Ayn Rand’s philosophy proves her concept of Capitalism is false and invalid.
According to Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy, a true concept must be observed before it is thought. If there is not an example in the real world, the mental concept is false and invalid.
“…concepts represent classifications of observed referents…”i
”There are… invalid concepts, i.e. … without referents…”ii
“Truth is a product of … identification… of the facts of reality”iii
“All truth is a product of logical identification of the facts of experienceiv
According to Ayn Rand, Capitalism is an “unknown ideal”v. A Capitalist economic system has “never yet existed, not even in America”vi.
If concepts must be observed and Capitalism has never been observed, then Capitalism is not a concept.
If truth is real and Capitalism has never existed, then Capitalism is not true.
If truth must be experienced and Capitalism is unknown, then Capitalism is not true.
If concepts without referents are invalid and Capitalism does not have a referent, then Capitalism is an invalid concept.
Therefore, Ayn Rand’s philosophy proves Ayn Rand’s concept of Capitalism is false and invalid.
Sources:
Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, New American Library, Mentor edition (paperback) 1979 Library of Congress # 78-71454
Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, New American Library, Signet edition (paperback) 1967 Library of Congress # 66-26772
i Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, Definitions, pg 62
ii Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, Definitions, pg 65
iii Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, Definitions, pg 63
iv Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, The Analytic-Synthethic Dichotomy pg 158
v Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
vi Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, The Objectivist Ethics, pg 33