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Saturday, May 03, 2008
Upgrade Your Understanding of Objectivism!
By Greg @ 7:38 AM PermaLink

Ready to engage your brain and get serious about understanding Rand's philosophical system? The Objectivism Seminar is about to go through Leonard Peikoff's presentation of the entire philosophy in Objectivism: the Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR)!

Whether you are new to Rand or a veteran student of Objectivism, our sessions will be valuable to you: we'll go through the entire system, with the experienced folks refining their understanding and ability to articulate and apply the ideas, while the newer folks grapple with the ideas and ask all the right questions. So please don't be shy about jumping in -- the reading and meeting load is light, and you'll be working with a great group of people!

We'll begin the weekly sessions for OPAR on Sunday May 18, 7:30pm Mountain time, reviewing and discussing about two sections per meeting. I'll almost always be moderating to keep us on track. And as we go, each section will have two volunteers at the helm of the discussion (maybe you!): one reviewing the material, and one playing Devil's Advocate to stimulate productive engagement. Everyone else can join in as desired to flesh out our picture of important elements and connections, explanations and applications, and to bring questions and concerns for us all to grapple with.

For more information you can read the original Invitation to The Objectivism Seminar, and you can visit the www.ObjectivismSeminar.com site to get geared up for the journey!

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Saturday, April 26, 2008
Are Mathematical Truths Discovered or Invented?
By Paul @ 11:23 AM PermaLink

This question is one of the topics in the upcoming June 2008 issue of the European Mathematical Society Newsletter. As Science News reports, this subject "has provided fodder for arguments among mathematicians and philosophers" for thousands of years, with no seeming resolution.

On one hand, there are Platonists who believe this:
...[A] mathematician discovers timeless truths independent of human observation and free of the transient nature of physical reality. "The abstract realm in which a mathematician works is by dint of prolonged intimacy more concrete to him than the chair he happens to sit on," says Ulf Persson of Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, a self-described Platonist.
But the Platonists are forced to deal with some tricky implications of their views:
Those who espouse discovery note that mathematical statements are true or false regardless of personal beliefs, suggesting that they have some external reality. But this leads to some odd notions. Where, exactly, do these mathematical truths exist? Can a mathematical truth really exist before anyone has ever imagined it?
In contrast, there are those who believe that such talk of an abstract realm is just mystical hogwash:
Brian Davies, a mathematician at King's College London, writes that Platonism "has more in common with mystical religions than with modern science." And modern science, he believes, provides evidence to show that the Platonic view is just plain wrong. He titled his article "Let Platonism Die."

...Reuben Hersh of the University of New Mexico ...rejects the Platonic view, arguing instead that mathematics is a product of human culture, not fundamentally different from other human creations like music or law or money.
But the latter school is faced with a different set of intractable questions:
On the other hand, if math is invented, then why can't a mathematician legitimately invent that 2 + 2 = 5?

...The challenge, [Hersh] admits, is to explain why it is that mathematical statements can be definitively true or false, not subject to taste or whim.
The solution to this millenia-old argument is to abandon both the intrisicist approach of the Platonists and the subjectivist approach of their opponents. Instead, mathematical concepts (like all concepts) are neither intrinsic nor subjective but objective. It is in debates like this where the Objectivist approach to epistemology and concept formation prove their value -- in being able to cut through the errors made over the centuries by struggling philosophers and mathematicians.

Of course, properly applying Rand's theory of concept formation to the philosophy of mathematics is a non-trivial task. Concepts of number are both seemingly self-evident, but also represent feats of tremendous abstraction. But scholars such as Dr. Pat Corvini have made a good start. Her course at the 2007 OCON, "Two, Three, Four and All That", was on precisely that topic -- namely how to apply the Objectivist theory of concept formation to concepts of number:
The concept of number as used in science today is one of man's greatest achievements: a grand-scale integration capping centuries of effort and enabling a vastly expanded efficacy in all areas of life. But the growth in complexity of the number system has rendered the meaning of number ever more mysterious; number is seen both as a touchstone of certainty and as an arbitrary human construct whose applicability to the real world is a deep mystery. This is because the nature of number has not been properly identified; and as Ayn Rand pointed out, that imprecision is dangerous.

