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Objectivism in brief

“My philosophy, in essence, is 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.” Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Afterword, "About the Author".

  1. Metaphysics

    Reality

    Reality exists independently of anyone's consciousness. A is A.

  2. Epistemology

    Reason

    Reason is the only means of knowledge; concepts are formed from perception.

  3. Ethics

    Self-interest

    Your own life and happiness are your highest values, pursued rationally.

  4. Politics

    Capitalism

    Individual rights, no initiation of force, and government limited to protecting them.

  5. Aesthetics

    Romantic realism

    Art re-creates reality according to the artist's values.

All concepts

Questions

What is Objectivism?
A complete philosophical system: reality exists independently of anyone's mind (metaphysics), reason is the only means of knowledge (epistemology), each person's own life and happiness is the proper aim of their actions (ethics), and laissez-faire capitalism is the social system that protects individual rights (politics). Rand also set out a theory of art. More
Does Objectivism mean selfishness in the ordinary sense?
Rand's ethics holds that a person should act for their own long-term flourishing, judged by reason, neither sacrificing themselves to others nor others to themselves. She called this "selfishness" on purpose, to reclaim the word. It is not licence to exploit others. Rand rejected gaining at others' expense as irrational and destructive of one's own interests. More
Where did Rand set out her ethics most directly?
In "The Objectivist Ethics", the opening essay of The Virtue of Selfishness (1964). More
What did Rand think government is for?
For Rand, rights are freedoms of action (to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness), not claims on others' goods or labour. The only proper function of government is to protect them. More
Is Objectivism the same as libertarianism?
No. The two overlap on capitalism and limited government, but Rand rejected the libertarian movement and the label. Objectivism grounds its politics in a full philosophy of reality, knowledge and ethics. More
Where should I start reading?
Our suggestion is Anthem, then The Fountainhead, then We the Living, then Atlas Shrugged, then the essays in The Virtue of Selfishness. More