Chinese considered man to tells man that he can either be happy or moral but not be righteous because he had conscience, he could both. decide between right and wrong and is aware of his But Rand considered the worst part of all this as the own choices, dislikes and likes. The Buddhist thought quandary of human beings wherein they choose any in China also transformed the concept of Nirvana which of these philosophies as and when it suits which till then was considered to be something them. They just don’t stick to a code of ethics and perceived in a distant and unknown world to therefore are even not concretely aware of their own something which could be achieved in this very body conscious philosophy. and this humanly existence itself. The Chinese Therefore Rand defined the philosophy of considered every man to be endowed with the four Objectivism keeping in mind man as he should be fundamental qualities. “Men have these four and not man as he actually is. She detailed an ideal beginnings just as they have their four limbs…..These man to be a man existing for himself not for others. four, love, righteousness, propriety and wisdom She refuted the very idea of men as their brothers’ …..are not drilled into us from outside. We are keepers. Her ideal man does not sacrifice for others originally provided with them” (Radhakrishnan and nor expects any sacrifice from anyone. His Raju 168). philosophical premise is that of rational self-interest However later on Chinese thought also mentioned the and the highest virtue for him is the pursuit of his importance of nurture in developing these traits and very own happiness which he derives from adhering also laid quite a stress on imbibing strict discipline in to his own conscious philosophy and principles in man’s physical nature. An ideal man in the Chinese life. philosophy then is a man endowed with the perfect

Comparisons on the Ideal Man with Special Reference to Ayn Rand

80 International Journal of Management and Applied Science, ISSN: 2394-7926 Volume-4, Issue-6, Jun-2018 http://iraj.in virtue, a man of Jen, who is kind and compassionate Similarly, Rand declined the altruist and socialist towards all beings. He is an earthly sage who resides philosophies because they lead to self-sacrifice, a in the world but whose mind dwells in the tranquil. renunciation of one’s own happiness. She also turned In addition to the Chinese, the Hindu Philosophy’s down the Nietzschean egoists who let desires and ideal man is the man in search of Puruṣārtha which whims rule their actions, and let the aim of comprises of dharma which can be achieved through gratification decidethe course of their life.Rand righteousness; artha which helps to gain economic propounded her philosophy of objectivism that asked well-being; kāma through which sensory pleasures man to rely of his very own mind, his rationale and can be experienced; and moksha that is liberation act according to it not his emotions or feelings. through spiritual pursuits. However, in a nutshell there may be certain However out of these four Puruṣārthas, dharma is similarities and some disparities in all the considered to be the most important because it is the philosophies regarding their ideal man, still we can only quality that sets him apart from other animals - infer that an ideal man in general is a detached seeker as is mentioned in the SubhashitSangrah of the of self and of knowledge, guided by his rationale, Upanishads, practicing virtue, and a worldly sage with peace as his “āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca internalized capacity and quality. sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām dharmo hi teṣām adhiko viśeṣo REFERENCES dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ” The Hindu philosophy considers the soul to be the [1] Götz, Ignacio L. Conceptions of Happiness. Lanham, MD: U ultimate director of the course of human life. It of America, 2010. Print. [2] Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, and H. L. Mencken. 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