Ayn Rand and Crypto-Anarchy

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

I recently read Atlas Shrugged by Ayne Rand.  I noticed two 
crucial technologies that seem like good analogs for cypherpunk 
technology.   

In case your not familiar with the story, the most productive 
industrialists, engineers, etc. decide to remove themselves from 
society until the government stops interfering.  They create 
their own little community in a secluded valley where they can 
work without supporting the government.  

The first relevant technology is a mirror that hides the valley.  
The industrialists have built a small town, but from the air it 
looks like a barren desert.  The mirror conceals their 
transactions from everyone else.  This sounds like encrypted, 
untraceable communications and transactions.  Black markets 
flourish, but from outside they look like barren static.  

The second technology is a self-destructing laboratory.  This 
allows an engineer to experiment with secret technology without 
the need for physical security.  When the police break down the 
lab door, they find nothing but a fine powder, and they can't 
even guess what he's been up to.  This sounds like tamperproof 
hardware or software.  To the authorized user, it's useful 
equipment.  To everyone else, it's nothing more than random 
instructions.  

Did Ayn Rand anticipate crypto-anarchy?

          --- Yours Truly, ][adon Nash ---
in founding a family or a state, or acquiring fame even, we are mortal;
but in dealing with truth we are immortal, and need fear no change nor
accident. --- ][enry David Thoreau, 1850 ---



-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.3

iQCVAgUBLGOgRjIwr9YMSTuBAQEF9gQAuTn0qIBBg/rgJFFdpnaWZHeVQBc9BBX0
6MPz3a9FfOen4MSL00XD+dOn96Fc4gzXma6h1kXU70i8u5L/uysVJvSrBEPjQEHv
Gt8JuWxgvZoQSAkrv0Q0KhKA6cI4Tv15PhGiEN2jGoBE2qHO9T1CTfrJSrF/FsZt
RFYGUqK1KEo=
=JvXB
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----


-------------- Yours Truly, ][adon Nash --------------------------------
 in founding a family or a state, or acquiring fame even, we are mortal;
 but in dealing with truth we are immortal, and need fear no change nor
 accident. --------------------------------- ][enry David Thoreau, 1850

hnash@mason1.gmu.edu writes:

> I recently read Atlas Shrugged by Ayne Rand.  I noticed two 
> crucial technologies that seem like good analogs for cypherpunk 
> technology.   

Yes, lots of parallels. I read Rand when I was 16, was mightily
influenced, but have been unable to read her since. Just the writing
style, I suppose. Other people tell me the same thing, that you
basically have to read her when you're young and impressionable. (put
a smiley here if you like)

> Did Ayn Rand anticipate crypto-anarchy?
> 

Rand later in her life denounced libertarians, let alone the even more
extreme anarcho-capitalists. And the crypto anarchists of today are
beyond even anarcho-capitalism.

But her ideas were of utmost importance. In fact, in 1988, I set out
to write a novel that would "update" "Atlas Shrugged." It's still
languishing, but many of the ideas I developed while attending Crypto
conferences, reading Vinge ("True Names") and Card ("Ender's Game"),
and exploring the implications of fully anonymous communication and
trade found their way into my "Crypto Anarchist Manifesto" that year.

So, I would agree that Rand was one of the prime motivators of crypto
anarchy. What she wanted to do with material technology (mirrors over
Galt's Gulch) is _much_ more easily done with mathematical technology.

Someday I'll repost my essay "Libertaria in Cyberspace" to this List.

-Tim May

-- 
..........................................................................
Timothy C. May         | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,  
tcmay@netcom.com       | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
408-688-5409           | knowledge, reputations, information markets, 
W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA  | black markets, collapse of governments.
Higher Power: 2^756839 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available.
Note: I put time and money into writing this posting. I hope you enjoy it.