Let's explore Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism

While Ayn Rand is indisputably one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century, there is widespread disagreement among the public regarding her intellectual status. Detractors characterize her novels as infantile and claim that Rand herself was "not a real philosopher," while supporters regard her novels as among the greatest works of Western literature and Rand the philosopher as the intellectual heir to Aristotle. Compounding this confusion is the fact that, while many people have read her novels, very few have taken the time to familiarize themselves with her full philosophic system.

As someone who has studied this system in depth for many years, I hope to shed light on its essential ideas, answer the questions of the curious, and challenge the claims of the detractors.

In other words, if you are generally familiar with and/or interested in Rand but would like to learn more about her philosophy of Objectivism, this discussion is for you.

POINTS OF DISCUSSION

Historical Context

• How did Ayn Rand derive her philosophy?
• Who were her main philosophic influences, and how does her philosophy differ from theirs?
• What are the similarities and differences between Ayn Rand's philosophy and the philosophies of the "big three" (Plato, Aristotle, Kant)?

Philosophic Essentials
What were Rand's distinctive views in each of the five branches of philosophy:

• Metaphysics (the nature of reality)
• Epistemology (the means of knowledge)
• Ethics (the source and substance of morality)
• Politics
• Aesthetics (art)

Ayn Rand's Unique Conception of Objectivity
The history of philosophy is riddled with dichotomies: idealism vs. materialism, rationalism vs. empiricism, mysticism vs. skepticism, fact vs. value, is vs. ought. We'll discuss how Rand's unique conception of objectivity reframes these dichotomies as trichotomies, thus providing a philosophic third alternative that solves these puzzles.

Objectivism: The Philosophy vs. The Movement

• What were Rand's views on Objectivism as an organized movement?
• What is the essence of each of the three prominent Objectivist organizations and their spokespeople?
• If one is looking for an authoritative third-party source for her philosophic ideas, where should they turn?

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