The Objectivism Book Study met through 2022 to study Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, by Leonard Peikoff.

Welcome to the Objectivism Book Study (Week 16) — Reason vs. the Alternatives.

Our reading this week was:

Ch. 5 – Reason as man’s only means of knowledge 159-162
Ch. 5 – The arbitrary as neither true nor false 163-171

Ayn Rand was once asked if she could summarize the essence of her philosophy while standing on one foot. She replied:

“Metaphysics: Objective Reality. Epistemology: Reason. Ethics: Self-interest. Politics: Capitalism.”

Rand expands on this encapsulation:

“If you want this translated into simple language, it would read:

1. “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed” or “Wishing won’t make it so.”

2. “You can’t eat your cake and have it, too.”

3. “Man is an end in himself.”

4. “Give me liberty or give me death.”

That is an overview of Rand’s whole system of ideas.

To understand the second of those four points is the goal of our discussion today.

Ayn Rand summarized her point about reason:

“Reason (the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man’s senses) is man’s only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.”

Listen to the podcast in the player below, or view the video here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

List of Dates and Readings

Why Christians Should Reconsider Ayn Rand

About Us (For the New Christian Intellectual)

Ayn Rand and Christianity?

Christianity + Western Civilization

The Plunder of the Egyptians

Americanism Book Study

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