This course clarifies the meaning of "number" by examining it in the light of Miss Rand's theory of concepts. Recognizing the objectivity of number provides a new framework for resolving both historical and modern debates, and yields a heightened appreciation for the science of mathematics as a whole—further reinforcing the value of Objectivist epistemology.
She is also offering a follow-up course at this year's 2008 OCON, "Two, Three, Four and All That: The Sequel":
Science shelves of bookstores are today awash in accounts of modern extensions of the idea of number, including infinity and the continuum, set theory, transfinite numbers, and the like. Many of these ideas, and the "mysteries" that proceed from them, figure prominently in modern philosophy and in popular discussion of the nature and limits of reason.

In this course, Dr. Corvini explains and evaluates some of the most influential of these ideas, using as a frame of reference both their historical context and the view of number as objective developed in her earlier courses. By identifying the fundamental nature of the ideas and of the errors involved, we see again the importance of a proper theory of concepts, and clarify the differences between an objective approach to mathematics and the more traditional views.
I have long had an interest in those topics such as foundations of set theory, the nature of the concept "infinity", etc. Hence, if her 2008 course is as good as her 2007 course, then it promises to be a real treat. Diana and I have already signed up for it.

Although I have a degree in mathematics (B.S., MIT, 1984), her courses do not require any advanced math background. Dr. Corvini is a very clear and engaging lecturer, and she is excellent at explaining the relevant mathematical concepts to a general audience. If you can count to 10 and you are a normal intelligent adult, then you can follow her lectures.

So if you want to see how the power of the Objectivist theory of concepts can resolve questions that have stumped some of history's greatest minds for thousands of years, check out her courses!

(I don't believe that her 2007 course is available yet through the Ayn Rand Bookstore, but I expect that it will be eventually. It was available for purchase by 2007 conference attendees as part of the usual post-conference package, and hence I think it will eventually make it to the main bookstore listing.)

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Friday, April 25, 2008
Tore Boeckmann on Ayn Rand
By Diana Hsieh @ 7:00 AM PermaLink

Tore Boeckmann was recently interviewed for EdNews on the creativity of Ayn Rand. The interview is short, but worth a read.

I should also mention that Tore Boeckmann's essay "Anthem as a Psychological Fantasy" in Robert Mayhew's anthology Essays on Ayn Rand's Anthem was one of the very bright highlights of that book. The essays in that volume are of consistently high quality, but the essays by Tore Boeckmann, Onkar Ghate ("Breaking the Metaphysical Chains of Dictatorship: Free Will and Determinism in Anthem"), and Greg Salmieri ("Prometheus' Discovery: Individualism and the Meaning of the Concept 'I' in Anthem") were way beyond stellar. I highly recommend reading them, if you haven't already.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Leonard Peikoff's Podcasts
By Diana Hsieh @ 1:21 PM PermaLink

Back in January, I finally listened to Leonard Peikoff's first six podcasts. He has posted a bunch more since then, but I've not yet heard those. While I knew I'd find them interesting, I didn't listen to them sooner because I'm on mostly break from studying Objectivism while writing my dissertation. They are definitely worth a listen or two, as the questions are almost always well-chosen and well-answered.

In the sixth podcast, Dr. Peikoff discusses the pitfalls of discussing Objectivism in online discussion forums. I won't repeat his comments here, but I largely agree with his concerns that such online debates risk divorcing a person's ideas from his values and promote disintegrated examination of ideas in isolation. It's also true that many self-described Objectivists arguing with confidence online are completely clueless, rationalistic, or even outright dishonest.

I would add a few points, based on extensive experience reading and posting to such discussion forums over the course of about 15 years. (For the record, the only public discussion forum that I regard as remotely Objectivist is ObjectivismOnline. The contributors can be far better than found elsewhere, but I still think the forum suffers from the standard problems of that medium.)

First, thoughtful and productive discussion is a rarity on most discussion boards, whether supposedly Objectivist or not. Mostly, the threads consist of discombobulated streams of unjustified assertions, ill-considered opinions, nasty remarks, ignorant assumptions, and outright dishonesty. To participate in those discussions is, at best, a huge waste of time. The fact that someone has said something particularly stupid in some online debate is not a good reason to spend hours arguing with that person and his fellows.

