Craig Biddle's Articles
Good Living, Philosophy
Helen Keller’s Five Keys to Being Happy
Craig Biddle August 29, 2023
In 1882, when Helen Keller was nineteen months old, an illness left her blind, deaf, and consequently dumb. But she would go on to live a life of success and happiness. How?
Good Living
On Choosing to Be a Younger Son
Craig Biddle August 29, 2023
If you want to be fully alive and fully engaged in living a beautiful life, bear in mind the difference between the older and younger son—and choose to be the latter.
Good Living, Philosophy, Politics & Rights
Navigating Today’s Seductive and Destructive Language (A Study of Package-Deals and Anti-Concepts)
Craig Biddle May 24, 2023
If we want to understand and protect the values on which human life and liberty depend, we need clear understandings of the terms we use in thinking about them. Toward this end, it is helpful to understand the fallacy that Rand called “package-dealing” and the nature of what she called “anti-concepts.”
Ayn Rand & Objectivism, Philosophy
Debate: Is Objectivism a "Closed System" or an "Open System"?
Craig Biddle May 17, 2023
My debate with Stephen Hicks about whether Objectivism is a closed system or an open system has been posted on YouTube. Check it out—and if you find it clarifying, share it with people you think might appreciate it.
Announcements
Level Up in Life Like Never Before
Craig Biddle April 20, 2023
To miss this conference is to miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Join us in Phoenix for the most life-enhancing conference of the year—and possibly of your life.
Announcements
Objective Standard Institute’s Terrific 2022
TOS’s sister organization, Objective Standard Institute (OSI) has had a wonderfully productive year teaching the rising generation about the importance of philosophy, principles of Objectivism, and related ideas for living fully and advancing liberty.
Announcements
In Memory of Joseph Henry Kroeger, 1937–2022
Craig Biddle November 21, 2022
Joe Kroeger was a delightful man. He was extremely intelligent, highly productive, and enjoyed a long career in the technology sector. But Joe was not merely a man of ability. He also loved human ability.
Announcements, Ayn Rand & Objectivism
Philosophy: Who Needs It Reading Group
Craig Biddle October 11, 2022
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be leading a reading group on one of my favorite books: Ayn Rand’s Philosophy: Who Needs It.
Announcements, Ayn Rand & Objectivism
Objective Standard Institute’s New Internship Program
Craig Biddle September 13, 2022
I’m excited to announce Objective Standard Institute’s new Internship program for people aged 18 to 29 who are interested in a career advancing the ideas on which freedom and flourishing depend.
Announcements, LevelUp News
LevelUp 2023: TOS-Con’s New Name, Date, and Location
Craig Biddle September 6, 2022
Objective Standard Institute’s summer conference—previously called “TOS-Con”—is now “LevelUp Conferences.” Level Up 2023 will be in Phoenix, Arizona, June 21–24. The venue is the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa.
Announcements
From the Editor, Summer 2022
Craig Biddle May 21, 2022
Welcome to the Summer 2022 issue of The Objective Standard. Articles in this issue address economics, war, abortion, space travel, literature, film, music, and more.
Ayn Rand & Objectivism
Advancing Ayn Rand’s Ideas in Europe and Beyond
Craig Biddle May 21, 2022
Organizations supported by Prometheus Foundation are advancing Ayn Rand’s ideas in Europe and around the world. I am delighted to be part of these efforts.
Politics & Rights
Abortion and the Questions We Must Answer
Craig Biddle May 11, 2022
People are asking the wrong questions about abortion. To determine whether a fetus has rights, the questions we must answer are not “When does life begin?” or “Is a fetus a human being?” Rather, the questions are: What are rights? Where do they come from? How do we know it? To whom do rights apply?
Ayn Rand & Objectivism
Regarding Onkar Ghate and Harry Binswanger’s “Of Schisms”
Craig Biddle April 27, 2022
Onkar Ghate and Harry Binswanger of the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) have published a long article attacking Carl Barney and me in relation to the 2018 agreement between The Objective Standard (TOS) and ARI, which ARI unilaterally breached. I am sharing here a link to my response to Onkar and Harry’s attack.
Announcements, LevelUp News
March Gladness Savings on TOS-Con 2022 End Today
Craig Biddle March 22, 2022
TOS-Con 2022 is just too good to miss. And tomorrow—for 24 hours only—you can get 15% off registration. Here's how.