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Introduction to the Objectivist Ethics – Winter 2026

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Price

$499.00

Duration

8 weeks

Begins

January 5, 2026

Live Class Time

Mondays, 2-3:30 PM ET
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, and live classes with ARI instructor Tristan de Liège.

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 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

"Before I found Ayn Rand I was in my first year of university, really wasn't enjoying life too much. I didn't know what I wanted to do after university. My one passion was politics and it's safe to say my views lined up, not with Thomas Jefferson, but more Bernie Sanders at the time. A flatmate of mine...convinced me to give Ayn Rand a go. As a result of reading Ayn Rand I've gained a new found confidence in myself. ...I have a new found appreciation for life I simply never had before and it's always improving."
Ben Garson
Ben GarsonStudent
"Before I came across her philosophy I didn't really know what I wanted to do specifically after school.... after reading Ayn Rand I understood how aimless I had been before. Reading The Fountainhead helped me improve in my own thinking and my own actions. So I started [ARI Live Courses] to get a better understanding of Objectivism, to improve my own life and to be more aware of the goals and values that I have."
Marvin Steinmeister
Marvin Steinmeister Student
"I have been on a journey of discovery and growth for a year and a half now. Every day here has been a gem of an experience, a priceless opportunity that I will treasure forever. In this time, I have plunged into the depths of Objectivism, a philosophy that initially seemed clear, but revealed more complex and fascinating layers as I progressed."
Jose Roberto Briones Hernandez
Jose Roberto Briones HernandezStudent

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.

Live instruction by

Interactive session leaders for weekly live classes and Q&A

Tristan de Liège

Tristan de Liège

Dr. de Liège is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He received his PhD from the University of California, Riverside in 2021. His research centers on productive work and its relationship to well-being, Aristotle’s ethics, and virtue ethics.

ARI reserves the right to cancel or reschedule live courses. Students have the option to be refunded, credited, or transferred to another course should this occur.

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

ARI Live Courses participants must abide by our Code of Conduct and Confidentiality policies, and any other course policies communicated to participants.

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What's Included

  • Weekly live sessions via Zoom
  • Live class recordings
  • Optional graded assignments
  • 1:1 coaching support

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.

Course Details

The course start date reflects the date of the first live class. Some courses may include assignments due before the start of the class.

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