1. Objectivism 101 14th Annual Summer Seminar of The Objectivist Center Diana Mertz Hsieh Lecture Four: The Virtues Wednesday, July 2, 2003

2. 2 Objectivism 101 Schedule 1.SundayAyn Rand and Philosophy 2.MondayReality and Reason 3.TuesdayLife and Happiness 4.WednesdayThe Virtues 5.ThursdayIndividual Rights and Capitalism 6.FridayArt as Spiritual Fuel

3. 3 The Nature of Virtues Virtues are actions by which we gain and/or keep our values Longer-term: Virtues are commitments, in thought and action, to the types of actions required to achieve rational moral values

4. 4 The Major Virtues Rationality Productiveness Independence Honesty Justice Benevolence Integrity Pride

5. 5 1: Rationality Rationality is the commitment to objectively grasping and acting on the facts of reality Rationality requires a commitment to… Full conscious awareness The facts of reality The method of logic …at all times, in all areas of life

6. 6 Rationality in Action Rationality is the commitment to objectively grasping and acting on the facts of reality Example One: Your lover tells you that he’s interested in polyamory, but you’re not so eager for a third in the relationship. Example Two: You discover that your spouse has been hiding money in a separate bank account.

7. 7 2: Productiveness Productiveness is the commitment to achieving the values that sustain your life Productiveness means… Creating values Trading with others Not mindless drudgery, not mooching or looting from others

8. 8 Productiveness in Action Productiveness is the commitment to achieving the values that sustain your life Example One: After you are laid off, your parents eagerly offer to let you move back in with them Example Two: You realize that your output at work has declined over the past year.

9. 9 3: Independence Independence is the commitment to forming and acting upon your own judgments Two forms of independence: Independence in thought Independence in action

10. 10 Independence in Action Independence is the commitment to forming and acting upon your own judgments and living by your own mind Example One: At your new job, one particular person seems to be ostracized from the group. Example Two: A friend asks you what you think of her new boyfriend, but you know she just wants to hear “He’s great!”

11. 11 4: Honesty Honesty is the refusal to fake the facts of reality Two forms of honesty: Honesty with oneself Honesty with others

12. 12 Honesty in Action Honesty is the refusal to fake the facts of reality Example One: In a job interview, your prospective boss asks you invasive questions about your personal life. Example Two: After years in graduate school, you realize that your department is falling apart due to internal squabbles – and that obtaining your degree is increasingly unlikely.

13. 13 5: Justice Justice is the virtue of evaluating others objectively and acting accordingly Two aspects of justice: Objective judgment of others Acting based on those judgments A failure to judge others only encourages evil

14. 14 Justice in Action Justice is the virtue of evaluating others objectively and acting accordingly Example One: You are mistakenly given credit for a co- worker’s contribution to a project during presentation. Example Two: You discover that a cousin borrowed money from your parents and never repaid the loan.

15. 15 6: Benevolence Benevolence is the commitment to treating other people as potential trading partners Three aspects of benevolence: Civility Sensitivity Generosity

16. 16 Benevolence in Action Benevolence is the commitment to treating other people as potential trading partners Example One: Grandma gives you a really, really ugly shirt for Christmas. Example Two: You want to have a nice lunch with a friend, but know that he cannot afford much more than Subway.

17. 17 7: Integrity Integrity is the commitment to acting in accordance with long- range values and moral principles Integrity requires us: To think past short-term gains to long-range consequences To pursue and defend our values in face of opposition Integrity is the virtue of acting on virtue

18. 18 Integrity in Action Integrity is the commitment to acting in accordance with long- range values and moral principles Example One: Your liberal and religious co-workers make disparaging remarks about atheists and gun owners. Example Two: Your boss at work wants you to pirate software.

19. 19 8: Pride Pride is the commitment to one’s own moral perfection (moral ambitiousness) Pride requires us to hold ourselves up the the highest moral standard Recognize and remedy your moral failures Recognize your moral successes “…as man is a being of self-made wealth, so he is a being of self- made soul…”

20. 20 Pride in Action Pride is the commitment to one’s own moral perfection Example One: After a romantic relationship ends, you realize that you took the wrong side in some disputes with others about the behavior of your lover. Example Two: You are laid off as part of your company’s downsizing.

21. 21 The Major Virtues Rationality Productiveness Independence Honesty Justice Benevolence Integrity Pride

22. 22 Today’s Topics Virtue Rationality Productiveness Independence Honesty Justice Integrity Pride Benevolence