Discussing Objectivism

Join us every Sunday!

Sign up below for weekly discussions led by ARI experts to deepen your understanding of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, connect with a community of engaged thinkers, and discover additional resources available through ARI.

Your first two sessions are free. Afterward, you can join our weekly sessions with a $65/month subscription—no long-term commitment required. This subscription includes:

Attend an Upcoming Discussion

“Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World”

November 9th

Led by: Aaron Smith and Sam Weaver

Originally a lecture presented at Yale, this essay contains Ayn Rand’s sweeping analysis of the causes of widespread despair about the state of today’s world. She discusses the crucial connections between reason and freedom on one side, and faith and force on the other – and argues that today’s world needs a “moral revolution” against altruism.

“Hunger and Freedom”

November 16th

Led by: Aaron Smith and Sam Weaver

In this essay, Ayn Rand comments on a campaign calling for successful countries to take on the responsibility of feeding the world. Her analysis focuses on the destructive nature of altruism and on the importance of understanding the source of nations’ wealth.

“What Is Capitalism?”

November 23rd

Led by: Aaron Smith and Sam Weaver

In this essay, Ayn Rand articulates the philosophical meaning of capitalism and explains why it is misunderstood and condemned on collectivist grounds today. She also presents her objective theory of values and contrasts it with the widespread intrinsic and subjective theories.

About the Program

Faculty

Aaron Smith, PhD in philosophy, is an instructor and fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute where he lectures and develops educational content for the Institute’s intellectual training and outreach programs. He is a member of the Ayn Rand University faculty.

Sam Weaver is an associate fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He teaches in ARI’s educational programs, including the Ayn Rand University, and writes and speaks on issues related to the field of education. He holds a BA in English and is currently pursuing graduate studies in the liberal arts.

Hear from Our Subscribers

The primary value for me is exploring the philosophy under the leadership and guidance of an expert. Secondary, but also important, is spending time with the people I like. At $65 a month, this is an incredible value for anyone curious about Objectivism and its integration into life routines.

This structure motivates me to stay consistent with studying Ayn Rand's philosophy which deepens my understanding through the process of reading, writing, and reflecting.

The Discussing Objectivism sessions are valuable to me because they get me to reread some of the essays I don't pick up regularly, which uncovers some lesser known gems for me. Furthermore, it's good to be able to ask questions to an expert Objectivist who can answer questions that arise in reading a text instead of simply having to wonder about a point.

I would recommend Discussing Objectivism to a friend because it creates a structured program to re-read and study Ayn Rand's articles closely to be able to write a short assignment about issues or questions raised by each article and have a productive discussion with two experts on Objectivism in an informal but serious setting, with far less time commitment than an ARU course requires.

“I always look forward to the Sunday discussions which have become a staple of my weekends. I love the courses ARU offers, but as someone that works full time and has a busy life, it makes it impractical to sign up for many of them. Discussing Objectivism is a great alternative for people looking for stimulating conversations, and ways to connect with likeminded individuals”

The weekly discussion group meetings are an effective way to stay sharp on Objectivist philosophy. Aaron Smith, the group leader, has a deep understanding of Objectivism and does a great job of facilitating the attendee discussions. I enjoy expressing my views to the group on the essays by Miss Rand and hearing feedback from Aaron and the others on the calls. The weekly readings and the group calls are frequently the best part of my week!

The mystics have church, I now have Discussion Objectivism. It's like entering Galt's Gulch for 90 minutes a week. The topics and essays discussed are always applicable to my life and every week I walk away a little more tuned towards identifying and building my values. Discussing Rand's essays with the best Objectivist scholars is a massive multiplier by helping to wring the most out of them. They see, understand, and explain deeper principles it would have taken me years to get on my own - if ever at all. There are few investments I've made that have had this level of return in such a short amount of time.

Previous Sessions

An excerpt from a previous session on “Tax Credits for Education.”

An excerpt from a previous session on “The Question of Scholarships.”