Happiness Team Presentation by Tal Tsfany
Happiness Team is a life-changing workshop and accountability team, aimed to systematize the pursuit of happiness using Ayn Rand’s deep, life-serving discoveries. In this session,
The Galileo Affair by Dan Schwartz
The Galileo Affair is widely viewed as the classic example of a scientific genius being persecuted by religious dogmatists. Yet, in recent decades, some philosophers
Mickey Spillane’s Miami (and More) by Shosana Milgram
Ayn Rand admired Mickey Spillane as a writer and a crusader: “a brilliant literary talent” and a “moral absolutist.” Several of his novels, including the
Aristotle’s Method of Scientific Investigation by Gregory Salmieri
This lesson explains Aristotle’s method of scientific investigation, focusing on Aristotle’s logical works—especially the Posterior Analytics. Salmieri discusses Aristotle’s view of the kinds of questions
Aristotle’s Theory of Universals by Gregory Salmieri
In this lesson, Salmieri explains Aristotle’s theory of universals and how that theory makes possible scientific understanding (epistēmē) of this world based on sense-perception. The
Aristotle on the Different Types of Knowledge by Gregory Salmieri
In this lesson, Salmieri discusses Aristotle’s view of the types and degrees of knowledge. In particular, he explains what is distinctive about the type of
Stoicism and Objectivism on What (and How) to Value by Aaron Smith
The ancient Stoics held that we suffer in life because we value the wrong things and/or have the wrong attitude toward our values. If we
Augustine’s War Against Earthly Pride by Ben Bayer
St. Augustine’s philosophy marked a decisive turning point in the history of the West, the first systematic repudiation of the ancient Greek philosophical outlook in
The Reading Wars Today by Sam Weaver
After decades of debate, and despite the overwhelming strength of the evidence in favor of phonics, reading education is still a controversial topic in the
Saving Math from Plato by Harry Binswanger
Mathematics is the headquarters of Platonism—the reification of abstractions and the primacy of concepts over percepts. Even Euclid defined “line” as “breadthless length,” something not
Why We Are Losing Our Freedom of Speech by Peter Schwartz
Freedom of speech used to be an unquestioned value. Even as society endorsed the use of force in other realms, the individual’s right to express
Happiness II: Objective Confidence by Jean Moroney
An important component of happiness is confidence in your future success. How is such confidence possible, especially with ambitious goals that involve significant risks? In
How to Be an Earthly Idealist by Don Watkins
Many are attracted to Objectivism for its idealism. But they often struggle to successfully use Objectivism as a guide for living on earth, and experience
The Ontological Argument for the Existence of God by Robert Mayhew
Anselm of Canterbury (11th century) was the first to present the ontological argument, purporting to demonstrate God’s existence through a mere analysis of the definition
Moral Cognition: Telling Right from Wrong by Gregory Salmieri
What is the relationship between abstract moral principles (such as those that make up the Objectivist ethics) and the ability of people who do not
Justice, Moral Judgment, and the Danger of Psychologizing by Onkar Ghate
Ayn Rand’s novels and nonfiction essays contain a wealth of material on the psychological dimensions of philosophical ideas and principles. But in one of those
The Left’s Long War on Israel by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
When it comes to Israel’s mortal enemies, the usual suspects are Arab authoritarian regimes, Iran, and the antisemitic far right. And yet, some of the
Living Objectively – Integrating Objectivity Into Your Every Day by Tara Smith
Objectivity isn’t simply a tool for concept-formation or analyzing arguments. Objectivity affects how you treat your friends, how you do your work, how you set
How Objectivism Can Fuel Your Happiness by Tal Tsfany
Objectivism is a philosophy for living on earth. Happily. In this talk, ARI CEO Tal Tsfany will share concepts and actionable practices for leveraging Objectivism
Inside ARU: Philosophy and Work with Keith Schacht
Ayn Rand University is an online school of philosophy whose mission is to educate our students about Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism and to provide them
Inside ARU: Philosophy and Work with Yaron Brook
Ayn Rand University is an online school of philosophy whose mission is to educate our students about Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism and to provide them
