Metaphysics: One essence to Ayn Rand's Objectivism

1. Metaphysics: "Reality, the external world, exist independent of man's consciousness, independent of any observer's knowledge, beliefs, feelings, desires and fears. This means that A is A, facts are facts, that things are what they are-- and that the task of man's consciousness is to percieve reality, not to create or invent it." Thus Objectuvism rejects any belief in the supernatural-- and any claim that individuals or groups create their own reality.

2.Esthetics: " Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value-judgments." The purpose of art is to concretizethe artist's fundamental view of existence. Ayn Rand described her own approach to art as "Romantic Realism"; "I am Realistic in the sense that I place them here and now and on earth." The goal of Ayn Rand's novels is not didactic but artistic: the projection of an ideal man: "My purpose, first cause and prime mover is the portrayal of Howard or John Galt or Hank Reardan or Francisco d'Ancomia as an end in himself--not as a means to any further end."