A name. A mystery. An idea.
John Galt is the driving force behind the intricate plot line of Ayn Rand's masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged: a monolithic novel I've tackled in recent months. 2 reasons I've chosen to write about this... One: This book is timely; an allegorical and seemingly prophetic literature on the modern world, it's economic crisis, and the engines steering today's civilization. Two: the book is perhaps the most impressive and well-thought out insight I've read into 'worldly wisdom' and concerning this insight, I find it mildly revolting yet simultaneously inspiring. (And also a 3rd: I spent a month reading the 1450 page volume, so it seemed fitting to organize my thoughts on the novel.)
Atlas, in Greek mythology, was the primordial Titan, who upon the order and punishment of Zeus was given the duty to hold up the heavens for eternity. In the book, this metaphor is given to the industrialists, inventors, and major world players, who through their brilliant ideas or world-changing companies/products, control the outcome of world events and economy.
The rest of the world falls into 2 categories: 'looters' and 'moochers'. Looters are those that take by force whether by taxation, profit restriction, or piracy. Moochers are those that survive off the looters laws (the low class or poor that only survive from government benefits like Medicare, unemployment benefits, tax breaks, or government provided jobs), those that are given unmerited wealth (i.e. a college student without a job fully supported by inherited funds), or thieves of idea/product that make a competing but unoriginal/cheaper product (i.e. all the companies that make knock-off versions of the iPhone). A simple example: Steve Jobs would be one of the 25-50 modern day Atlas figures and probably 75% of America would fall into one of these other categories. The remaining 24.99% would be those giving their absolute best (and not relying on others' ideas or resources) to create and sustain successful business for themselves using their skills, maximized effort, creativity, and perseverance.
As a result of these unbalanced percentages, the world is falling apart. People want to take, but not give anything in return. People want jobs, but don't want to work. People want all sorts of things, but won't sacrifice to get them. People want to be in control, but not have responsibility. People don't want to solve problems, they expect others to give them the solution. The 'mind' of the general public has been lost.
So in the absence of 'mind' a glorification of reason, knowledge, and the will to act on these fill in the gap. The few have and exercise these are held supreme. Taking this line of thought further - this individual then becomes an end in and of himself, not the means to the ends of others, self-reliant, self-sustaining, and the result of his own will to be and act. This aforementioned knowledge is based on the metaphysical understanding of the objective absolute (that truth and reality exist regardless of whether you think they do or not) and your means to perceive it and reason from it. When it comes to applying his knowledge, man decides what he chooses to do, according to what he has learned, remembering that the basic principle of rational action in all aspects of existence, is "Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed." This means that man does not create reality and can achieve his values only by making decisions constant with the facts of reality.
Now those are huge statements, an entire philosophical perspective actually, termed objectivism. Depending on your worldview, that might give rise to multiple flags, echo some, or bring thought to question others. But what's interesting is that this is how most people think. There's a constant battle of 'for self' versus 'for others' (or Other). The differences lie in whether and how individuals act on it.
Overall, the book is a gripping novel that tells the story of John Galt's bold campaign to shut down society's engines of productivity by persuading the most productive innovators to withdraw their services. By doing so, he withdraws the 'mind' of man and leaves civilization to destroy itself. Without these leading men to rely on, all individuals are literally forced to create, to dream, to make a living, to be innovative, and to work in order to physically and mentally survive. This, in the end, ultimately saves civilization and delivers it from its economic, intellectual, and physical depressions. The story is a tribute to risk-taking, achievement, and individual liberty, and its conclusion affords optimism that mankind may, in real life, someday grow out of its long love affair with collectivist central planning.
So why is it important to think about these things? Or why is it not important? What category of people would you fit in? What patterns in your life show you which category you're actually pursuing? Should you apply this line of thought to certain areas of life? Should you withdraw it? How could this shape your view of yourself? How could this shape your view of others?
I think all of these ideas and questions from the author — with a grain of salt — are important to ponder. I think it can give great insight into setting priority, establishing work ethic, evaluating behavior, and planning for the future. A wise man once said when speaking of individual work ethic, "Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise! It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat. How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax, and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man. The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who is diligent becomes wealthy."
This quote, like Rand's book, can speak to so much more than just monetary wealth. It's worthy of thinking about, I think, in my humble opinion that is...