Second, the capacity to beat the pants off some random opponent in online debate doesn't mean that you know what you're talking about, that you're thinking clearly, or that you're right. Unfortunately, people often suppose that argumentative might makes right. And so they seek the thrill of victory in online debate with all the fervor of a crack addict. In fact:



If you wish to seriously test your ideas in debate, the proper approach is to carefully study and think about some issue of personal interest to you, then discuss it in private with someone whose knowledge and judgment you trust, whether in person or e-mail.

Third, if Objectivists want to change the culture for the better, they ought not waste their time and energy by arguing with other Objectivists -- even on the better forums. To actually change the culture, Objectivists need to present their ideas to people unfamiliar with them. That's often harder -- but far more rewarding in the long run. (That's precisely why I created my OActivists mailing list.)

However, even with people unfamiliar with Objectivist ideas, lengthy online debates will likely be a waste of time. (If the person is someone known to you in real life, then the situation is somewhat different. Then long-running debates can have some value.) With strangers, the goal should be to clearly and briefly make a point or two that might intrigue an reasonable reader and perhaps point him in a new direction. That's often all that the better people require.

In general, with any protracted online debate, I recommend asking oneself: Could I be spending my time in a more productive or enjoyable way? If so, then do go that other thing! If not, then get a life! And yes, that includes protracted arguments in the NoodleFood comments.

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Saturday, April 19, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #8
By Diana Hsieh @ 6:58 AM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the eighth and final video:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Friday, April 11, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #7
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:57 AM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the seventh:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Wednesday, April 09, 2008
OAC Early Application Deadline
By Diana Hsieh @ 7:00 AM PermaLink

An announcement from the Ayn Rand Institute:
The Early Admissions deadline for the Objectivist Academic Center (OAC) is April 16, 2008 -- just a few weeks away!

The OAC is a distance-learning program of the Ayn Rand Institute offering classes on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, as well as on the methods of objective thinking and communication. If you are interested in Ayn Rand’s ideas and would like to study them in greater detail under the guidance of ARI staff intellectuals, then the OAC is the program for you.

By applying early, you greatly increase your chances of acceptance into a limited number of openings. Also, those who are not offered Early Admission are reconsidered during the Regular Admissions process on an equal basis with other applicants, giving them, in effect, two chances to be admitted. The application process is quite competitive, so we urge you to apply today!

Visit www.objectivistacademiccenter.org for more information. If you have any questions about the program, please contact oac@aynrand.org.
As I've said before, the courses offered by the Objectivist Academic Center have exceeded my wildest expectations. I cannot recommend the program highly enough.

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Friday, April 04, 2008
Nuisance and Pornography
By Diana Hsieh @ 7:44 AM PermaLink

Paula Hall recently sent me the following inquiry:
I was browsing the Ayn Rand Lexicon and came across the following [in the entry on free speech]:
Only one aspect of sex is a legitimate field for legislation: the protection of minors and of unconsenting adults. Apart from criminal actions (such as rape), this aspect includes the need to protect people from being confronted with sights they regard as loathsome. (A corollary of the freedom to see and hear, is the freedom not to look or listen.) Legal restraints on certain types of public displays, such as posters or window displays, are proper but this is an issue of procedure, of etiquette, not of morality.

The rights of those who seek pornography would not be infringed by rules protecting the rights of those who find pornography offensive e.g., sexually explicit posters may properly be forbidden in public places; warning signs, such as "For Adults Only," may properly be required of private places which are open to the public. This protects the unconsenting, and has nothing to do with censorship, i.e., with prohibiting thought or speech.
[The NoodleFood reader continues:] I can readily understand the concept of statutory rape. I am having difficulty with the notion that "[l]egal restraints on certain types of public displays . . . are proper," when the context refers to displays on private property -- no matter what the content. Rights can be violated only through physical force, and words and pictures are not force. Since when has there been a right not be "confronted with sights [a person] regard[s] as loathsome?" By what public standard could anyone determine what was "loathsome" and subject to restriction?

