Atlas Shrugged:

1. Atlas Shrugged: Ayn Rand and Modern Economic Systems Presented by Jeannine Rich

2. Ayn Rand • She was born in St.Petersburg Russia on February 2, 1905. She taught herself how to read at age 6 and graduated college in 1924. She witnessed the University’s communist takeover and left for the U.S. in 1926.

3. Ayn and Frank • After witnessing the hostility of communism she arrived in Chicago and soon moved to L.A. to become a screenwriter. She met her future husband Frank O’Connor. Their home, also pictured, exemplifies the simplistic architecture she championed in The Fountainhead. She used Atlas Shrugged as a voice for the philosophy she developed: Objectivism.

4. Objectivism • Reality exists as an objective absolute—facts are facts, independent of man's feelings. • Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. • The ideal political-economic system is laissez-faire capitalism. It is a system where men deal with one another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as traders, by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit.

5. Read Chapter 1 • Discuss: “Who is John Galt?” • Jim Taggart vs. Dagny Taggart • Altruism: “unselfish concern or devotion for others.”

6. Read Chapter 3 • How does this meeting oppose objectivism? • What is Outsourcing? • Assignment: Read an article about present –day outsourcing. Write a one page summary of the issue presented in the article.

7. Read Chapter 6 • Watch Donahue interview with Ayn Rand • Discuss altruism and current public systems • The bracelet- What is the significance of Dagny’s gesture?

8. Foils • What is a foil? • What characters are an example of a foil? • Dagny and Lillian • Rearden duality as egoist and family participant Think of some other foils…

9. The Entrepreneur • A person who has possession over a new enterprise or venture and assumes accountability for the inherent risks and outcome. • Examples: Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden, Francisco D’Anconia

10. Research Paper • Now that you know about entrepreneurs… • Pick a product or element of interest… Car, airplane, hotel franchise, publishing company, computers Research the entrepreneurs behind these companies/products • Write a paper describing why you chose this product who the entrepreneur is the company function and marketing quips

11. Project • Either alone or in groups of no more than 3 • Design an advertisement (commercial or print) for your imaginary enterprise

12. Read Part 2 Chapter 2 • Socialism vs. Capitalism Which would Rand prefer? (obvious) • What or who do you think is the destroyer? • What is the significance of Jim’s marriage?

13. Communism • Read any article about present day communism • Write a one page description of the situation described in the article • Read one article about any socialized healthcare system Discuss in class • Is entrepreneurship an asset to an economy?

14. The Story of Atlas According to Greek mythology, Atlas waged war with Zeus and the other Olympian gods. Atlas and the Titans lost the war and Zeus punished Atlas by making him hold the Heavens upon his shoulders. What exactly would happen if he shrugged?

15. Read Part 2 Chapter 3 • Discuss how the story of Atlas relates to the novel • Who represents Atlas in the novel? • Has “Atlas” already shrugged? • Each student will read another chapter of the novel, summarize and list 20 key quotes