I understand that there is some affinity between Rand's realist ontology and Aristotle's, but Mayhew and Miller both work on Aristotle's political philosophy, and there are few political philosophies more opposed to Rand's than Aristotle's--the master of those who know held that:
- The political community is natural.
- The city is an organic whole.
- Trade and money-making are antithetical to ethical life, and should be heavily restricted.
- Those who pursue life as the highest good are living the life of cattle.
UPDATE: Yeah, so the obvious answer is because Rand considered herself an Aristotelian, and the fruit never falls far from the bigger fruit, or something like that. But what I want to know is how they read Aristotle's Ethics and Politics and come away thinking Aristotle's anti-(Platonic)-communism leads him to be pro-capitalism, or to be compatible with such a stance??