Spring 2021 • Vol. 16, No. 1
From the Editor, Spring 2021
Welcome to the Spring 2021 issue of The Objective Standard. Features include “Walter Williams: Intransigent Individualist,” by Aaron Briley, “Common Sense for Objectivists: Five Reasons for Fans of Ayn Rand to Study Thomas Reid,” by Jon Hersey, and more. Continue »
Cover Article
Biographies, Economics, Politics & Rights
Walter Williams: Intransigent Individualist
One of America’s leading public intellectuals for nearly half a century, Walter Williams (1936–2020) defended free markets, championed individualism, and fought to liberate blacks and other minorities from destructive ideas and policies.
Features
History, Philosophy
Common Sense for Objectivists: Five Reasons for Fans of Ayn Rand to Study Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid is not only an excellent foil against which to compare and better understand Ayn Rand’s views, his fierce wit, clear exposition of philosophic problems, and insightful solutions make him a thinker worth reading in his own right.
Economics, History, Politics & Rights
George Reisman on Ludwig von Mises, Ayn Rand, and Capitalism
"Karl Marx taught that if you are a capitalist, you’re controlled by your so-called 'class interest,' but, of course, there is no such thing. People make decisions based on the ideas they accept as true." —George Reisman
Shorts
Politics & Rights, Science & Technology
Five Amazing Things that Happened in 2020
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
On Accusations of Racism in the Classical Music Industry
If we want a color-blind and merit-based classical music industry, then merit is the only thing we should consider. Such an industry would enable musicians to thrive and foster a culture in which they can create and perform the best quality music.
Economics
Per-Worker Productivity Compared: Fossil Fuels versus Wind and Solar
Supporters of wind and solar energy present these industries as modern, competitive, and poised to replace fossil fuels in a “great energy transition.” One of their “selling points” is that generating so-called renewable energy creates more jobs. Indeed, it does—but is this a pro or a con?
Politics & Rights
Was Breonna Taylor a Victim of Systemic Racism?
Is it reasonable to suppose that the officers involved lacked restraint and that this deficit was due to racial bias? Let’s investigate.
Arts & Culture, Good Living
How TOS-Con Changed My Life
If you want to have a good time, meet interesting people, and learn powerful practices for flourishing, then I highly recommend TOS-Con.
Reviews
History, Philosophy, Politics & Rights, Reviews
Freedom: An Unruly History by Annelien de Dijn
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.
Politics & Rights, Reviews
The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits
Markovits’s reliance on loaded language is a good sign that his argument cannot stand—pardon the pun—on its own merits.
History, Politics & Rights, Reviews
A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution by Damon Root
Root’s book provides a thoroughly researched and readable introduction to the arguments that formed the basis of what has rightly been called the “refounding” of the United States a century and a half ago—and that remain relevant today.
Arts & Culture, Reviews
Wonder Woman 1984, Written and Directed by Patty Jenkins
Wonder Woman 1984 is a dark film that reflects writer/director Patty Jenkins’s sense of life and her confusions concerning morality and capitalism.
Arts & Culture, History, Politics & Rights, Reviews, Science & Technology
Chernobyl, by Craig Mazin
Chernobyl explores the reasons for a monumental catastrophe and illustrates how it was magnified by the evasion and denial of those in charge.
Arts & Culture, Education & Parenting, Reviews
Hercules, Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
If you have a youthful soul or are a parent looking for the rare story that shows that heroism is not inborn or altruistic but the result of one’s choices and rational values, Hercules belongs on your watchlist.
Arts & Culture, Reviews
The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke
For those wanting to see the epitome of determination and willpower in action, few stories provide such a visceral experience as The Revenant.
Arts & Culture
Ordinary People (1980), Directed by Robert Redford
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.
Arts & Culture, Reviews
The Iron Lady, Written by Abi Morgan
Margaret Thatcher is one of the most controversial figures in modern history. Some consider her to have been a cruel, heartless villain who destroyed jobs and livelihoods, whereas others revere her as a valiant defender of liberty and the free market who saved her country’s economy.
Letters to the Editor
Politics & Rights
Letter to the Editor: Where Are the Protests in Response to Lockdowns?
Before 2020, no U.S. state had ever issued indiscriminate and indeterminate statewide lockdown orders.
Politics & Rights
Letter to the Editor: How to Evaluate the Black Lives Matter Movement
We need to distinguish between the organization Black Lives Matter and those who support the idea that black lives matter.
