OPPapers.com Essay Index >> Philosophy >> Trials Of Howard Roarke
We have many free term papers and essays on Trials Of Howard Roarke. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Trials of Howard Roarke THE TRIALS OF HOWARD ROARK I. INTRODUCTION There are some literary beginnings so well-known as immediately to call to mind the books in which
Submitted by biddaddaydomk on April 23, 2005
Category: Philosophy
Words: 7605 | Pages: 31
Views: 314
Popularity Rank: 43,150
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
THE TRIALS OF HOWARD ROARK
I. INTRODUCTION
There are some literary beginnings so well-known as immediately to call to mind the books in which they appear: "Call me Ishmael";1 "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times";2 and, increasingly, "Howard Roark laughed."3 So begins the novel, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Published in 1943, The Fountainhead continues to sell 100,000 copies a year.4 For millions it provides the introduction to a philosophical/social movement known as "Objectivism." It has been suggested that Objectivism provided intellectual grounding for the decline of left-liberalism and the expanding influence of a libertarian shift in American culture.5
Yet despite its influence, the book has engendered scant academic attention6 and virtually no attention in the legal academy. In The Fountainhead, as in all of Rand's mature fictional works, the lawmore specifically, one or more trial scenesfigures prominently. Indeed, in all of them trials are essential elements of the plot development.7 Although Rand's work is hardly unique in its use of the trial for dramatic purposes,8 it is distinctive in its use of the trial as illustrative of moral or philosophical principles.9 One would expect, therefore, that
[431]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
at least in the philosophical literature of Objectivism, one would find discussion about the role and meaning of law; but one would be disappointed. Apart from occasional bromides about the importance of objective law, there is precious little, even in Objectivist literature, about law.
Leonard Peikoff, Rand's intellectual heir, has written what is perhaps the most systematic exegesis of Rand's philosophy.10 The index to his book has no independent listing for "law"; it lists law only as a subhead of government, under the rubric "as requiring...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!