I am inclined to assume that I am missing something, rather than that Rand is inconsistent(!). What am I missing?
Paul and I have discussed this matter at some length, but I don't have time to write up our present view in any detail. Very briefly, our view is that the government can properly forbid nuisances as a kind of tort. However, a nuisance is not just something that someone doesn't like. Rather, it's an unavoidable, perceptual impingement, such that a person cannot go about his ordinary business in its presence. Examples of nuisances would include bright lights, loud music, and nasty smells -- but not a Mexican flag, a mural of a nude woman, or rap music at a normal volume. The particular content of the nuisance is irrelevant. A person has no right to be protected from exposure to disagreeable aspects of the world. That would open the door wide to all kinds of rights-violating restrictions on speech. However, a person does have a right not be "assaulted" by physically painful or unavoidably distracting percepts via some kind of nuisance law.

Some of that analysis fits with Ayn Rand's quoted comments, but not all of it. If we disagree with her on this fine point of legal philosophy, so be it. However, since neither Paul nor I are experts on philosophy of law, we're definitely interested in hearing arguments on all sides.

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Thursday, April 03, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #6
By Diana Hsieh @ 7:26 PM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the sixth, featuring Leonard Peikoff speaking on the morality of the Old Testament:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Saturday, March 29, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #5
By Diana Hsieh @ 7:55 AM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the fifth:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #4
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:46 PM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the fourth:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
John Lewis Versus Islamic Totalitarians
By Diana Hsieh @ 6:22 AM PermaLink

John Lewis recently e-mailed me the following about his recent speech at Georgia Tech:
I spoke at Georgia Tech last week on "No Substitute for Victory: The Defeat of Islamic Totalitarianism." A pro-Islamic group in the audience (some at least were students) tried to filibuster the Q&A. Their attacks openly called for Islamic law (a "good thing"), praised jihad as a "wonderful" concept, and proclaimed that subjugated peoples forced to pay the Islamic tax should be "grateful" for the "protection" they receive. They whitewashed history as well as the present situation, demanded that we stop "offending" them, said that the Iranians had no reason to trust the United States, and called me a "criminal mind." This was all-out support for a category of thoughtcrimes in American universities.
You can find the full report on Principles in Practice. It's pretty stunning -- and I can only admire John for keeping his cool in the face of such dishonest yet explicit Islamic totalitarians. Also, here's an update on a conference of Muslims reported by an audience member to have condemned terrorism.

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Sunday, March 23, 2008
BB&T Chair for the Study of Objectivism
By Diana Hsieh @ 5:42 PM PermaLink

Awesome news:
BB&T Donates $2 Million for Ayn Rand Research At The University of Texas at Austin
March 20, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas -- BB&T Corporation, one of the nation's largest banks, has awarded $2 million to the Department of Philosophy at The University of Texas at Austin to establish the BB&T Chair for the Study of Objectivism.

Tara Smith, professor of philosophy, has been named the first holder of the chair. Over 10 years, the gift will support research on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, as well as conferences, workshops, guest lecturers, visiting scholars and research on the moral foundations of capitalism.

Smith spearheads Objectivism scholarship in the university's philosophy department. She has published several articles on Rand's philosophy and the 2006 book, "Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist" with Cambridge University Press. She holds the Anthem Foundation Fellowship for the Study of Objectivism and is organizing the interdisciplinary conference, "Objectivity in the Law," April 4-5.

"Ayn Rand's philosophy has been the subject of increasing academic interest in recent years, and this generous gift will allow us to deepen examination of her thought and engage leading scholars in other fields, such as law," the Rand scholar said. "It's an exhilarating opportunity and a testament to BB&T's recognition of the vital importance of philosophy in people's lives."

Rand, a Russian-born American philosopher and novelist, is best known for her magnum opus, "Atlas Shrugged." A joint survey conducted by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club found that "Atlas Shrugged" is the second most influential book for Americans today, after the Bible. According to the Ayn Rand Institute, an estimated 20 million copies of her books have been sold.

"We believe that ideas matter. In this context, BB&T is trying to encourage a thorough and fair discussion of Rand's philosophy and the moral foundations of capitalism on university campuses," said BB&T Chief Executive Officer John Allison. "We are pleased to support the philosophy department's important work in the study of Objectivism at The University of Texas at Austin."

