's Articles
History, Philosophy, Politics & Rights, Reviews
Freedom: An Unruly History by Annelien de Dijn
Timothy Sandefur January 14, 2021
Far from a history of liberty, de Dijn’s book is a conscious effort to undermine that concept and to substitute in its place what she calls a “democratic conception of freedom,” which, in principle, amounts to collective control over every aspect of individual behavior.
Arts & Culture, Good Living
How TOS-Con Changed My Life
William Nauenburg January 5, 2021
If you want to have a good time, meet interesting people, and learn powerful practices for flourishing, then I highly recommend TOS-Con.
Politics & Rights, Science & Technology
Five Amazing Things that Happened in 2020
Thomas Walker January 5, 2021
As we look back on 2020 and look ahead to 2021, it’s important that we do so in a balanced way, not disregarding the things that have gone wrong, but also not letting ourselves slip into the fallacy of thinking that we live in the worst of times or at the end of history. We don’t.
Arts & Culture, Reviews
The Revenant by Michael Punke
William Nauenburg January 5, 2021
For those wanting to see the epitome of determination and willpower in action, few stories provide such a visceral experience as The Revenant.
Real Fake News
CDC Recommends against Americans Making New Year’s Resolutions
This just in from TOS’s Fake News department: As Americans were preparing to ring in the new year on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control dashed widespread hopes for a return to some semblance of normalcy in 2021, recommending that Americans refrain from making New Year’s resolutions.
Arts & Culture, Economics
Capitalism’s Greatest Hits: The Top Five Heartwarming Holiday Ads of All Time
Tim Chermak December 23, 2020
I love the holiday vibe during the few weeks before Christmas: the fir-scented candles, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra holiday music, Christmas lights, hot chocolate, and ads. Wait, what? Yes . . . advertisements.
Real Fake News
Nintendo Ends Mario-Tocracy with ‘Woke’ Rereleases
Keith Sanders December 22, 2020
Nintendo announced on Tuesday that it is rereleasing classic titles with radically new game designs following a collaboration with Yale professor Daniel Markovits, author of the New York Times best-selling book The Meritocracy Trap.
Politics & Rights, Reviews
The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits
Timothy Sandefur December 18, 2020
Markovits’s reliance on loaded language is a good sign that his argument cannot stand—pardon the pun—on its own merits.
Arts & Culture, History, Politics & Rights, Reviews, Science & Technology
Chernobyl, by Craig Mazin
Jennifer K. Crosby December 11, 2020
Chernobyl explores the reasons for a monumental catastrophe and illustrates how it was magnified by the evasion and denial of those in charge.
Politics & Rights
Was Breonna Taylor a Victim of Systemic Racism?
Aaron Briley December 11, 2020
Is it reasonable to suppose that the officers involved lacked restraint and that this deficit was due to racial bias? Let’s investigate.
Announcements
Discovering the Good: Morality, and Where It Comes From
TOS Admin December 4, 2020
On December 14 at 2:00 pm ET, the Ayn Rand Centre UK will host a discussion on the nature and source of morality with Craig Biddle and Douglas Murray.
Arts & Culture
Ordinary People (1980), Directed by Robert Redford
Joseph Kellard December 4, 2020
As mental health issues abound in America and beyond, this Academy Award-winning film remains as relevant today as it was when released forty years ago.
Announcements
Your New Alternative for Advancing Objectivism
Craig Biddle December 1, 2020
If you want to support an educational organization that advances Ayn Rand’s philosophy, you have a powerful new alternative: Objective Standard Institute.
Announcements
From the Editor, Winter 2020
Craig Biddle November 20, 2020
Welcome to the Winter 2020 issue of The Objective Standard. Features include “Reinventing Flight: An Interview with Blake Scholl,” interviewed by Jon Hersey; “Corporations and Political Corruption: The Curse of Cronyism and How to End It” by Michael Dahlen; “Ex-Muslims on the Front Lines in the Battle for Civil Society” by Faith Quintero, and more.
Philosophy, Politics & Rights
Ex-Muslims on the Front Lines in the Battle for Civil Society
Faith Quintero November 19, 2020
Ex-Muslims play a critical role in challenging the evil belief system that is Islam. Help them in the fight to protect free speech and civil society by supporting their work however you can.