The philosophy of Ayn Rand…

Objectivism

Ayn Rand is quoted as saying, “I had to originate a philosophical framework of my own, because my basic view of man and of existence was in conflict with most of the existing philosophical theories. In order to define, explain, and present my concept of man, I had to become a philosopher in the specific meaning of the term.”

Objectivism So…. You mention the word philosophy and inevitably in most cases, the first thoughts to come to mind are….. Why should I care???? Why do I need to know??? What is philosophy???

Objectivism To answer the first two questions… Philosophy is about all of the questions that are central to a man actually living his life; therefore, they are inescapable. Even if you consciously decide to ignore those questions, inevitably your subconscious mind will take over… So the real question remains; do you want to control your actions, or do you want your actions to control you? Do you want to control your decisions, or do you want your decisions to control you?

Objectivism To answer the last question, the easiest, most simplified definition I can think of is…. Philosophy is the subject which studies a human’s relationship to reality. It is the abstract principles by which a man and woman must think and act if they are to live the life proper to a human being.

Objectivism To even begin to understand Objectivism, you must first understand the basic components of philosophy…. FIRST BASIC COMPONENT: Metaphysics – The nature of the universe as a whole What is real??? How does reality operate??? Are there two different realities??? Etc….

Objectivism SECOND BASIC COMPONENT: Epistemology – the theory of knowledge How do you know what you know??? What qualifies as knowledge??? What parts does an idea have to go through to be considered knowledge??? Can you ever really know something for certain??? Etc…

Objectivism CENTRAL COMPONENT: Ethics – man’s moral barometer Code of values to guide human choices and actions How should you live??? What should be the goals of your life??? What is right, and what is wrong??? Etc…

Objectivism FIRST CREATIVE COMPONENET: Politics – the nature of society What is the proper role of government??? What are the most effect means of governing??? What are the constructs man has created to hold back chaos???? Can those man-made constructs ever truly be effective??? Etc…

Objectivism SECOND CREATIVE COMPONENT: Esthetics – the philosophy of art What constitutes a piece of art or artwork??? What makes art good or bad??? How do you establish the standards for these judgments? Does life imitate art, or does art imitate life??? Etc…

Objectivism MetaphysicsEpistemology Ethics Politics Esthetics

Objectivism These components are structured the way they are for a reason!!! So Overall, you have: 1. Man’s relation to reality…

Objectivism These components are structured the way they are for a reason!!! So Overall, you have: 1. Man’s relation to reality… 2. How he knows this…

Objectivism These components are structured the way they are for a reason!!! So Overall, you have: 1. Man’s relation to reality… 2. How he knows this… From that knowledge, 3. He judges how he should live…

Objectivism These components are structured the way they are for a reason!!! So Overall, you have: 1. Man’s relation to reality… 2. How he knows this… From that knowledge, 3. He judges how he should live… And therefore, 4. How he should govern his existence…

Objectivism These components are structured the way they are for a reason!!! So Overall, you have: 1. Man’s relation to reality… 2. How he knows this… From that knowledge, 3. He judges how he should live… And therefore, 4. How he should govern his existence… 5. And, what adds beauty to that existence.

Objectivism So using these pre-existing concepts, Ayn Rand created her own philosophy, her perceptions of man and his relationship to the world around him. Here are the basics of Objectivism: Metaphysics "Reality, the external world, exists independent of man's consciousness, independent of any observer's knowledge, beliefs, feelings, desires or fears. This means that A is A, that facts are facts, that things are what they are—and that the task of man's consciousness is to perceive reality, not to create or invent it." Thus Objectivism rejects any belief in the supernatural—and any claim that individuals or groups create their own reality.

Objectivism So using these pre-existing concepts, Ayn Rand created her own philosophy, her perceptions of man and his relationship to the world around him. Here are the basics of Objectivism: Epistemology "Man's reason is fully competent to know the facts of reality. Reason, the conceptual faculty, is the faculty that identifies and integrates the material provided by man's senses. Reason is man's only means of acquiring knowledge." Thus Objectivism rejects mysticism (any acceptance of faith or feeling as a means of knowledge), and it rejects skepticism (the claim that certainty or knowledge is impossible).

Objectivism So using these pre-existing concepts, Ayn Rand created her own philosophy, her perceptions of man and his relationship to the world around him. Here are the basics of Objectivism: Human Nature Man is a rational being. Reason, as man's only means of knowledge, is his basic means of survival. But the exercise of reason depends on each individual's choice. "Man is a being of volitional consciousness." "That which you call your soul or spirit is your consciousness, and that which you call 'free will' is your mind's freedom to think or not, the only will you have, your only freedom. This is the choice that controls all the choices you make and determines your life and character. "Thus, Objectivism rejects any form of determinism, the belief that man is a victim of forces beyond his control (such as God, fate, upbringing, genes, or economic conditions). Ethics "Reason is man's only proper judge of values and his only proper guide to action. The proper standard of ethics is: man's survival qua man— i.e., that which is required by man's nature for his survival as a rational being (not his momentary physical survival as a mindless brute). Rationality is man's basic virtue, and his three fundamental values are: reason, purpose, self-esteem. Man—every man—is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self- interest, with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life." Thus, Objectivism rejects any form of altruism—the claim that morality consists in living for others or for society.

Objectivism So using these pre-existing concepts, Ayn Rand created her own philosophy, her perceptions of man and his relationship to the world around him. Here are the basics of Objectivism: Politics "The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is that no man has the right to seek values from others by means of physical force—i.e., no man or group has the right to initiate the use of physical force against others. Men have the right to use force only in self-defense and only against those who initiate its use. Men must deal with one another as traders, giving value for value, by free, mutual consent to mutual benefit. Thus, Objectivism rejects any form of collectivism, such as fascism or socialism. It also rejects the current "mixed economy" notion that the government should regulate the economy and redistribute wealth.

Objectivism So using these pre-existing concepts, Ayn Rand created her own philosophy, her perceptions of man and his relationship to the world around him. Here are the basics of Objectivism: Esthetics "Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value-judgments." The purpose of art is to concretize the artist's fundamental view of existence. Ayn Rand described her own approach to art as "Romantic Realism": "I am a Romantic in the sense that I present men as they ought to be. I am Realistic in the sense that I place them here and now and on this earth."

Objectivism Ayn Rand is quoted as saying, “My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”

Objectivism Ayn Rand is quoted as saying, “achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness – not pain or mindless self-indulgence – is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.”