BB&T Corp., headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., is a financial holding company with $132.6 billion in assets. With more than 29,000 employees, its bank subsidiaries operate more than 1,500 branch offices in 11 states and Washington, D.C.
If you'd like more information on John Allison, you can listen to an excellent EconTalk interview with him. (To hear of a company systematically practicing the Objectivist ethics is quite thrilling!) You can also read about BB&T's philosophy and values on their web site.

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Friday, March 21, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #3
By Diana Hsieh @ 12:28 AM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the third:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
OCON Early Registration Deadline
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:02 AM PermaLink

The early registration deadline for OCON 2008 is fast approaching: it's March 31st. So if you plan to attend or if you're thinking of attending, you'll wish to register sooner rather than later to receive the price discounts.

If you want recommendations on particular optional courses, I'd be happy to provide those. Just e-mail me. I'm taking fewer than usual this year, as I expect to be working on my dissertation during OCON. I've signed up for:
Depending on my work schedule, I'm also hoping to be able to attend John Lewis' course Rome's Punic Wars: Three Victories and Their Lessons in Session 2, but I won't commit to that until OCON itself. (Paul is taking it.) John's courses are always excellent, so I'll definitely buy the course if I'm unable to attend.

As for the general courses, I'm especially looking forward to:
As usual, Paul and I will be attending the opening banquet, but not the closing banquet or the Fourth of July picnic.

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Monday, March 17, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #2
By Diana Hsieh @ 12:27 AM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. Here's the second:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! You can find links to all eight videos on the first one.

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Sunday, March 16, 2008
Music with an Ayn Rand Connection
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:03 AM PermaLink

Dismuke has compiled an interesting (and surprisingly lengthy) collection of music with some connection to Ayn Rand. If you're interested, go have a peek -- or rather, a listen.

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Saturday, March 15, 2008
Faith Versus Reason #1
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:22 AM PermaLink

The Ayn Rand Institute recently posted eight short Q&As on faith versus reason to its YouTube account. They're an excellent series, and I hope that ARI will post more such videos. I'm breaking them into separate posts, and here's the first:



If you like it, please give it a good rating! Also, if you know people who like Ayn Rand yet cling to their faith, you might e-mail them the whole series. Or if a blogger professes the same, you can post links to the series in their comments. Here are the links to copy and paste:
  1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1jMD3bFJdI
  2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd-3C9l7d0E
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ0i71VuV_o
  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hxKyIO6YoE
  5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-BEQqDS7Fo
  6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M37Kq0ob9MA
  7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYm-U_etSrU
  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z87IeNbLA0

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Alex Epstein on Market Neutral
By Diana Hsieh @ 10:00 AM PermaLink

In this 35 minute "Market Neutral" podcast, Chip Hanlon interviews ARI's Alex Epstein. The description reads: "Ayn Rand Institute analyst, Alex Epstein, discusses government's proper role in 'fixing' the subprime mess. He also weighs in on Libertarians, with remarks that may surprise given the recent euphoria surrounding long-shot presidential candidate, Ron Paul." (Via Mike)

I was able to listen to this podcast in early January. It was definitely interesting, particularly the comments on Ron Paul and libertarianism. I'm not sure that I agree with Alex's analysis of libertarianism, but it was good food for thought.

Update: I recalled what in particular I disagreed with in Alex's analysis of libertarianism. It's posted in the comments.

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Sunday, March 09, 2008
OCON 2008
By Diana Hsieh @ 12:55 AM PermaLink

The full schedule and registration for the Ayn Rand Institutes's summer conference, OCON 2008, was recently made available online at http://www.objectivistconferences.com/ocon2008/. The conference will be held in Newport Beach from June 28th to July 6th.

Please forward the URL to anyone you think might be interested in attending. OCON can be a great experience for anyone with a budding interest in Ayn Rand's ideas. Such people will be able to see those ideas in action -- not just as applied in the lectures but also as embodied in the people present. They'll also be able to discuss the philosophy in greater depth and with far more knowledgeable people than perhaps they've ever done before. In addition, the theme of the conference will be a topic near and dear to my heart, namely "changing the culture."