The Immorality of the U.S. Immigration System by Agustina Vergara Cid
Opponents of immigration often say those who want to come to America should “get in line” and follow the law. But the U.S. immigration system
Q&A Panel and Conclusion of Conference with Onkar Ghate, Robert Mayhew, and Gregory Salmieri
Attendees take this final opportunity to pose any lingering questions the conference may have raised. Recorded live at Ayn Rand Con Europe 2023
Russia’s War in Ukraine by Yaron Brook
The war in Ukraine continues nearly a year and a half since Russia’s initial invasion. In this talk, Dr. Brook will illuminate the causes and
Anti-Americanism and Anti-Capitalism by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
When America was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, Greece was among the countries with the strongest anti-American sentiment, together with the likes of
Reason and Faith — Their Methods, Their Consequences, Their Relationship by Tara Smith
This lecture clarifies the basic nature of reason and of faith. It explains the superiority of reason by highlighting its role in the acquisition of
Aristotle’s Lyceum by Robert Mayhew
In this talk, after a quick look at the life of Aristotle and his establishment of a philosophical school at the Lyceum, Dr. Mayhew will
Man’s Life as the Standard of Value in the Ethics of Ayn Rand and Aristotle by Gregory Salmieri
“Man’s life,” wrote Ayn Rand, “is the standard of morality.” Aristotle was the first to identify the proper standard of morality as the distinctly human
Panel Discussion: Objectivism and Ancient Greek Philosophy with Robert Mayhew, Gregory Salmieri and Aaron Smith
Today’s earlier sessions were about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. In this panel we reflect on this philosophy in light of the nature of philosophy as
Q&A Panel on Objectivism with Onkar Ghate, Gregory Salmieri, Tara Smith and Aaron Smith
After reflecting on the talks so far, here is your chance to ask any questions you have about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. Recorded live at
Capitalism: The Only Moral Social System by Gregory Salmieri
“If life on earth is one’s standard of value,” wrote Ayn Rand, “then the nineteenth century moved mankind forward more than all the other centuries
What Does It Mean to Be Selfish? – Ayn Rand’s Vision of Rational Egoism by Tara Smith
“Give back,” “Serve something higher than yourself,” “Put others first” – this is the wisdom of the ages. Raised on these platitudes from religious and
The Evil of Altruism by Onkar Ghate
Everyone knows that altruism — selfless sacrifice for the sake of others — is the essence of virtue, right? But what if our understanding of
Ayn Rand’s Ideas: An Introduction by Aaron Smith
Every major philosophy gives you answers to questions about the nature of the world we live in, about human nature, about how to live one’s
Is Inequality Fair? by Yaron Brook
We’re told that the gap between the poor and the rich has widened. Many decry the “injustice” of income and wealth inequality. But is it
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict . . . What Is the Solution? by Yaron Brook
Central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the question of whether the state of Israel has a moral right to exist. In this talk Dr. Yaron
Why Bad Economics Won’t Go Away by Yaron Brook
Why is it that people don’t seem to learn from experience? It is clear that our existing Keynesian economic policies have failed miserably. We can
Pandemics and Patents by Adam Mossoff
Biopharmaceutical innovators responded heroically to the COVID-19 pandemic. In unprecedented time and with cutting-edge technologies, they created vaccines and other medical treatments that saved millions
The Inductive Origins of Darwins Origin by James Lennox
Charles Darwin was far from the first person to defend the idea that new species originate by a natural evolutionary process. Between 1750 and 1850
Judging Viewpoints by Their Fundamentals by Peter Schwartz
How do we judge viewpoints — political movements, ideologies, philosophies — that seem to contain mixtures of good and bad ideas? How do we determine
The Progress Movement: Origins, Momentum and Opportunities by Jason Crawford
In the last few years, a new intellectual community and movement has arisen, centered on the value of scientific, technological, industrial, and economic progress. These
“We the Living” – Celebrating the Film’s 80-Year Journey by Duncan Scott
Mr. Scott, restorer of the film classic We the Living, will give a talk celebrating the movie’s astonishing 80-year journey—from 1942 to 2022. Scott will
Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead”: The Story of Her Original Screenplay by Shoshana Milgram
Ayn Rand’s original screenplay for The Fountainhead was 283 pages long. The final screenplay for the 1949 film was less than half that length. Much
Building the Builder’s Mindset: Psychological Lessons from Working with Entrepreneurs by Gena Gorlin
Having spent much of the past two years offering psychological support to entrepreneurs, Dr. Gorlin has witnessed how much support the most ambitious people need—even,
Emil Theodor Kocher: A Chance to Cut by Laura Mazer
Emil Kocher, Swiss surgeon in the late 1800s, is known mostly for revolutionizing surgery of the thyroid. In his hands, the mortality rate of thyroid
Frege’s Logic: Revolution or Devolution? by Mike Mazza
The most significant figure in the history of logic after Aristotle is 19th-century German philosopher Gottlob Frege. Frege’s work in logic and philosophy is foundational
The Case for Open Borders by Harry Binswanger
Dr. Binswanger defends a radical position on immigration: the moral imperative to end all forms of governmental interference with freedom of travel. Crossing a national
Criminalizing Economic Inequality through the Prohibition on Insider Trading by Kevin Douglas
Mr. Douglas will describe how insider trading laws criminalize several forms of economic inequality. Property law generally protects a business owner’s freedom to profit from
Understanding Evil: The Soviet Union and the Sanction of the Victim by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
The Bolsheviks began as an insignificant, minority group that seized power in 1917, yet they maintained it for seven decades and established an empire with
The Dollar and the Gun Under Xi Jinping’s Dictatorship with Scott McDonald, Adam Mossoff, and Elan Journo
Rapid economic opening and growth since the 1980s led many to expect the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to undergo political liberalization and assume a
China’s Long March to Market Authoritarianism by Scott McDonald
During the seventy-plus-year history of the People’s Republic of China, it has transformed from a Leninist state, through chaos and technocrats, to what has been
Ayn Rand on the Genealogy of Altruism by Ben Bayer
Ayn Rand made abundantly clear that the morality of altruism had no basis in reason. Where then, if not from logical arguments, did it originate?
Ayn Rand Interviewed with Mickey Spillane by Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace interviews Ayn Rand and Mickey Spillane on their reasons for becoming authors, their view of what makes a hero, and why, despite being
Behind the Scenes: Ayn Rand on What Makes a Hero
In 1961, Mike Wallace sat down with both Ayn Rand and Mickey Spillane for an interview. For decades, this interview has been unavailable to the
Happiness by Jean Moroney
Ayn Rand’s distinctive view of values gives her a distinctive view of happiness. Topics discussed: – What happiness is– Why it’s “the normal condition of
Mickey Spillane: Crusader for Justice by Shoshana Milgram
Mickey Spillane is one of the best-selling writers of all time, with estimated sales of 225 million copies. Mike Hammer, his most enduring hero, is
Don’t Be Boring: Winning the Attention Game by Don Watkins
There has never been more competition for people’s attention. And yet you can’t win the war of ideas unless you can cut through the noise
Tertullian and Thomas Aquinas by Robert Mayhew
Tertullian (ca. 160–220) and Thomas Aquinas (13th century) both defended faith as a justification for their Christian beliefs, but whereas Tertullian proudly defended faith even
How to Set and Apply a Central Purpose by Jean Moroney
Having a central purpose can simplify your life, give meaning to all of your work, and ensure that your actions add up to a significant
Hugo, Rostand, Hernani and How to Be a Romantic by Lisa VanDamme
Victor Hugo’s Hernani was more than a play. It was “the rehearsal of a revolution,” a bold theatrical rebellion that defied Classical dogmas and made
Reproduction and the Objectivist Ethics by Gregory Salmieri
The Objectivist ethics is grounded in the nature of life. Spanning meta-ethics to politics, this talk surveys the implications for this ethics of an aspect
Why I’m Still Optimistic in Spite of Everything by Yaron Brook
It’s difficult not to be discouraged at the state of today’s world: our dysfunctional politics, our battered economy, and a culture sinking deeper and deeper
Creating a New Generation of Energy Champions: A Panel hosted by Yaron Brook with Bud Brigham, Alex Epstein, and Onkar Ghate.
