Introduction to the Objectivist Ethics – Winter 2026

Price

$499.00

Duration

8 weeks

Begins

January 2026

Live Class Time

1.5 hours/week, time TBD
This course, based on recorded lectures by Tara Smith, examines the foundational principles of Ayn Rand’s moral philosophy while addressing core questions that her theory typically raises.

Its major topics are:

  • the foundations of value
  • the objectivity of value (in contrast with intrinsicist and subjectivist conceptions)
  • survival “versus” flourishing
  • the causal character of moral guidance
  • the role of values and virtues
  • egoism
Principal readings will be essays and excerpts from Ayn Rand and Leonard Peikoff, supplemented with essays by other scholars of Objectivism

Course Format: This course features exclusive recorded lectures by Tara Smith, not available anywhere else, followed by live classes with ARI instructors. The instructors leading the live component will be determined in Fall 2025.

Start Dates

Choose the semester that fits your schedule at checkout.

Syllabus

Week 1: The philosophy of work and philosophy at work

Week 2: Choosing a career path 1

Week 3: Choosing a career path 2

Week 4: Career skills 1

Week 5: Career skills 2

Week 6: Developing a career vision and strategy 1

Week 7: Developing a career vision and strategy 2

Week 8: Final thoughts and open Q&A

How it Works

Attend Weekly Optional Live Classes

Join live online classes and participate in the discussion.

Recordings Provided

Can’t join the live class? Watch all classes anywhere, anytime.

Submit Optional Assignments

Submit assignments for feedback from expert faculty—or simply enjoy the content and discussions for personal enrichment.

Coaching Support

All courses include access to top-notch coaches, who help you set goals, stay on track, and apply what you’re learning to career or intellectual pursuits.

What Students Say About ARI Live Courses

Your Instructors

Recorded lectures by

Expert content creators who develop the core course materials.

Tara Smith

Tara Smith

Tara Smith is a professor of philosophy at the University of Texas. Her main interests concern the nature of values and virtues, and the requirements of objective law. Dr. Smith's legal interests center around proper methodology in judicial review and First Amendment issues. Her current research concentrates on privacy (both as a personal value and a legal right), and psychological dimensions of moral values, including the psychological challenges of aging.

ARI Live Courses are for avocational and professional development purposes. They are not licensed and not accredited.

What's Included

Prerequisites​

Students should have some familiarity with Rand’s books and ideas, and at minimum should have read Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead before starting the course.

Explore More

We offer foundational courses in Objectivism and objective communication each year, as well as courses in special topics such as epistemology, literature, business, and intellectual history.

The Morality of Capitalism, Part I – Spring 2026
The Authoritarian Right – Winter 2026
Objectivism, Work, and Business – Fall 2025
The Philosophy of Objectivism, Part II – Summer 2026
Objectivism, Work, and Business – Fall 2025
The Philosophy of Objectivism, Part I – Fall 2025
Objectivism Through Ayn Rand’s Fiction, Part I – Fall 2025
Objective Communication, Part II – Fall 2025