Note that student prices are heavily discounted -- and student scholarships
are available.

Interestingly, I didn't think to forward this announcement to the mailing lists of Front Range Objectivism and the Boulder Objectivist Club mailing lists until I'd thought to post it on the new OActivists list. So, much to my delight, that list is helping remind of me of what I can do. It's shaping my habits -- even more than I expected! Hooray!

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Saturday, March 08, 2008
Talk Objectivism
By Diana Hsieh @ 9:33 AM PermaLink

If you enjoy listening to podcasts, you might try those found over on TalkObjectivism. I've not heard any yet, as I've been engrossed in listening to Orson Scott Card (particularly Ender's Game and Enchantment) of late. However, the podcasts look good from their descriptions. Also, although the archives aren't listed on the main page, I found them here.

Update: Courtesy of Mark Wickens, you can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes via this link.

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Friday, March 07, 2008
Yaron Brook on Optimistim
By Paul @ 7:28 AM PermaLink

At a public Q&A session, Yaron Brook, president of the Ayn Rand Institute, was asked why he was optimistic that Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, will have political influence in the near future:



(Just remember that some people have trouble following Yaron's "Brooklyn accent"...)

Update from Diana: If you wish to help ARI spread Objectivism in the culture, you might consider joining the OActivists list.

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Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Yaron Brook at Ford Hall Forum
By Diana Hsieh @ 7:31 AM PermaLink

Ford Hall Forum announces a May lecture by Yaron Brook:
"Apollo and Dionysus" Revisited

In 1969, Ayn Rand's Ford Hall Forum talk, "Apollo and Dionysus," addressed the near simultaneous events of Woodstock and the first lunar landing. Employing Greek mythology's god of the sun and god of wine, she compared the awe-inspiring accomplishments of NASA's Apollo space program to the famous three-day concert that has come to exemplify the counterculture of the 1960s and the "hippie era." Almost four decades later, Dr. Yaron Brook, President and Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Institute, reflects on her words and takes a new look at our society's drives toward individualism versus wholeness, light versus darkness, and civilization versus primal nature.

Thursday, May 8
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Old South Meeting House
If you know of people in the Boston area who might like to attend, please send them the announcement.

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Friday, February 29, 2008
Question for the Academic Experts
By Greg @ 12:02 AM PermaLink

I have been checking around a little and haven't found solid answer, so I'm curious if any of our resident scholars of Aristotle and Rand (and Western philosophy in general) can clue me in on a couple of things:

1. Is it fair to say that Aristotle originated the idea of causality as identity applied to action ("entity-causation" -- things act the way they do because of what they are), though he wasn't absolutist on it (they do so "always or for the most part") -- and that Rand developed his lead into the clean, absolute formulation we enjoy slinging around today? Any other big players?

2. Was it Rand alone who came up with "existence is identity", clearly articulating how existence and identity are metaphysically inseparable, two different perspectives on the same basic fact? Or did she develop it from some earlier lead?

Any hints would be most appreciated!

Thanks,
Greg

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Thursday, February 28, 2008
OActivists Subscriptions
By Diana Hsieh @ 8:34 AM PermaLink

The new OActivists mailing list has been up and running -- with a lovely flurry of posts -- since Tuesday. If you tried to subscribe but you've not gotten any messages, that's probably because a spam filter ate the confirmation e-mail from the list software. In that case, please send an e-mail to diana@dianahsieh.com requesting that I subscribe you. I'll do so manually. The list has 130 members, but I want more!

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Summer Conference on the Moral Foundations of Capitalism
By Diana Hsieh @ 12:55 AM PermaLink

As some of you might know, the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism in South Carolina sponsors a three-day summer conference for undergraduates on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and the Moral Foundations of Capitalism. This summer's conference will run from June 5th to 9th at Clemson University.

