Galt's Gulch

What does "Who is John Galt?" mean?

Posted by BlueNova 11 years, 7 months ago to Philosophy
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In Atlas Shrugged, the movie Part 2, Dagney said it stood for giving up and despair. I didn't take that it means that. I'm interested in what you all think.

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  • Posted by rexdeus8 5 years, 6 months ago
    I always took it to be a phrase that started at the factory where Galt originally worked that had the bad management where all workers were paid equally...

    That is, when the company was in their large gathering and the company was about to fall apart, John Galt stood up and called out their stupidity in front of all. He was an unknown to most, and the phrase makes sense as in "well, who the f*ck is John Galt?"...

    Meaning that anyone can be that person that stands up.
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  • Posted by LionelHutz 11 years, 7 months ago
    In the P1 movie, Eddy explain this to Dagny. As I recall, he said it stood for something like "don't ask questions nobody can answer."

    Dagny did see it differently. She thought people were giving up too easily with that attitude. "Not going to think about it...thinking about it won't change anything...who is John Galt..."

    The 20th century engineer that started the expression had a different meaning for it too - I think in the sense of "who does this guy think he is?" Galt was on a mission he considered preposterous for an individual to undertake. Not that he was critical of Galt - he almost considered the guy to be super-human as the plan began succeeding.

    The antagonists in the movie - almost the same sense as the 20th century engineer. But with contempt. Who does this pile of garbage think he is...?
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  • Posted by iroseland 11 years, 7 months ago
    I think the meaning of the phrase has a life of its own in the book. To Dagney it started out meaning giving up and despair. This was because she had not yet discovered who even she really was. I think subplot surrounding the meaning of the phrase is actually quite excellent. It seems that everyone had a different idea of who John Galt is, and that idea was rooted in their view of what was missing/wrong with the world. I think that helped make meeting Jeff Allen an even more gripping scene. She had heard explanations of "Who is John Galt" a few times, and from people who did not know what the full meaning was. Then there was Jeff Allen, he knew, he also knew how it happened and he knew that he had been a part of the problem and understood the value of what was being lost.
    As for me, I am not John Galt. I am more like the Truck Driver on the mine ledge who wanted to be more than that.
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    • Posted by BlueNova 11 years, 7 months ago
      Hmmm... Maybe the meaning of "Who is John Galt?" is in the ear of the reader. It means what it means to the reader. It's a rallying cry?

      I was a little surprised that the movie didn't start with the phrase as the book did. I think it will go down in literary history as famous as "They call me Ishmail." in Moby Dick.
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      • Posted by ogr8bearded1 11 years, 7 months ago
        I think you could consider it an identifying phrase also. Remember when the man in the diner in Part 1 ordered some food. He was dressed like a hobo almost and the waitress asked if he was able to pay and he replied "Who is John Galt?" She was satisfied with the answer and went to turn in his order. So to me it is a way for people from the Gulch to know others from there when they are out in the world.
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        • Posted by BlueNova 11 years, 7 months ago
          Because I'm driving around with the bumper sticker, someday someone's going to ask; and, I was trying to come up with something simple or catchy answer before I explain the premise of Atlas Shrugged" if they're open to it.

          I am now at a point that I would say "Who knows John Galt, knows the answer to the question?" or, "Ask John Galt for the answer!"

          But it doesn't do it for me yet. It may be that it's up to the interpreter to interpret and leave it at that. But I'm afraid that I'll look stupid when I'm asked if it isn't an effective reply. Maybe it's the same as when a artist such as a painter, leaves it up to the viewer to interpret.

          For the man in the diner, it's a simple situation to analyze the meaning of the question but I cannot think of what he really means. Maybe, John Galt knows why I can't pay is his meaning. The why being, I can't make the money to pay.

          Anyway, If I'm right on the interpretation angle, I'm right; and, you're all right.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 6 months ago
    The only fit to lead and the only that did it by example. Can't think of anyone that fits that description. Very few would pay attention anyway.
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  • Posted by cjm191919 8 years, 6 months ago
    I always looked at the saying as "what does my success look like". John Galt symbolizes the best person someone can become. And asking that question is the process of figuring that out for yourself.
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  • Posted by flanap 11 years, 7 months ago
    It is metaphysical in its meaning, which is: "who" referring to people; "is" ties those people to an idea; "John Galt" identifies with the entirety of the philosophy of Objectivism.
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