Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand Reading Group
with Jon Hersey
21 hours total | 14 sessions, beginning January 16, 2024
Deepen your understanding of Ayn Rand’s life-serving philosophy by studying Dr. Leonard Peikoff’s systematic presentation of the ideas.
Ayn Rand was one of the most influential and, according to polls, inspiring writers of the 20th century. In her bestselling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, she illustrated her philosophy of reason, rational self-interest, and individual rights—a philosophy she later called Objectivism. She spent the final decades of her life applying Objectivism to all manner of cultural and political issues but, despite her stated intention to publish a systematic overview of the entire philosophy, she never did.
That job was left to Rand’s longtime student and friend, philosopher Leonard Peikoff, whose Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR) provided the first comprehensive explanation of Rand’s Objectivism.
The job of philosophy is to answer life’s broadest questions, such as: Is this a world in which I can succeed? How do I know what I know? What should I do with my life? Rational philosophy thereby provides tremendous leverage for defining and living one’s best life.
What is Ayn Rand’s philosophy, what are its principles, and how can they help you understand the world and kick your life into high gear? Explore these and related questions in OSI’s OPAR reading group.
Instructor
Jon Hersey
Jon Hersey (@revivingreason) is managing editor of The Objective Standard and holds fellowships at Foundation for Economic Education, where he writes in defense of freedom, and at Objective Standard Institute, where he teaches “How to Write Powerfully in Defense of Liberty.” He hosts the podcasts “Philosophy for Flourishing.” He’s on a mission to identify and apply the principles of human flourishing. Get his ebook on writing in defense of liberty here, and join his mailing list at JonHersey.com.
Course & Session Schedule
- January 16: Ch. 1: Reality
- January 23: Ch. 2: Sense Perception and Volition
- January 30: Ch. 3: Concept Formation
- February 6: Ch. 4: Objectivity
- February 13: Ch. 5: Reason
- February 20: Ch. 6: Man
- February 27: Ch. 7: The Good
- March 5: Ch. 8: Virtue Part 1
- March 12: Ch. 8: Virtue Part 2
- March 19: Ch. 9: Happiness
- March 26: Ch. 10: Government
- April 2: Ch. 11: Capitalism
- April 9: Ch. 12: Art
- April 16: Epilogue
- April 23: Make-Up, Miscellaneous, Wrap-up
How the Course Works
This course is interactive and discussion-driven, so enrollment is limited. Register early to secure your spot.
The course is held live on Zoom, which you can download for free here. Sessions are video recorded, so if you miss a session (or want to review), you can watch the recording. OSI may sell course recordings and/or use them for marketing, promotional, or educational purposes.
The course is 21 hours long, consisting of 14 sessions of 1.5 hours each. Homework assignments will require up to an additional hour per week.
If you don’t have a copy of the book, you need to get one so you can read the chapters we’ll be discussing each week. You can purchase the book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BetterWorldBooks, or practically any other bookstore. We recommend a print copy of the book, but if you prefer an electronic copy, that is fine, too. (If your financial situation is such that you cannot afford to purchase a copy of the book, please let us know by emailing [email protected], and we will help you get one.)
Course handouts and supplementary materials are delivered via email. Course participants are invited to an exclusive OSI Courses group on Facebook, where they can post questions and engage in discussions with the instructor and other participants.
Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Read our FAQ or email us at [email protected].
By enrolling, you agree to OSI’s Course Terms and Conditions.
