Ayn Rand's Alleged Admiration for William Hickman
Episode: 9 October 2011, Question 1
Did Ayn Rand draw inspiration from the serial-killer William Hickman? I ask due to this article by Mark Ames on Alternet: "Ayn Rand, Hugely Popular Author and Inspiration to Right-Wing Leaders, Was a Big Admirer of Serial Killer." According to the article, Rand idolized the serial killer William Hickman and used him as inspiration for the leads male characters in her books, notably Howard Roark. Also, Rand is said to seek an environment in which sociopaths like Hickman can thrive. Are these claims true or not? If so, would they affect the validity of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism?
My Answer, In Brief: The article is a baseless, dishonest smear. If a person wants to reject Ayn Rand's ideas, he should do so on the basis of her actual mature views, not invented claims based on private journal entries written when she was 23 about a long-since abandoned writing project.
Listen Now
- Download: MP3 Segment
- Duration: 20:26
Watch Now
Relevant Links
- The Journals of Ayn Rand (pages 20 to 48)
- "Don't Let it Go" by Ayn Rand in Philosophy: Who Needs It
Topics
Share This Question
Comment Via Facebook
Support the Webcast
The Philosophy in Action Webcast is available to anyone, free of charge. We love doing it, but it's not free for us to produce: it requires our time, effort, and money. So if you enjoy and value our work, please contribute to the webcast's tip jar!
Connect with Us
Comments? Questions? Want more? Be sure to connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, RSS, e-mail, and more!