Recorded as part of the Ayn Rand Institute Gala at OCON 2021. Today, the energy industry—the industry that powers every other industry—is under unprecedented attack,
COVID-19, mRNA and the Future of Vaccines by Amesh Adalja
In this talk, Dr. Adalja will discuss the science behind vaccine platform technologies such as the mRNA vaccines. He will also describe how changes in
Dismantling Roe by Onkar Ghate
If Samuel Alito’s leaked first draft of a potential majority decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is a reliable indication, the Supreme Court
Building the Ayn Rand University by Tal Tsfany
Tal Tsfany, ARI’s president and CEO, will review ARI’s mission to spread Objectivism and the progress made during 2021-22. ARI’s strategy for the future will
Stoicism vs Objectivism: What Is (and Is Not) Under Our Control? by Aaron Smith
Objectivism holds that it’s vital to understand what things are under our control and what are not. To avoid passive resignation toward what we can
Raising Ourselves: A Montessori-Inspired Self-Parenting Guide for All Ages by Gena Gorlin
Selfishness, as Rand conceived it, is a demanding discipline: only by tending to one’s character and nurturing one’s psychological development can one become fully a
“What For?”: How Atlas Shrugged Dramatizes the Struggle for the Value of Purpose by Ben Bayer
Ayn Rand named “purpose” as one of the three cardinal moral values of the Objectivist ethics. Drawing especially on Atlas Shrugged, this talk will illustrate
That Radiant Selfishness of Soul: the Virtue of Pride by Ben Bayer
Objectivism regards pride as a crucial moral virtue. But what does it mean to act with pride, as opposed to feeling pride or achieving self-esteem?
Ayn Rand Con Second Q&A Panel on Objectivism with Onkar Ghate, Aaron Smith and Nikos Sotirakopoulos
After reflecting on the day’s talks, the audience asks questions they have about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. Recorded at AynRandCon – Europe in London on
Reason Versus Faith and Emotionalism by Aaron Smith
At the root of Ayn Rand’s philosophy is the idea that reason is man’s basic tool of survival and only means of knowledge. What is
Free Will by Onkar Ghate (ARC EU 2022)
One core premise of Ayn Rand’s philosophy is free will—the idea that you are not the deterministic product of your race or genes or tribal
Ayn Rand on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Dec. 1967
A special edition of the ARI Live Podcast: Ayn Rand’s third and final appearance on the Tonight Show.
Ayn Rand on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Oct. 1967
A special edition of the ARI Live Podcast: Ayn Rand’s second appearance on the Tonight Show.
Ayn Rand on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Aug. 1967
A special edition of the ARI Live Podcast: Ayn Rand’s first appearance on the Tonight Show.
Behind the Scenes: Ayn Rand on the Tonight Show with Elan Journo and Tom Bowden
In 1967, Ayn Rand made three controversial appearances in the space of four months on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, including one that hasn’t
How Tribalism Distorts Your Thinking by Nikos Sotirakopoulos
From politics to the “culture wars,” it is evident that tribalism has added to the toxicity of the public sphere. But there is one other
Ayn Rand Con First Q&A Panel on Objectivism with Yaron, Onkar, Keith
After reflecting on the day’s talks, participants asked questions about Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. Recorded at AynRandCon – Europe in London on April 2, 2022.
