- "Objectivism is a philosophical system developed by Russian-American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand. She described it as 'the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute'."
A consideration of the idea that moral truths can be objectively known.
Objectivity: Objectivism is based on a belief in objective reality, reason, and evidence. Objectivity refers to the state of being unaffected by personal emotions, prejudices, or biases when forming judgments or making decisions. An objective approach to ethics involves striving to understand what is true and proper according to the facts of reality.
Rational self-interest: Objectivism emphasizes the importance of rational self-interest as the proper moral foundation for human action. Individuals should pursue their own happiness and well-being as their highest moral purpose.
Individual rights: Objectivism holds that individuals have certain inalienable rights, including the rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are not granted by governments, but are inherent in the nature of human beings.
Reason: Objectivism upholds reason as the primary means of understanding the world and making decisions. Rationality is the faculty that enables humans to perceive reality, form concepts, and make decisions based on evidence and logic.
Virtue: Objectivism identifies seven virtues as essential to human flourishing: rationality, productiveness, honesty, integrity, independence, justice, and pride. These virtues enable individuals to achieve their highest potential and live a fulfilling life.
Altruism: Objectivism rejects the altruistic ethic that holds self-sacrifice or service to others as the highest moral ideal. Rather, individuals should pursue their own self-interest and deal with others on the basis of mutual benefit, rather than self-sacrifice.
Capitalism: Objectivism advocates for a capitalist economic system, based on individual rights, private property, voluntary exchange, and free markets. Capitalism is seen as the only morally just social system, allowing individuals to pursue their own interests and achieve prosperity through trading with others.
Objectivist epistemology: Objectivism has a unique epistemology, or theory of knowledge, which holds that knowledge is based on sensory evidence and logical deduction. Objectivist epistemology rejects arbitrary beliefs or dogmatic assertions, and seeks to understand reality empirically and logically.
Ayn Rand: Ayn Rand was the founder of Objectivism and the author of several influential works, including "The Fountainhead," "Atlas Shrugged," and "The Virtue of Selfishness." Understanding her philosophy and the evolution of her thought is essential to understanding Objectivism.
Critiques of Objectivism: Objectivism has been subject to numerous critiques and criticisms, particularly from philosophers and intellectuals who disagree with its premises and conclusions. Understanding these critiques is important for engaging with Objectivism in a critical and informed manner.
Ethical egoism: This is the belief that individuals ought to pursue their own self-interests above all else. The idea is that each person is responsible for their own happiness, and should prioritize that above any other moral considerations.
Virtue ethics: Virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of developing virtuous character traits, such as honesty, courage, and compassion. According to this approach, one should aspire to be a good person, rather than simply following a set of rules.
Deontological ethics: Deontologists believe that there are certain moral absolutes that must be followed, regardless of the consequences. This often means that actions are judged based on whether they are intrinsically right or wrong, rather than on the outcome they produce.
Consequentialist ethics: In contrast to deontologists, consequentialists believe that the morality of an action depends entirely on its outcomes. This can take the form of utilitarianism, which seeks to maximize overall happiness or well-being, or other forms of consequentialist thought.
Objectivist ethics: Objectivism is a specific philosophy developed by Ayn Rand, which emphasizes individualism, reason, and self-interest. According to Rand, moral principles are based on rational self-interest, and individuals should be free to pursue their own goals without interference from others.
- "Rand first expressed Objectivism in her fiction, most notably The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957), and later in non-fiction essays and books."
- "Leonard Peikoff, a professional philosopher and Rand's designated intellectual heir, later gave it a more formal structure."
- "Peikoff characterizes Objectivism as a 'closed system' insofar as its 'fundamental principles' were set out by Rand and are not subject to change."
- "However, he stated that 'new implications, applications, and integrations can always be discovered'."
- "Objectivism's main tenets are that reality exists independently of consciousness, that human beings have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that one can attain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive logic, that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness, that the only social system consistent with this morality is one that displays full respect for individual rights embodied in laissez-faire capitalism, and that the role of art in human life is to transform humans' metaphysical ideas by selective reproduction of reality into a physical form—a work of art—that one can comprehend and to which one can respond emotionally."
- "Academic philosophers have generally paid little attention to or dismissed Rand's philosophy."
- "Although a smaller number of academics do support it."
- "Nonetheless, Objectivism has been a persistent influence among right-libertarians and American conservatives."
- "The Objectivist movement, which Rand founded, attempts to spread her ideas to the public and in academic settings."