[Lecture Twelve] The Philosophy of Objectivism

by Dr. Leonard Peikoff

Total Time: 2 hours, 46 minutes

Course summary: This twelve lecture course presents the entire theoretical structure and key ideas of Objectivism. It covers all the major branches of philosophy and how Objectivism answers the essential questions in those areas. Ayn Rand attended the lectures and participated in a majority of the question and answer sessions after the lectures. Peikoff later used this material as the basis of his definitive book on Objectivism. Read more »

In this lecture: This lecture focuses on the application of Objectivism in the broad historical development in Western history. Dr. Peikoff provides an overview of the key ideas and contrasts in the major philosophic duel between Plato and Aristotle. Reviewing the implementation of those ideas from the ancient through the modern era, he provides a key to understanding the profoundly unique nature of America in history. He concludes the lecture with a view to the future. Ayn Rand participates in this lecture’s question and answer session.

Questions about this audio? Click here.

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.

What does it mean to study the philosophy of history?

Describe the main views in each branch of philosophy in the two major philosophic views in history.

Q&A Guide

Below is a list of questions from the audience taken from this lecture, along with (approximate) time stamps.

1:45:18	A slight addition to last week’s list of favorite authors: O’Henry
1:46:06	How would one define his own sense of life? What kind of words would one use—”happy,” “sad,” “sensitive”—and should one be able to define it? In how much detail? Could you give a sample description of someone’s sense of life, for example, the character of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind? Is it necessary for the novelist to know the sense of life of the characters he writes about? How would he use this in working out the characters?
1:54:32	Miss Rand, would you please read “If” and “When Earth’s Last Picture Is Painted” by Rudyard Kipling and tell us what these poems mean to you?
1:55:31	Could Miss Rand tell us the TV programs that she watches for pleasure?
1:58:26	John Galt told people “stop supporting your own destroyers. The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it. Withdraw your sanction. Withdraw your support.” But didn’t he also say that the looters want you to break their rules so that they can control you? [AR: “No he didn’t. Dr. Ferris did.”] If so, then how can one withdraw his support without losing one’s freedom in the process? Can you give some example in today’s context?
2:00:38	Isn’t now the time for an Objectivist politician, or should we Objectivists go to the classroom only?
2:01:37	Someone claims that a female professor at Columbia said that she heard Ayn Rand make a speech at Columbia in which Ayn Rand proved that the creation of material goods could only come under a capitalist system and that from this Ayn Rand concluded that Sputnik did not exist.
2:10:30	Why is there recurrent interest in Hitler, as evidenced by a recent series of books about him?
2:11:46	Do you plan on having your lecture series on any regular basis in the future? Will you be repeating this series in New York in the future, etc.?
2:14:18	Does the Foundation for the New Intellectual still exist?
2:14:48	What is a good philosophy of history text?
2:15:16	Can you recommend a good history of philosophy, but warn of its shortcomings?
2:16:50	Would you recommend a good history, that as distinct from a history of philosophy?
2:17:32	Why did Ayn Rand state that Anthem is not a plot novel?
2:20:34	Not answering questions on decorative arts, as these are covered in “Art and Cognition.”
2:21:00	You have mentioned Freud several times. What are the chief irrationalities of the Freudian view and upon what philosophic base is the Freudian view built?
2:27:04	When are traditions a value in a rational person’s life? More specifically, is it appropriate to observe such traditional holidays as Thanksgiving or Christmas?
2:27:44	If a child shows an interest in religion, what is the proper way for parents to respond?
2:31:31	I once took a philosophy course in which the professor said that the law of identity is tautological and doesn’t reveal any information about reality. What is meant by this?
2:32:55	Is not Kant’s one contradiction that he states that there is an external, true reality? How does he know it given his denial of the mind’s ability to grasp any true fact?
2:33:50	What can you say about the so-called supernatural phenomena such as ESP or telekinesis? (I missed the proper place for this question and thought you might accept it in the final lecture.)
2:36:18	“To the graduate from Duke University: You are correct. I should not equate Duke University with Rhine and parapsychology. That’s unfair and Duke has many other good departments. So I apologize to Duke for having overextended the criticism.”
2:36:48	What are the career opportunities in philosophy for a student of Objectivism?
2:38:30	Are there advances or discoveries to be made in philosophy consistent with Objectivism?
2:38:49	Can you explain why esthetics is included as branch of philosophy while economics, psychology, etc. are not?
2:40:41	Would a strike by the few existing men of the mind be appropriate at this point?
2:41:19	What political group should one with Objectivist views join?
2:42:31	Why didn’t thinkers of the Enlightenment identify Aristotle as their philosophic base?
2:44:19	Would there have been a better time for the advent of Ayn Rand? Could we have avoided the modern age if Ayn Rand were born earlier?
2:46:50	Can you tell us how Miss Rand’s novels and nonfiction works are selling today here and abroad?