The Fountain Head

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Ariel Nguyen Mrs. Allen AP English March 7, 2010 Reader Response Response on Ayn Rand’s objectivism philosophy In the Fountain Head, Howard Roark said “The choice is not self-sacrifice or domination. The choice is independence or dependence. The code of the creator or the code of the second-hander. This is the basic issue. It rests upon the alternative of life or death. The code of the creator is built on the needs of a reasoning mind which allows man to survive. The code of the second-hander is built on the needs of a mind incapable of survival. All that which proceeds from man's independent ego is good. All that which proceeds from man's dependence upon men is evil.” This quote has given me a lot of thought. The definition of selfishness and the argument between egotism and altruism have occurred in my head spontaneously since I was young. Although I didn’t truly understand those ideas, it came to my mind in every decision I have to make. I could say I was born and raised as an altruist. I’m definitely an altruist who doesn’t believe in altruism. This may sound contradicting but it’s the truth. If you tell me to make an argument about altruism, I could definitely persuade you that altruism is a destruction of human’s civilization. I don’t think altruism make any sense. However, in every act that I do, I always do the reverses of my argument because of the selfishness within me, which I always try to cover. Vietnamese moral praises the value of altruism, to live for your family, your friends, for your country. My parents, who had spent their lives helping other people, taught me the act of altruism. With their Buddist thoughts, they believe what goes around comes around. If you live morally, then good things will come to you. The altruistic characters are deep rooted in my mind. I learned that a good person is the one who
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