It is an excellent conference, so I highly recommend it. (I was the graduate assistant last year.) The description on the web site is exactly accurate:
[The conference] brings together students from around the country and around the world to learn about capitalism with top professors in the field. Students attend lectures, participate in small group discussions, and have free time to discuss and debate the ideas presented in the formal sessions. Throughout the three days of sessions, students have ample opportunity to speak one-on-one with faculty and ask them questions in a more informal setting.
The faculty this year will be Drs. Yaron Brook, Onkar Ghate, Eric Daniels, C. Bradley Thompson, and Andrew Bernstein. Full scholarships will be granted to qualified undergraduate students. Send completed applications to edan@clemson.edu. (Please e-mail that address with any questions too.) More details including the application form, a full description of the event, a video from last year, and a FAQ are available on the web site.

Here's the most critical bit of information: The deadline for applications is March 5. So if you're thinking that you might like to attend, don't delay!

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Some News from ARI
By Diana Hsieh @ 10:36 AM PermaLink

Some news from ARI:

  • Mary Ann and Charles Sures' memoir of Ayn Rand, The Facets of Ayn Rand is now available on the web at http://www.facetsofaynrand.com.

  • On Thursday, March 13, 2008, at 7:30 PM, Dr. Keith Lockitch will be speaking on "Darwin and the Discovery of Evolution" at the Hilton Costa Mesa (3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626). The lecture is free. More information is here.

    I'm delighted by the topic, because in the process of grading student papers on the argument from design, I've realized that gross misunderstandings of evolutionary theory are quite common. It's definitely a topic that I'd like to study more, not just because it's relevant to the refutation of William Paley's argument for design, but also because I find it intrinsically interesting. Biology has always been -- by a long shot -- the most interesting of the sciences to me.

  • Brad Thompson published a great op-ed a while back entitled "An Open Letter to America's Students--Will Atlas Shrugged Change Your Life Forever?" If you haven't read it yet, you'll find it here.

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    • Sunday, February 24, 2008
    The Undercurrent
    By Diana Hsieh @ 12:20 PM PermaLink

    The Undercurrent now has a regularly updated blog. I've added it to my blogroll; it looks like it will be worth checking regularly. (Unfortunately, it doesn't show the full post on the main page. I find that annoying, as it's almost always easier to scroll past a long post that's not of interest than to click through to posts that are of interest. But oh well.)

    For those of you unfamiliar with The Undercurrent, here's how they describe themselves:
    The Undercurrent is a student-run newsletter. Its content is written primarily by (and for) college students across the country, with additional articles from the Ayn Rand Institute op-ed program and other writers.

    We aim to release a print edition once a semester. The Undercurrent is distributed to college campuses nationally. If you're interested in distributing on your campus (or anywhere else), more information can be found here.

    The Undercurrent's cultural commentary is based on the philosophy of Ayn Rand, a philosophy she named "Objectivism." Objectivism animates Ayn Rand's fiction, but it is first and foremost a systematic and comprehensive philosophy of life.

    It holds that the universe is orderly, comprehensible, and conducive to human flourishing. It affirms that human beings are not only capable, but worthy of living on earth. The individual's own life and happiness comprise his own highest moral purpose. Man flourishes only in a society that values science, technology, freedom and capitalism. And beauty, too.

    In these pages we hope to defend these values where they are under attack in our culture. To learn more about the ideas behind these values, you can begin by reading Ayn Rand's books, such as The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, or by visiting the web site of the Ayn Rand Institute.
    Just FYI, any regular blogger for The Undercurrent is more than welcome to join my OBloggers mailing list.

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    Saturday, February 23, 2008
    OActivists: An Easy Deal
    By Diana Hsieh @ 8:00 AM PermaLink

    The new OActivists list -- my informal private mailing list for Objectivists committed to fostering positive cultural change by effective advocacy of Objectivist ideas -- will open for business on Tuesday. It already has over 80 subscribers, but I want to offer an easy deal for anyone interested in subscribing yet hesitant to make a commitment to engage in activism.

    As you might recall from my original post, the list requires that subscribers meet two conditions.

    First, subscribers must be Objectivists, meaning that they agree with and live by the principles of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. Subscribers should also support the mission and activities of the Ayn Rand Institute.

    Second, subscribers must be committed to engaging in intellectual activism to promote Objectivist ideas in online or print forums on a semi-regular basis.

