About me: The Objectivist Club at UCI is a student organization based on promoting the study of Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand. The club hosts lectures and debates, watches and listens to recorded lectures (VHS, DVD, and/or audiotape) on various issues, holds discussion groups, and studies Ayn Rand's novels and nonfiction.
Objectivism is the philosophy based on reason. The following is from the Ayn Rand Institute's website about the essentials of Objectivism
Essential of Objectivism from the Ayn Rand Institute website
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Ayn Rand named her philosophy "Objectivism" and described it as a philosophy for living on earth. Objectivism is an integrated system of thought that defines the abstract principles by which a man must think and act if he is to live the life proper to man. Ayn Rand first portrayed her philosophy in the form of the heroes of her best-selling novels, The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957). She later expressed her philosophy in nonfiction form.
Ayn Rand was once asked if she could present the essence of Objectivism while standing on one foot. Her answer was:
She then translated those terms into familiar language:
"Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed."
"You can't eat your cake and have it, too."
"Man is an end in himself."
"Give me liberty or give me death."
The basic principles of Objectivism can be summarized as follows:
Metaphysics
"Reality, the external world, exists independent of man's consciousness, independent of any observer's knowledge, beliefs, feelings, desires or fears. This means that A is A, that facts are facts, that things are what they are—and that the task of man's consciousness is to perceive reality, not to create or invent it." Thus Objectivism rejects any belief in the supernatural—and any claim that individuals or groups create their own reality.
Epistemology
"Man's reason is fully competent to know the facts of reality. Reason, the conceptual faculty, is the faculty that identifies and integrates the material provided by man's senses. Reason is man's only means of acquiring knowledge." Thus Objectivism rejects mysticism (any acceptance of faith or feeling as a means of knowledge), and it rejects skepticism (the claim that certainty or knowledge is impossible).
Human Nature
Man is a rational being. Reason, as man's only means of knowledge, is his basic means of survival. But the exercise of reason depends on each individual's choice. "Man is a being of volitional consciousness." "That which you call your soul or spirit is your consciousness, and that which you call 'free will' is your mind's freedom to think or not, the only will you have, your only freedom. This is the choice that controls all the choices you make and determines your life and character."Thus Objectivism rejects any form of determinism, the belief that man is a victim of forces beyond his control (such as God, fate, upbringing, genes, or economic conditions).
Ethics
"Reason is man's only proper judge of values and his only proper guide to action. The proper standard of ethics is: man's survival qua man—i.e., that which is required by man's nature for his survival as a rational being (not his momentary physical survival as a mindless brute). Rationality is man's basic virtue, and his three fundamental values are: reason, purpose, self-esteem. Man—every man—is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; he must work for his rational self-interest, with the achievement of his own happiness as the highest moral purpose of his life." Thus Objectivism rejects any form of altruism—the claim that morality consists in living for others or for society.
Politics
"The basic social principle of the Objectivist ethics is that no man has the right to seek values from others by means of physical force—i.e., no man or group has the right to initiate the use of physical force against others. Men have the right to use force only in self-defense and only against those who initiate its use. Men must deal with one another as traders, giving value for value, by free, mutual consent to mutual benefit. The only social system that bars physical force from human relationships is laissez-faire capitalism. Capitalism is a system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which the only function of the government is to protect individual rights, i.e., to protect men from those who initiate the use of physical force." Thus Objectivism rejects any form of collectivism, such as fascism or socialism. It also rejects the current "mixed economy" notion that the government should regulate the economy and redistribute wealth.
Esthetics
"Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value-judgments." The purpose of art is to concretize the artist's fundamental view of existence. Ayn Rand described her own approach to art as "Romantic Realism": "I am a Romantic in the sense that I present men as they ought to be. I am Realistic in the sense that I place them here and now and on this earth." The goal of Ayn Rand's novels is not didactic but artistic: the projection of an ideal man: "My purpose, first cause and prime mover is the portrayal of Howard Roark or John Galt or Hank Rearden or Francisco d'Anconia as an end in himself—not as a means to any further end."
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Hey! LOVE what you guys are doing - I'm an avid Objectivist myself. Thanks for visiting my page! If you would like join my mailing list, here's the form. Cheers! Jenny G
Thought people here might be interested (outraged?) to know that they're making an Atlas Shrugged movie (barf!)... with Angelina Jolie cast as Dagny. Double barf! I can't understand why someone like her would sign on to do a project like this, unless they completely butchered the screenplay. Likely.
but I would like to wish you a (late) happy birthday wish... so...Happy birthday!!! =) and I hope that ur special day was one of those you will never forget. keep doing what ur doing.
No problem-I'm reading Atlas Shrugged right now and find it very interesting. My parents are both very liberal so it's really made me think about things!
Thanks for your comment! Please check out my musical project "A musical introduction to Objectivism". It's available for free at www.soundclick.com/thecircadianrythms More info on my profile.
The Bush agenda attempts to portray all Muslims as terrorists. They also try to legitimize the West as the best. They claim to be compassionate toward other religions. The fact remains: they are ignorant of the Bible. They use the Old Testament out of context when they claim that it supports the war in Iraq--an illegal war about Oil and Religion. Whatever your religion might be, none of them at the most basic level should or would support this fucking asshole president and this illegal war
The Undercurrent is now welcoming orders for its upcoming issue. The issue will be mailed out at the end of September, and is intended to be distributed until January.
Articles in the upcoming issue will include:
*an article arguing that the War in Iraq is not, though it should be, guided by the goal of self-defense.
*an article arguing that medicine is not an entitlement, but a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other good.
*an article arguing that people put too much weight on statistical surveys as a guide for action.
*an article discussing and defending the value of corporations
*an article discussing the clash between religion and rational thought
*Two Ayn Rand Institute Op-Eds still to be selected
There will be an announcement when the articles are posted.
Orders can be placed by clicking “distribute” on our site (http://www.the-undercurrent.com/) or by clicking here
We will also list your campus club’s or community group’s event or contact info on our calendar. The service is free, just enter information by clicking the "calendar" link on our site, or by clicking here
turns out I was my own tyrant, as usual, not reading the form, typing the new (or old) password one less (or more) times than needed. i owe every single innocent internet civilian due justice in lieu of the spam war.
This is not beyond me, in fact. They seem to have figured out more than that because I can't seem to find re-entry back into my domain. Changing the password just no longer works. I must find other means to battle this tyrant.
Plato was discoursing on his theory of ideas and, pointing to the cups on the table before him, said while there are many cups in the world, there is only one 'idea' of a cup, and this cupness precedes the existence of all particular cups.
"I can see the cup on the table," interupted Diogenes, "but I can't see the 'cupness'".
"That's because you have the eyes to see the cup," said Plato, "but", tapping his head with his forefinger, "you don't have the intellect with which to comprehend 'cupness'."
Diogenes walked up to the table, examined a cup and, looking inside, asked, "Is it empty?"
Plato nodded.
"Where is the 'emptiness' which precedes this empty cup?" asked Diogenes.
Plato allowed himself a few moments to collect his thoughts, but Diogenes reached over and, tapping Plato's head with his finger, said "I think you will find here is the 'emptiness'."
turns out I was my own tyrant, as usual, not reading the form, typing the new (or old) password one less (or more) times than needed. i owe every single innocent internet civilian due justice in lieu of the spam war.
