2023年Ayn Rand Institute essay contest安·蘭德寫作比賽介紹

安·蘭(lan) 德

20世紀著名的哲學家、小說家和公共知識分子。她的哲學理論和小說開創了客觀主義(yi) 哲學運動，她同時也寫(xie) 下了《The Fountainhead》、《Atlas Shrugged》等數本暢銷的小說。

安·蘭(lan) 德的哲學觀受到亞(ya) 裏士多德、約翰·洛克的極大影響，她的哲學是屬於(yu) 啟蒙時代以及理性時代的哲學。

她的小說所要表達的目標是要展示她理想中的英雄：一個(ge) 因為(wei) 其能力和獨立性格而與(yu) 社會(hui) 產(chan) 生衝(chong) 突的人，但卻依然奮鬥不懈朝她的理想邁進。

 

安·蘭(lan) 德寫(xie) 作比賽

Ayn Rand Institute essay contest 安·蘭(lan) 德寫(xie) 作比賽，是由安·蘭(lan) 德協會(hui) 於(yu) 1985年發起組織，在全球範圍內(nei) 舉(ju) 辦關(guan) 於(yu) 安·蘭(lan) 德小說的征文比賽，旨在通過這項比賽推廣安·蘭(lan) 德的哲學理念，希望促進人們(men) 越來越多地認識、理解和接受安·蘭(lan) 德的哲學思想。每年向全球學生頒發的總獎金超過 220 萬(wan) 美元。

競賽優(you) 勢

1.安·蘭(lan) 德寫(xie) 作比賽成立至今，已有30多年曆史，在國際中學生文學作品競賽中的地位舉(ju) 足輕重，具有極高的含金量。比賽免費參加，而且還有豐(feng) 厚的獎金，獲獎論文還可以發表在賽事官方網站上。

2.安·蘭(lan) 德寫(xie) 作比賽以安·蘭(lan) 德的文學作品為(wei) 背景，鼓勵學生通過反思安蘭(lan) 德深刻而有影響力的小說來解讀安·蘭(lan) 德的思想。參賽者需要用心閱讀相關(guan) 書(shu) 籍，應對複雜的主題並突破寫(xie) 作能力界限。通過參賽使學生能夠對安·蘭(lan) 德的作品有更深層次的欣賞。

3.安·蘭(lan) 德寫(xie) 作比賽的評分標準取決(jue) 於(yu) ，參賽者是否能夠證明和論證自己的觀點，雖然有主題但是參賽者依然有很大的自由發揮空間。

4.寫(xie) 作比賽既是文科生的背景提升工具，通過有深度、觀點清晰的文章向大學展示其對寫(xie) 作的熱愛以及自身的思想深度，也給理工科學生在申請履曆同質化的競爭(zheng) 環境下，提供了展示自己全麵均衡發展的機會(hui) 。

比賽要求

①讀一本安·蘭(lan) 德的小說，注意主題和人物動機，並思考如何回答論文主題問題。

②當你開始寫(xie) 作時，考慮如何回答你選擇寫(xie) 的論文問題。確保給自己足夠的時間來構建一個(ge) 連貫的大綱，找到支持證據，並修改你的草稿幾次。

③提交時請務必檢查你提供的信息是否正確，以及論文是否符合要求。

評判要求

論文寫(xie) 作應圍繞主題，要清晰、清晰、有條理，並將小說中的想法和事件聯係起來。獲獎論文必須表現出對小說哲學意義(yi) 的傑出理解。

比賽主題1

Anthem

適合學生：8-12年級

截止投稿時間：2023年4月27日

寫(xie) 作要求：600-1200詞以內(nei)

獲獎榮譽：最高$2,000的獎金

比賽題目（任選其一）

1. Ayn Rand once said that chapters XI and XII of Anthem contain the real anthem of the story. Consider several different definitions of the word “anthem” and then explain why you think Ayn Rand called the book “Anthem.” In what sense do you think chapters XI and XII (or the book as a whole) is an anthem? How does the book’s title relate to the themes and message of the story? Explain your answer.

