So I started reading this at the beginning of the summer whenever I had time and am about halfway done with it.... Its really easy to see Ayn Rands side of why objectivism is a philosophy, but she obviously isnt going to put any sort of legitimate opposing view in her book. That being said, is there anyone that has read the book and has a sound argument against her ideals? or can tell me what is wrong with the principles that she puts in her writings?
The problem is she creates a gigantic strawman argument set in a ridiculous fantasy land. The storyline is somewhat entertaining, though.
You probably describe Animal Farm the same way.
Ignoring the new straw man fallacy introduced to the thread ...
Would you accept that Rand treats premises as universally valid while only proving them as usually valid. Asserting something is tautological because it usually works fails simple logic.
To answer you reidrolled, the idea that innovators are exploited by society (government) essentially takes a perverse look at how our world actually works. In reality, it's far more common for private innovators to be exploited by other private entities. Sometimes those private entities even enlist the government in exploiting those innovators.
Also, by extolling the sins of government, Rand fails to comprehend two things:
1. Not all innovators are driven by profit. (There are countless examples of people that invent/improve things with no end goal of making a profit)
2. Innovators that do seek a profit often rely on the government to protect their investments in inventions/improvements. This is also how private entities (innovators) use the government to stifle/prevent competition. Disney is a prime example of this in regards to copyright and trademark law.