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Few 20th century intellectuals have been as influential--and controversial--as the novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand. Her thinking still has a profound impact, particularly on those who come to it through her novels, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead--with their core messages of individualism, self-worth, and the right to live without the impositions of others. Although ignored or scorned by some academics, traditionalists, pro- gressives, and public intellectuals, her thought remains a major influence on many of the world's leading legislators, policy advisers, economists, entrepreneurs, and investors. Why does Rand's work remain so influential? Ayn Rand: An Introduction illuminates Rand's importance, detailing her understanding of reality and human nature, and explores the ongoing fascination with and debates about her conclusions on knowledge, morality, politics, economics, government, public issues, aesthetics and literature. The book also places these in the context of her life and times, showing how revolutionary they were, and how they have influenced and continue to impact public policy debates.

Most political debate is superficial. Just turn on cable news. Philosophy is for people who want to understand the deep questions. The goal of political philosophy is to determine the standards by which we judge different institutions good or bad, just or unjust. Some people might think they don't have much need of political philosophy: "e;Who cares about wishy-washy obtuse notions of justice? I'm a pragmatist. I just want to know what works."e; But this isn't a way of avoiding political philosophy; it's a way of being dogmatic about it. Before we can just do "e;what works,"e; we have to know what counts as working. This book serves as an introduction to some of the major theories of justice, to the arguments philosophers have made for and against these theories, and, ultimately, to how to be more thoughtful and rigorous in your own thinking.