Capitalism: The System of Individual Rights by Yaron Brook
Do citizens have a duty to serve the state? Or does government exist to protect the freedom of individuals to pursue their own lives and
The Virtue of Selfishness by Keith Lockitch
Everyone knows that selfishness is evil, right? But what if our concept of “selfishness” is completely mistaken? From Ayn Rand’s perspective, “selfishness” does not mean
The Evil of Self-Sacrifice by Aaron Smith
Everyone knows that altruism — selfless sacrifice for the sake of others — is the essence of virtue, right? But what if, like the concept
An Overview of Ayn Rand’s Ideas by Onkar Ghate
This talk was part of Ayn Rand Con Europe on April 3, 2022.
Theory to Practice: Applying Objectivism to the Pursuit of Happiness by Tal Tsfany
Ayn Rand gave us the gift of her fictional characters manifesting moral ideals, and showing us what is possible and admirable. How do we leverage
Using Reason to Cultivate Passion: A Moral and Psychological How-To Guide by Gena Gorlin
Despite all the graduation speeches enjoining us to “be passionate” about something, the experience of deep, passionate emotion is not an easy one to achieve,
Wealth Creators: The Forgotten Victims of Cronyism by Steve Simpson
Critics of cronyism typically describe the problem as politicians and businesses conspiring to win government favors at the expense of taxpayers, or the public in
Montessori and the Independent Mind with Matt Bateman, Catherine Dickerson, Allison Kunze, and Anne Locke Bussey
Ayn Rand, champion of the independent mind, championed Montessori education. Drawing on their experience with hundreds of individual young minds in Toddler, Primary and Elementary
Rising in Love: Monna Vanna as Magnificent Drama by Shoshana Milgram
Maeterlinck’s Monna Vanna, set in Italy during the Renaissance, has a timeless theme: Romantic love ennobles the human soul. One rises in love. But how
The Regulatory State: Causes and Casualties with Harry Binswanger, Peter Schwartz, and Adam Mossoff
Government regulations have grown inexorably over decades and now impact all aspects of our lives. Just in the last year, we’ve seen regulatory measures ranging
Dostoevsky and the Drama of Ideas That Matter by Shoshana Milgram
Fyodor Dostoevsky was a novelist of ideas. Ayn Rand praised his “enormous intelligence” and “superb mastery of plot structure”; some of her fiction even has
Free Speech Under Attack Panel with Steve Simpson, Flemming Rose, Dave Rubin
Freedom of speech is a bedrock principle throughout the Western world, but increasingly it is being challenged — on college campuses, among intellectuals and in
The Unknown Nuclear Crisis by Thomas Eiden
The worldwide supply of nuclear medicine relies on the production of radioactive materials from a mere six government-run nuclear research reactors. Each year, the reliability
The Evolution of Work by Jason Crawford
Man has always needed to work. But throughout history, as work moved from farms to factories to offices, it has improved in many ways. Work
Great Inventors as Great Capitalists by Adam Mossoff
We celebrate great inventors for their creations—the lightbulb, the sewing machine, the computer, the smartphone. Great innovators are often great capitalists, too. They often invent
O. Henry: Austin’s Storyteller and America’s Spirit by Shoshana Milgram
“More than any other author,” Ayn Rand wrote, O. Henry represents “the expectation of finding something wonderful around all of life’s corners.” He became world-famous
The Anatomists: In Defiance of Man and God by Laura Mazer
An understanding of human anatomy makes possible modern medicine, surgery and even representational art. But the knowledge is hard-fought: the story of the early anatomists
The Nature of Evil by Gregory Salmieri
A theme in Ayn Rand’s fiction is that the failure to understand evil is a source of error and unhappiness for good people. Drawing on
Philosophy and Energy by Alex Epstein
Today, the energy industry—the industry that powers every other industry—is under unprecedented attack, with widespread calls to eliminate fossil fuels and continue the strangulation of
All Regulation is Over-Regulation by Harry Binswanger
Conservatives complain about “over-regulation,” but all governmental regulation—regulation as such—is destructive and evil. Ayn Rand wrote that the premise of regulation is “the concept that