Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand
Encyclopedia
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand is a 1991 book by philosopher Leonard Peikoff
about the ideas of his mentor, Ayn Rand
. Peikoff describes it as "the first comprehensive statement" of Rand's Objectivist philosophy. The book is based on a series of lecture courses that Peikoff first gave in 1976 and that Rand publicly endorsed. Peikoff states that only Rand was qualified to write the definitive statement of her philosophic
system, and that the book should be seen as an interpretation "by her best student and chosen heir." The book is volume six of the "Ayn Rand Library" series edited by Peikoff.
and epistemology, which she considered the fundamental branches of philosophy. The remaining chapters cover Rand's views on ethics
, politics
and esthetics, which she considered to be derived from those fundamentals. An epilogue titled "The Duel between Plato and Aristotle" discusses Objectivism's philosophy of history
.
said the book provided the first "full, systematic, non-fiction expression" of Objectivism, and said it was filled with "many electrifying ideas, elegant formulations, and majestic overviews." In a treatise defending Rand's ethics, philosopher Tara Smith took Peikoff's book as "an authoritative source of [Rand's] views". Edward W. Younkins said Rand's ideas were "authoritatively described and systematically explained" by Peikoff. According to non-Objectivist Rand scholar Mimi Reisel Gladstein
, "The reader who wants a comprehensive view of orthodox Objectivism as it has evolved since Rand's death should start with Peikoff's book."
Peikoff's "orthodox" approach to Rand's ideas drew criticism. Rand scholar Chris Matthew Sciabarra
described Peikoff's approach as "noncritical". Non-orthodox Objectivist philosopher David Kelley
wrote that Peikoff's introduction of the book as both a "definitive statement" and "interpreted" was "a tortured effort" based on fallacies. In a review for Library Journal
, philosopher Leslie Armour
called Peikoff an "authorized evangelist" and "official expositor" who was too "bound to the received word" to write a good defense of Rand's ideas.
Other critics attacked the content of Peikoff's views, not just the orthodoxy of his interpretation of Rand. Libertarian
writer David Ramsay Steele
described Peikoff's effort as "slapdash" and filled with positions that were "wrong, vacuous or trite". Philosopher Henry B. Veatch wrote that Peikoff should have "paid a more discerning and discriminating attention to present-day academic philosophy," instead of "simply brushing academic ethics aside".
Leonard Peikoff
Leonard S. Peikoff is a Canadian-American philosopher. He is an author, a leading advocate of Objectivism and the founder of the Ayn Rand Institute. A former professor of philosophy, he was designated by the novelist Ayn Rand as heir to her estate...
about the ideas of his mentor, Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
. Peikoff describes it as "the first comprehensive statement" of Rand's Objectivist philosophy. The book is based on a series of lecture courses that Peikoff first gave in 1976 and that Rand publicly endorsed. Peikoff states that only Rand was qualified to write the definitive statement of her philosophic
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
system, and that the book should be seen as an interpretation "by her best student and chosen heir." The book is volume six of the "Ayn Rand Library" series edited by Peikoff.
Content
The book is divided into 12 chapters. The first five chapters cover Rand's views on metaphysicsMetaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
and epistemology, which she considered the fundamental branches of philosophy. The remaining chapters cover Rand's views on ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, politics
Political philosophy
Political philosophy is the study of such topics as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it...
and esthetics, which she considered to be derived from those fundamentals. An epilogue titled "The Duel between Plato and Aristotle" discusses Objectivism's philosophy of history
Philosophy of history
The term philosophy of history refers to the theoretical aspect of history, in two senses. It is customary to distinguish critical philosophy of history from speculative philosophy of history...
.
Reception
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand was praised by many of Peikoff's fellow Objectivist thinkers as a comprehensive presentation of Rand's philosophy. In a review for the Objectivist magazine The Intellectual Activist, Harry BinswangerHarry Binswanger
Harry Binswanger is an American philosopher and writer. He is an Objectivist and was a long-time associate of Ayn Rand, working with her on The Ayn Rand Lexicon. His doctoral dissertation, in the philosophy of biology, presented a new theory of the goal-directedness of living action, in opposition...
said the book provided the first "full, systematic, non-fiction expression" of Objectivism, and said it was filled with "many electrifying ideas, elegant formulations, and majestic overviews." In a treatise defending Rand's ethics, philosopher Tara Smith took Peikoff's book as "an authoritative source of [Rand's] views". Edward W. Younkins said Rand's ideas were "authoritatively described and systematically explained" by Peikoff. According to non-Objectivist Rand scholar Mimi Reisel Gladstein
Mimi Reisel Gladstein
Mimi Reisel Gladstein is a professor of English and Theatre Arts at the University of Texas at El Paso. Her specialties include authors such as Ayn Rand and John Steinbeck, as well as women's studies, theatre arts and 18th-century British literature.-Life and scholarship:Gladstein was born in...
, "The reader who wants a comprehensive view of orthodox Objectivism as it has evolved since Rand's death should start with Peikoff's book."
Peikoff's "orthodox" approach to Rand's ideas drew criticism. Rand scholar Chris Matthew Sciabarra
Chris Matthew Sciabarra
Chris Matthew Sciabarra is a Brooklyn, New York-based political theorist. He is the author of three scholarly books—Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical; Marx, Hayek, and Utopia; and Total Freedom: Toward a Dialectical Libertarianism—as well several shorter works...
described Peikoff's approach as "noncritical". Non-orthodox Objectivist philosopher David Kelley
David Kelley
David Kelley is an American philosopher, author, and advocate of Objectivism. He is founder and senior fellow of The Atlas Society. He lives in Washington, D.C..-Education and career:...
wrote that Peikoff's introduction of the book as both a "definitive statement" and "interpreted" was "a tortured effort" based on fallacies. In a review for Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
, philosopher Leslie Armour
Leslie Armour
Leslie Armour is a Canadian-born philosopher and writer on social economics. He is the father of the cellist and impresario Julian Armour.-Academic career:...
called Peikoff an "authorized evangelist" and "official expositor" who was too "bound to the received word" to write a good defense of Rand's ideas.
Other critics attacked the content of Peikoff's views, not just the orthodoxy of his interpretation of Rand. Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
writer David Ramsay Steele
David Ramsay Steele
David Ramsay Steele is the author of From Marx to Mises: Post-Capitalist Society and the Challenge of Economic Calculation and Editorial Director of Open Court Publishing Company. With Michael R...
described Peikoff's effort as "slapdash" and filled with positions that were "wrong, vacuous or trite". Philosopher Henry B. Veatch wrote that Peikoff should have "paid a more discerning and discriminating attention to present-day academic philosophy," instead of "simply brushing academic ethics aside".