Jobs and Apple constitutes a good example of Ayn Rand's individual vs. collective conflict. There is no "collective mind". There is only the individual mind. Apple is the product of the mind of one individual, Steve Jobs. It is not the product of a committee. The greatest innovations seem to arise from individuals, not "group-think". Hopefully Mr. Jobs returns to Apple. But if not, Apple needs to try and find another creative innovator like Mr. Jobs, somebody who can think outside the box, somebody who beyond computer science and business, is also and ultimately an artist.

It is the Howard Roarkes and Steve Jobs of the world that drive the economy. Were Ms. Rand around today, she would surely see Mr. Jobs as a Howard Roarke of today. For the sake of Apple's shareholders, I hope they can find somebody else similar in the event that Mr. Jobs cannot return.