    The first criterion is pretty straightforward. But what does satisfying the second require? I'm willing make that very, very easy. Basically, at least once every six months while you're on the list, you must post at least one comment advocating the Objectivist view on some news article, op-ed, or non-Objectivist blog. That comment doesn't have to be long: just a few sentences will do. You could even just link to or quote from an essay by Ayn Rand or an op-ed from ARI. You'll be alerted to plenty of opportunities to engage in that kind of minimal activism via the OActivists list itself.

    In fact, you could even get started by posting a friendly comment on this positive review of The Fountainhead by a blogger.

    Of course, I will encourage subscribers to do more than just the minimum: they can write letters to the editor, publish op-eds, speak to local groups, write to their representatives, and so on. In fact, I hope that a person's experience with a wee bit of activism will embolden more. However, that wee bit -- just one comment in a public forum every six months -- is all that's required to subscribe to the OActivists list. Basically, that's five minutes of time every six months. That's not asking much in exchange for the value of subscribing to the list, I don't think.

    If that sounds like a fair deal to you, you are more than welcome to subscribe to OActivists via its web interface.

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    Monday, February 18, 2008
    A New List: OActivists
    By Diana Hsieh @ 8:38 AM PermaLink

    A message for Objectivists:

    We Objectivists often lament the sorry state of the culture. Too often, faith and emotion are lauded as superior to reason, the individual is merely a means to some collective, service to others is deemed more noble than personal happiness, and rights are nearly forgotten in politics. Yet we're also inspired by the unexpected inroads forged by the Ayn Rand Institute over the past few years, particularly by the wild success of their program offering "Free Books for Teachers."

    However, the Ayn Rand Institute cannot change the culture on its own, not even with our financial and moral support. It's just too big a task for a few dozen professional intellectuals. Objectivists must effectively advocate their values in the the forums open to them, if they want to see substantial and enduring change in the values of the culture.

    Thanks to Lin Zinser's FIRM (Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine), I'm now convinced that so much more is possible than most people imagine when like-minded people join forces in a loose, ad hoc way. In those ongoing efforts, FIRM's "Activists" mailing list for people committed to promoting freedom and individual rights in medicine in Colorado has been of surprising value. It enables us to quickly and easily alert each other to opportunities to advocate good ideas, to discuss effective methods of argument, to praise and encourage the work well done, to report on our own accomplishments, to marvel at our impact on the debate, to inform others of useful sources of information, to brainstorm about venues for advocacy, to announce upcoming events, and more.

    I've realized that a mailing list modeled on similar lines -- but specifically for Objectivists committed to fostering positive cultural change -- could be of similar value. So I've created OActivists @ OList.com. Here's the basic list description, including the requirements that all subscribers must satisfy:
    OActivists is an informal private mailing list for Objectivists committed to fostering positive cultural change by effective advocacy of Objectivist ideas. Its basic purpose is to facilitate communication about matters of mutual interest to Objectivist activists, such as opportunities for advocacy, methods of persuasive argumentation, announcements of upcoming events, useful sources of information on issues, examples of advocacy, and the like.

    To join the list, you must be an Objectivist, meaning that you agree with and live by the principles of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. You should support the mission and activities of the Ayn Rand Institute. You must also be committed to engaging in intellectual activism to promote Objectivist ideas in online or print forums on a semi-regular basis. (Notably, arguing with other Objectivists does not qualify as intellectual activism!)
    If you meet those criteria, please subscribe via the web interface. If you have any questions about the list -- including whether you qualify -- please e-mail me, the list's owner and administrator, at diana@dianahsieh.com. Subscribers will be expected to respect the purpose of the list. Those who prove themselves disruptive to its basic aims will be removed.

    To give people time to subscribe, the list will not open for discussion until Tuesday, February 26th.

    Finally: OActivists is not an Objectivist discussion list. Objectivists (including myself) have wasted far too much time and energy arguing amongst ourselves about minutia in far-off corners of the internet. We can do better. We can defend our values from attack in debates that matter. We can refute the standard strawmen of our philosophy. We can introduce people to rational, principled philosophic ideas. We can do all that more effectively if we communicate. That communication is what OActivists aims to make easy.

    Update #1: OActivists has 55 members in just 24 hours. Excellent!

    Update #2: Now it's 72 members in 48 hours. Even better!

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