[Lecture Three] Objectivism Through Induction
by Dr. Leonard Peikoff
Total Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Course summary: In this course, Dr. Peikoff demonstrates how to grasp philosophic ideas and principles in the same way that they were discovered—through induction from the facts of reality. Working through a process of generalizing from observed facts, Peikoff shows how a student can come to grasp and validate key ideas in Objectivist philosophy. Key concepts covered in the course include the idea of objectivity in both knowledge and values, egoism, reason as man’s means of survival, and the metaphysical status of sex. Read more »
In this lecture: This lecture begins the examination of the inductive validation of egoism. Dr. Peikoff examines the issues of what is the good, what are values, and what is goal-directed action. The lecture also addresses how to properly differentiate egoism from other approaches.
Study Guide
This material is designed to help you digest the lecture content. You can also download below a PDF study guide for the entire course.
| Why does the validation of egoism, or any principle in epistemology or ethics, presuppose free will? And why does it assume the knowledge of it? |
| How is the standard definition of egoistic behavior as relating to the beneficiary of one’s action insufficient to understanding the full concept of egoism? |
| Why is it necessary to find some common denominator among all kinds of values before one can know what is actually an individual’s welfare? |
| Why is it not possible just to take any values being pursued as the concrete material? |
| Explain how action is essential to understanding the concept of value. |
| Why is it necessary to answer the “to whom,” “how,” and “for what” questions about value before the question of who should benefit? How does this contrast with other approaches? |
| Why is it acceptable and even expected for an early induction of the idea of value those things which are merely conventional values? How does one correct this if needed? |
| Using three or four basic values, demonstrate the way you might pull out a common denominator as a starting point. Why would saying “happiness” not be acceptable? |
| Why is it important to differentiate between principled versus unprincipled instead of egoist versus altruist? |