Who is John Galt?

Who is John Galt?

This question is at the beginning of Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged. Galt is the mysterious hero of the book, but he stands for much more. An entrepreneur, a disruptor and most of all a free spirit. Unbridled pursuit of freedom, total dedication to his ideals, and the courage to fight against all odds. A man who could move the entire world and also make it stop. For us, he is a role model of what may not be achieved, but should always be strived for.

Ayn Rand

When we talk about John Galt, we must first talk about his creator, Ayn Rand. Born in 1905 in Czarist Russia, she experienced the terror and injustices after the Bolsheviks seized power and fled to the United States. There she fell in love with the “American ideas” of freedom, individualism and capitalism. As a writer, she authored several bestsellers, such as The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. As a philosopher, she developed Objectivism and influenced numerous celebrities and entrepreneurs, such as Steve Jobs and Mark Cuban.

"I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."

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The Roark Academy - Philosophy for Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Are you interested in entrepreneurship or do you already have your own startup?
Are you wondering how philosophy can lead you to a successful and happy life?

Then the Roark Academy is the right place for you. The focus is on the philosophy of Ayn Rand, who has dealt with entrepreneurs and their role in society like few others. Brilliant entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Peter Thiel, Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary make Ayn Rand partly responsible for their success.

  1. How can you define your values to develop your perfect career?

  2. How can you have a successful career and hold on to your dreams?

  3. Why is your own business a path to freedom?

  4. Why is entrepreneurship moral?

  5. Whether your happiness lies in Germany or beyond?

Last Roark Academy took place in June and July 2023. Watch the best parts on our YouTube channel, coming soon. The date of the next Roark Academy will be announced in 2024.

The Roark Academy - Philosophy for Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Are you interested in entrepreneurship or do you already have your own startup?
Are you wondering how philosophy can lead you to a successful and happy life?

Then the Roark Academy is the right place for you. The Roark Academy is organized by the EGO Institute, a liberal think tank that shows young people how to lead a free and self-determined life. The focus is on the philosophy of Ayn Rand, who has dealt with entrepreneurs and their role in society like few others. Brilliant entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Peter Thiel, Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary make Ayn Rand partly responsible for their success.

  1. How can you define your values to develop your perfect career?

  2. How can you have a successful career and hold on to your dreams?

  3. Why is your own business a path to freedom?

  4. Why is entrepreneurship moral?

  5. Whether your happiness lies in Germany or beyond?

If you want answers to these questions and want to network with other entrepreneurs and innovators, then join us from May 20th to June 17th.
Successful entrepreneurs, incubators and philosophers will talk about their successes, philosophy and answer your questions. The 60-minute webinars will be held via Zoom and take place once a week.
The number of participants is limited, so register early. This webinar series is demanding, so be prepared to invest 2-3 hours in the webinar and homework during the week.

We look forward to seeing you.

Objectivist Values

Individualism

What makes humans different from other animals are their remarkable mental capabilities, their reason. Reason is a strictly individual faculty, as there are no collective thoughts, no collective ways to perceive the reality around us.

Thus, the great creators of history have always thought in a way no one else thought at the time. Most of them were met with resistance by those not understanding or not supporting their genius. But they kept going, because the strongest force in the world is the will of a creator who is convinced he is right.

Freedom

For humans to use their rational capabilities to the full extent, they need to be able to think, do and create as they see fit without interference from outsiders. None of the great minds of history, from Galileo to Steve Jobs, would have had the impact they had, had they surrendered to what society at the time found possible or permissible. The only way to achieve what they did is through individual freedom. Not only does it allow for a better life for the individual, it also enables societal progress in all aspects of life.

Capitalism

Freedom as the motor propels society forward needs to be protected. The only political system that honors human freedom is laissez-faire capitalism. An often misunderstood term, capitalism just means that individuals are allowed to exchange goods and services as they see fit and use their private property without outside interference.

While being the only moral economic system, capitalism also generated the most wealth of any economic system and lifted billions out of poverty.

Value Creation

For humans to use their rational capabilities to the full extent, they need to be able to think, do and create as they see fit without interference from outsiders. The only way in which humans acquire resources from others without force is voluntarily. This is done by creating mutual value. Therefore, the best and only moral way to acquire resources is to offer something valuable to the fellow man. The entrepreneur is the genius behind innovation, who finds new ways to fulfill others’ needs better and thus, is the engine that keeps society running.

Acknowledgement

“Who is John Galt?” and the Roark Academy would not have been possible without the generous support of the Prometheus Foundation.