2.For the following statement from Anthem, explain its role in the story, its relation to the themes and message of the story, and its relevance to your own life: “Indeed you are happy,” they answered. “How else can men be when they live for their brothers?”

3.Equality 7-2521 has committed some of the worst crimes there are in his society. If those crimes are discovered, he faces the risk of terrible punishment. Yet in the face of this danger, and despite how much Equality has suffered at the hands of his society, he resolves to bring his invention (and admit his crimes) to the World Council of Scholars. What motivates him to come forward? What does he hope to achieve? If you were Equality’s friend (like International 4-8818) or the person who loves him (like Liberty 5-3000), what would you want him to do, and why? What do you think would be right for him to do, and why?

比賽主題2

The Fountainhead

適合學生：11-12年級

截止投稿時間：2023年4月27日

寫(xie) 作要求：800-1600詞以內(nei)

獲獎榮譽：最高$5,000的獎金

比賽題目（任選其一）

1、Mallory says the following about Roark: “You know how people long to be eternal. But they die with every day that passes. . . . They change, they deny, they contradict—and they call it growth. . . . How do they expect a permanence which they have never held for a single moment? But Howard—one can imagine him existing forever.” Give examples of characters in the novel who change in the way Mallory suggests. In what respects is Roark unchanging through the book? Are there any respects in which his character develops? How do these issues of characterization relate to the theme of the novel?

2、Toohey tells Keating the following: “I’m the most selfless man you’ve ever known. I have less independence than you, whom I just forced to sell your soul.” Drawing on Toohey’s own explanation and on his actions in the story, explain your understanding of what Toohey means by this. Does the author agree with Toohey’s assessment of his own motivation? Do you? Explain your answers.

3、In The Fountainhead, we can see how Roark is guided by his own creative vision, whether in the way he develops his skills as an architect, in the terms on which he’ll work for employers, or in the standards he uses for accepting or rejecting new clients. Judging from examples of these aspects of his decisions and actions, do you think he would be a supporter or opponent of free-market capitalism? Explain your answer, being sure to define relevant terms.

比賽主題3

Atlas Shrugged

適合學生：12年級、大學和研究生

截止投稿時間：2023年11月6日

寫(xie) 作要求：800-1600詞以內(nei)

獲獎榮譽：最高$10,000的獎金

比賽題目（任選其一）

1、In his speech about money, Francisco says: “Whenever destroyers appear among men, they start by destroying money, for money is men’s protection and the base of a moral existence. . . . Paper [money] is a check drawn by legal looters upon an account which is not theirs: upon the virtue of the victims. Watch for the day when it bounces, marked: ‘Account overdrawn.’” Explain what Francisco means by this and how it serves the purpose of his speech. Then explain how his statement can be seen as applying to our economic world today.

2、In his radio speech, John Galt names a principle that Rearden and Dagny have struggled to discover for themselves: “The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. . . . Do not try to live on your enemies’ terms or to win at a game where they’re setting the rules. . . . One cannot hope to maintain one’s life by accepting bribes to condone one’s destruction.” Explain what Galt means by this and how the issue plays a role in the plot of the novel. Describe an issue or event from current events (whether in your country or in its relations with others) to which you think this principle applies. How might events have unfolded differently if this principle of the sanction of the victim were taken more seriously?

3、The bum in the diner says to Dagny, “It doesn’t take any morality to turn out a ten-ton truck on an assembly line.” In important ways, the events of the novel go on to address this and other claims the bum makes in this scene about the nature of morality. What do they suggest is right about the bum’s conception of morality? What do they suggest is wrong about it? How, in particular, does Rearden start from the bum’s point of view and develop a new view over the course of the story?

無論對於(yu) 文科生還是理科生，優(you) 秀的寫(xie) 作能力，都是進入名校的必備技能。