Philosophy
Announcements, Philosophy
Compare Ayn Rand’s Ideas with Those of Nietzsche, Emerson, Montessori, and Ibsen
Jackson Upmann October 18, 2022
Would you like to deepen your understanding of Ayn Rand’s Objectivism by comparing and contrasting her ideas with those of other world-class thinkers? You can do just that in OSI’s next iteration of Ayn Rand Integrations.
History, Philosophy, Politics & Rights
Elihu Palmer’s Journey from Religion to Reason
Thomas Walker-Werth September 27, 2022
Elihu Palmer bravely advocated a philosophy of reason, based on observation of nature, when religion and superstition dominated the culture. He did this not only in spite of fierce popular resistance but also in defiance of tragic personal circumstances.
Ayn Rand & Objectivism, Economics, Philosophy
Ayn Rand vs. Classical Economists
Martin Hooss May 21, 2022
Ayn Rand’s case for capitalism stands in marked contrast to what might be termed the classical defense of capitalism. “The classical economists attempted a tribal justification of capitalism on the ground that it provides the best ‘allocation’ of a community’s ‘resources,’” she wrote.
Philosophy, Politics & Rights
The Collectivist Roots of Russian Atrocities
Thomas Walker-Werth April 7, 2022
What is happening now in Ukraine is a kind of barbarism many in the West thought was consigned to history. The only antidote to it is a principled defense of the very ideas Putin opposes: individualism and individual rights.
History, Philosophy
Heroes and Villains in Western Philosophy
Andrew Bernstein February 21, 2022
The heroes of philosophy from Thales to Rand—and preeminently Aristotle—have provided us with a priceless gift. In sundry forms, heroes support human life. Nowhere is this truth more powerful than with the heroes of philosophy.
Economics, Philosophy
Why Jeff Bezos Is Not a “Tech Mogul” or “King of E-Commerce”
Thomas Walker-Werth February 18, 2022
A king is only a king if he maintains his rule through force. An entrepreneur cannot resort to force; his means of success is voluntary exchange. Next time you hear someone criticize “tech moguls” or the “king” of any given industry, this distinction may come in handy.
Good Living, Philosophy
Clothing and Personal Identity
Andreea Mincu February 10, 2022
Wearing clothes we like serves an important psychological function: It enables us to experience and express our identity visually and tactilely. The more we consciously identify why we like certain clothes, the more we can choose those that best express our values—and the more pleasure and confidence we can gain from wearing them.
Philosophy
Reason vs. Mysticism: Truth and Consequences
Craig Biddle November 26, 2021
Reason or mysticism: These are our basic alternatives. One leads to knowledge, production, trade, prosperity, and social harmony. The other leads to ignorance, destruction, plunder, poverty, and unspeakable cruelty.
Arts & Culture, Ayn Rand & Objectivism, Philosophy
Which Ayn Rand Novel to Read First
Jon Hersey November 26, 2021
Where in Rand’s corpus should a curious reader begin? As someone who’s read it all, I would say that, for most people, there’s no better place to start than with one of Rand’s major works of fiction—Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, We the Living, or Anthem—and I suspect Rand would agree.
Education & Parenting, Philosophy, Politics & Rights
Why I Left America’s Failing Universities: An Interview with Carrie-Ann Biondi
Jon Hersey October 1, 2021
Carrie-Ann Biondi, a philosophy PhD and Aristotle scholar, taught in universities for twenty-five years, becoming associate professor of philosophy at Marymount Manhattan College and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. But in mid-2020, she jumped ship. Here, she shares why.