What philosophy is BioShock?

Ayn Rand's philosophy, called Objectivism, greatly influences the story of BioShock. Objectivism is the idea that one should follow their own self-interest and profit from their own abilities and ambitions while being virtually uninhibited by others. This is the idea on which Andrew Ryan's city is based.

What is Andrew Ryan's philosophy in BioShock?

He has a firm belief in meritocracy, believing that a man who works hard is "entitled to the sweat of his brow". Ryan coined his own economic philosophy which he calls the 'Great Chain of Industry', or simply the 'Great Chain', similar to the "invisible hand of the market" metaphor coined by Adam Smith.

Is BioShock based on Objectivism?

The game was loosely based on Objectivism, the moral philosophy popularized by Ayn Rand.

What is the philosophy of BioShock Infinite?

Summary. In the massive plot twist at the end of BioShock Infinite, the writers beautifully put forth a hypothesis that individuals might exist in more than one possible world. In philosophy, the idea that an individual can exist in more than one world is called transworld identity.

Is BioShock a critique of Objectivism?

In Bioshock, Levine exposes the political, economic and social contradictions inherent in Objectivism, as he did not believe that Rand's novel, “realistically portrayed Objectivism, as the story followed unrealistic characters”[4].

The Philosophy of BioShock – Wisecrack Edition

What is BioShock a metaphor for?

Bioshock questions the ability of those seeking power to serve their own interests, let alone the interests of those they have power over. Objectivism states that you should work towards personal happiness first, and the happiness of others second.

Is BioShock 1 political?

This popular and critically acclaimed series contains deeply political themes, including various controversial ideologies such as Objectivism, and Collectivism. The treatment of these ideologies within the games have been widely contested and interpreted.

What is the moral lesson of BioShock?

The Message of Bioshock is that when man tries to create Heaven, he in turn makes a literal Hell. Attempts at Utopia make Dystopia. “We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us.” This is the underlying theme running the entire series (at least in 1 and Infinite, not so sure about 2).

Is BioShock Infinite political?

Bioshock Infinite is a game that ultimately satirizes present-day racial discourse and the rise of right wing organizations. The game accurately depicts how an authoritarian politician can create and weaponize an ideology with expert use of messaging.

What is BioShock Infinite about religion?

Certainly it's a religion based on Christianity, but its practitioners basically worship the Prophet Comstock and see his child, Elizabeth, as some sort of savior figure. They also worship the Founding Fathers of America as a sort of pantheon of saints.

What kind of society is BioShock?

The original goal of Rapture was to create a laissez-faire society free of religious and government interference of any kind, where any citizen could prosper for their own gain, without being hindered by the needs of others.

Is BioShock an art deco?

Civilization V's Art Deco-influenced UI. One of the most famous video game settings to incorporate this aesthetic is Bioshock's Rapture. The choice to use this style is no coincidence.

What era is BioShock based on?

BioShock takes place in 1960, in the fictional underwater city of Rapture. Built in the late 1940s by business tycoon Andrew Ryan, it was meant to be a laissez-faire social environment for individuals to work, live, and prosper out of the increasingly oppressive hands of the world's governments and authorities.

Why are they called big daddies in BioShock?

Big Daddies are extremely protective of the little sisters and will turn to brute force at the slightest sign of a potential threat to one. Likewise, little sisters are shown to be dependent on their Big Daddies and are conditioned to see them as parental figures (hence the name "Big Daddy").

What is Jack's full name BioShock?

During his journey through Rapture, Jack comes across a number of gene-altering substances, known as Plasmids, that he uses to empower and protect himself. According to the passport he used to board the plane, his full name is Jack Wynand and he is twenty-four years old.

How old is Booker DeWitt in BioShock?

Booker can play the guitar, mirroring his voice actor Troy Baker's talents. Despite being only seventeen years old on the issue date of his Pinkerton contract, Booker appears to be much older in the ID photo.

What is the controversy with BioShock?

This extreme view of exceptionalism was also criticized, mostly from the same people who felt that the game promoted white genocide. They believed that the game was insulting their patriotism, and trying to make them feel bad for having such a positive view on American ideals.

Is Big Daddy in BioShock Infinite?

Other Games

Big Daddy, specifically the Bouncer type once again, appears in BioShock Infinite and its downloadable content, Burial at Sea.

Are you the bad guy in BioShock Infinite?

Zachary Hale Comstock is the main antagonist of BioShock Infinite. He is the founder and theocratic dictator of the floating city of Columbia, as well as the leader of the Founders, Columbia's sovereign ultranationalist political faction.

Is Atlas the bad guy BioShock?

In the end, Atlas is revealed to be the game's true villain, a gangster trying to seize power in Rapture; the player is his sleeper agent, who's unwittingly forced to do Atlas's bidding any time he utters the phrase “would you kindly” (which he does, often).

Why was Booker drowned in BioShock?

Her goal when drowning Booker was to end Comstock's existence, not Booker's. By drowning Booker, she prevented the creation of Comstock in any universes, and thus eliminated any universes with Comstock in them. This allows for the cutscene at the end in which Booker still has Anna in his possession.

What are the kids in BioShock called?

Little Sisters (originally named as Gatherers by the game developers) are young girls who have been genetically altered and mentally conditioned to reclaim ADAM from corpses around Rapture. Little Sisters are almost always accompanied by a Big Daddy.

Is BioShock a commentary on capitalism?

From the infrastructure to the social systems, Bioshock impresses upon players that Rapture's majesty exists in idea only. It's a figment of capitalist social systems that steal labor from real-life workers.

Why was BioShock cancelled?

Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski says the film's big budget and R rating led to its demise. Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski has spoken about the cancelation of his BioShock movie that was in the works a long time ago.

Is BioShock a dystopia?

Conclusion. If we focus essentially on the narrative dimension, as Buinicki (2016) does in his analysis, BioShock Infinite can be considered to project a critical progressive vision through its dystopian narrative.