Anthem by Ayn Rand: Individualism vs Collectivism (reaction pre-pandemic)

I read Anthem by Ayn Rand before the pandemic happened. So my thoughts and opinions are not colored by people's reaction to the pandemic (e.g. anti-maskers). 

First off, I disagree with Ms. Rand's over-arching thesis that selfishness is always good. Too much individuality has made me feel alienated from other people. The best feelings that I had are when I feel connected to other people.

The following quote resonated with me because I'm usually secretive with my thoughts and opinions. I don't share my thoughts freely that's why i have a private twitter account.

It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put them down upon a paper no others are to see. It is base and evil. It is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own.

But according to the "document, don't create" philosophy you should share to the world your progress and don't just keep it to yourself.

You might as well get constructive feedback and meet kindred spirits.

But you know, some of the statements in the book are true somewhat if we change the qualifier from all to some. I am an individualist by practice but i find collectivist philosophy fascinating.

This quote is even more relevant now than before.

This is our wonder and our secret fear, that we know and do not resist.

There are instances where my individualistic tendencies backfired. If I shared them with someone, they would have warned me. But to whom am i going to share that? I don't share...

This could also apply to EJK, graft and corruption, etc. Turning a blind eye, trying not to stir the pot, maintaining the status quo.

This speaks to me because I'm non-confrontational. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

It was not that the learning was too hard for us. It was that the learning was too easy.

 

Teaching high school math is boring for me because it is too easy and not challenging enough.

This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick.

I love learning but i'm rarely consistent about it. So I wrote that I should commit to some military-like regimen, and if I quit, I pay.

But we wish no end to our quest. We wish nothing, save to be alone and to learn, and to feel as if with each day our sight were growing sharper than the hawk’s and clearer than rock crystal.

This conjures an image of Sisyphus happily rolling the boulder up the hill.

That feeling when something is so enjoyable you don't want it to end. Even if it's challenging.

I imagine Alfred N. Whitehead has this to say to Ayn Rand's philosophy.

The misconception which has haunted philosophic literature throughout the centuries is the notion of 'independent existence.'

There is no such mode of existence; every entity is to be understood in terms of the way it is interwoven with the rest of the universe.