Science - Themes, Anthem | Anthem by Ayn Rand - Summary, Themes and Characters - Novels PDF Download

The main character of Anthem, Equality 7-2521 is a scientist by nature – a scientific genius. More than anything else, he wants to learn about the way the world is, and believes knowledge to be good for its own sake. Unfortunately, he's born into a collectivist society that suppresses his talent for science, because it threatens to make him superior to others. In secret, Equality 7-2521 starts to illegally conduct scientific research, and discovers for himself secrets that his primitive society has never dreamed of. Equality 7-2521's illegal research ironically enables him to produce an invention far more beneficial to the greater good than anything his society has invented. At stake in the conflict between Equality 7-2521 and his society is the status of truth itself, and the importance of science for improving the lot of mankind.

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Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

Equality 7-2521 progresses from valuing science for its own sake to valuing it for its usefulness.

Collective 0-0009 and his fellow Scholars have an understanding of science that makes science impossible.