ATLAS FLUBBED

A Brief Critique of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged

by Ken V. Krawchuk

PART FOUR — ERRORS OF PHILOSOPHY

1. Anarchy rules!

Context: (747.11) We have no rules of any kind", said Galt, "except one. When a man took our oath, it meant a single commitment: not to work in his own profession, not to give to the world the benefit of his mind.

(709.27) Our first rule here, Miss Taggart", [Galt] answered, "is that one must always see for oneself."

(714.13) "Miss Taggart,", [Galt] said, we have no laws in this valley, no rules, no formal organization of any kind. But we have certain customs which we all observe..."

(714..16) [Galt speaking] "I'll warn you now that there is one word that is forbidden in this valley: the word, 'give'."

Discussion: Given the wide range of opinion from a single individual regarding the rules, perhaps one should check their premises. At the very least, the set of rules, or lack thereof, should be cited more consistently.
Alternative: The suggested alternative to this and other errors of philosophy are too voluminous for this otherwise-brief treatise.

2. What's good for the goose...

Context: (995.13) But a different breed of teachers had once existed, [Rearden] thought, and had reared the men who created this country; he thought that mothers should set out on their knees to look for men like Hugh Akston, to find them and beg them to return.

(1113.36) [Chick Morrison] pointed to a pile of papers he had spread on a table [in front of Galt]. "Here's a plea signed by ten thousand schoolchildren, begging for you to join us and save them. Here's a plea from the home for the crippled. Here's a petition sent by the ministers of two hundred different faiths. Here's an appeal from the mothers of the country." Galt remained motionless, not extending his hand for the papers.

Discussion: Obviously it's not the begging that's important, but rather the reason for begging. Yet no standard for choosing one over the other is explicitly mentioned.

Alternative: The suggested alternative to this and other errors of philosophy are too voluminous for this otherwise-brief treatise.

3. You always hurt the one you love...

Context:(615.28) [Francisco speaking] "Dagny, if you think that I don't know how much I've hurt you..."

(618.10) He seized her hand, he pressed his mouth to it, then his face, not to let her see the reflection of what the years had been like. "If it's any kind of atonement, which it isn't... whatever I made you suffer, that's how I paid for it... by knowing what I was doing to you and having to do it..."

(517.14) [Dagny speaking] "Is that what you always do to those who... mean a great deal to you?"

Discussion: What sort of person deliberately hurts the woman he professes to love, then has the nerve to cite his own subsequent suffering as atonement for having hurt her -- which he then claims it isn't? What, then, is the atonement? He may just as well punch her in the face, then atone for the act by claiming his knuckles hurt -- which he can then assert that it doesn't. So metaphorically speaking, Dagny is left with a black eye and Francisco sore knuckles, both as collateral damage of Francisco's spiteful destruction of D'Anconia Copper.

Alternative: (618.10) He seized her hand, he pressed his mouth to it, then his face, not to let her see the reflection of what the years had been like. "Dagny, I can't expect you to ever forgive me for having been so deliberately cruel." He stood slowly. "I guess I'll be on my way now. You deserve better than the likes of me!"

Omit 618.15 through 620.40.

4. The Pot and the Kettle...

Context:(286.39) [Rearden and Dagny] reached the factory of the Twentieth Century Motor Company... A rusted padlock hung on the door of the main entrance...

(293.9) [The clerk] wondered why the blond, hard-faced man, who sat with the woman in front of his desk, looked grimly out the window at their car, at a large object wrapped in canvas, roped tightly under the raised cover of the car's luggage compartment.

(293.17) [The clerk speaking] "There's been a lot of looting going on. All of the mixed owners grabbed what furniture or other things they could haul out of [the factory], even if the sheriff did put a padlock on the door."

Discussion: What sort of person removes other people's property from a padlocked factory and hides it in their trunk? The clerk called it accurately: Looters!

Alternative: (293.9) [The clerk] wondered why the blond, hard-faced man, who sat with the woman in front of his desk, looked grimly out the window, as if he were visualizing some distant sacrilege.

Omit 298.19-21, 27-31.

Replace 358.2-16 with She looked at him, astonished. "Why, no. It's in Wisconsin."

Replace dead tunnels at 359.35 with platform area, and platform with tunnels.

Omit the sentence starting at 955.39.

Atlas Flubbed

Introduction
Part 1: Errors of Grammar
Part 2: Errors of Calculation
Part 3: Errors of Logic
> Part 4: Errors of Philosophy
Appendix: Finding quotes in other editions

Atlas Flubbed in PDF pamphlet format


ATLAS  SNUBBED
An Unsanctioned
Pastiche Parody


Where no one is asking,
"Who is John Galt?"

Because now...
They know.