A Wheeling Jesuit University business professor is using the book Atlas Shrugged to help MBA and undergraduate business students better understand the philosophical concepts and the moral aspects of today's business world.

Edward Younkins, professor of accountancy and business administration and author of the book Capitalism and Commerce: Conceptual Foundation of Free Enterprise, incorporates Ayn Rand's book, Atlas Shrugged, into his Conceptual Foundations of Business course to give students practical business examples. Younkins explains that students take turns leading discussions on all 30 chapters of Rand's 1,075-page novel. Of course, the professor takes part when necessary to make certain that key ideas are discussed.

Younkins’ book provides a discussion of the philosophical and moral foundations upon which a capitalistic society is constructed. “Rand’s novel is the vehicle for incarnating these ideas—bringing abstract philosophy to life through character and plot,” Younkins says.

“Use of Atlas Shrugged in the course aids in moving from abstract principles to practical business examples. Atlas Shrugged provides a link between philosophical concepts and technical and practical aspects of business,” says Younkins. “Philosophy is shown to be accessible and important to people in general and to business people in particular.”

The book, he says, shows students in his course that the only way for man to survive in society is through reason and voluntary trade. He adds, “Atlas Shrugged focuses on the positive and shows students what it takes to achieve genuine business success and how to create value.”

Discussions in class revolve around virtues such as rationality, independence, integrity, justice, honesty, productiveness, and pride. The novel's characters are analyzed to see if these are absent or present in them.

“The novel teaches students that there are traits that correlate with business success and success in life. These include independent vision or foresight, an active mind, competence, confidence, personal or egoistic passion, a drive to action, the love of ability in others, and, above all having virtues,” says Younkins.

Atlas Shrugged presents a thought-provoking portrait of businessmen who won't allow politicians to kick them around anymore. The novel presents steel makers, railroad tycoons, and bankers as heroes - the problem-solvers, producers, and thinkers.

“If Rand were writing today she would be including software designers, builders of telecommunications networks, and those who work with photovoltaics, cryogenics, aerogels, biochips, radio-wave lighting, micro electromechanical systems, quantum chips, shape-memory metals, and so on,” says Younkins.

The class discussion of heroes in Atlas Shrugged leads to comparisons with real-life heroes such as Bill Gates, Ken Iverson, Jack Welch, Sam Walton, Thomas Edison, Michael Dell, Michael Eisner, Edwin Land, Henry Ford, Walt Disney and Roberto Goizueta, Fred Smith, he notes.

"In the course, I use the book to illustrate there are good and bad businessmen and that businessmen don't always act virtuously. There are two kinds of businessmen—those who lobby government for special privileges, make deals, as well as engage in fraud and corrupt activities. Then there are the real producers who succeed or fail on their own,” he adds.

Rand's book shows what it takes to achieve genuine business success and how to create value. " Younkins adds.

U.S.News & World Report ranks Wheeling Jesuit University 16th in the "Best Master’s Universities in the South," making it the highest ranked institution in West Virginia for the seventh consecutive year. The 65-acre campus located in Wheeling, W.Va., offers more than 30 undergraduate programs of study and six graduate degrees to about 1,500 students each year. Wheeling Jesuit -- the only Catholic institution of higher education in West Virginia -- has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1 and has 15 intercollegiate NCAA Division II athletic teams. The University's outstanding facilities include 15 modern buildings and residence halls, a 100,000 square-foot recreation center and a new $1.5 million soccer/track and field complex. The campus is home to the Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center, the Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies, a Challenger Learning Center and the Clifford M. Lewis Appalachian Institute.

To arrange a visit of the Wheeling Jesuit University campus, or to apply, call 1-800-624-6992 or e-mail admiss@wju.edu or visit Wheeling Jesuit online at www.wju.edu