Objectivism and Bioshock

April 15, 2018

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Dear Reader,

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For this multi-genre project, I decided to take a deeper look into the philosophy and idea of objectivism. Objectivism is the idea that if you work hard and create your own success, that success is nobody's but your own. Objectivism uses moral values to achieve success through an individual person, and only that person alone. Objectivism sometimes takes away a relationship between civilians and their superiors that is needed to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity at success.

 

The topic of objectivism is important because it gives us a different perspective on how society could run and function, and why something that sounds like it should work, may proceed to fail. Objectivism was created by Ayn Rand, a political leader who emphasized her idea of creating a system in which a society runs off of facts and hard work, and that your profits do not belong to anybody else. The fear of too much power is common, because many civilians live in a society where there are dictators who have power over people, creating this idea that there are no limits to someone can do and achieve. Objectivism highlights a belief system in which people are freely allowed to rise to the top of society with enough work and devotion. The problem with it is that once you rise to the top, it's very easy to turn it into a weapon. 

 

I chose to explore objectivism because it relates a lot to my favorite video game, Bioshock. This game takes place in Rapture, an under water city run by objectivism, and showcases why the idea of objectivism has failed. The creator of the city, Andrew Ryan, is a believer in objectivism, and has created a city where he believes that you only are what you make of yourself. He uses the political side of objectivism to create a city where there are no limits to what you can earn through what you create and contribute. The player is faced with a number of enemies who have risen to power, and how a free market has turned a deadly drug into a free for all for everyone who lives there. I think the game makes a society that runs like this feel real, and sheds some light onto why it's easier said than done. 

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- Bailey Ouellette