Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Select ONE of the following three topics:

1. According to John Galt, selfishness is both moral and practical. Explain what he means by this and how events of the story illustrate and dramatize his point.

2. Explain the meaning and wider significance of the following quote: “The words ‘to make money’ hold the essence of human morality.” According to the story of Atlas Shrugged, what ideas underlie the opposing maxims that “money is the root of all evil” and that “money is the root of all good”?

3. Capitalism’s defenders usually appeal to the “public good.” Contrast their approach to capitalism to Ayn Rand’s approach in Atlas Shrugged.

Rules

1. No application is required. Contest is open to students worldwide.

2. Entrant must be in 12th grade or college/university at the time of entry. Graduate students and part-time students are eligible.

3. Essay must be between 800 and 1,600 words.

4. Essay must be submitted by September 17, 2010, by 11:59 PM, PST.

5. Essay must be solely the work of the entrant. Plagiarized essays will be disqualified.

6. Entrants may submit only one essay. Decisions of the judges are final.

7. Employees of the Ayn Rand Institute, its board of directors and their immediate family members are not eligible for this contest. Past first-place winners are not eligible for this contest.

8. All entries become the property of the Ayn Rand Institute and will not be returned.

9. Participants will be notified of the contest results by November 27, 2010.