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The definitive statement of Ayn Rand's philosophy, written by the preeminent Rand exponent and scholar. Illustrated with excerpts from her published works, complete with an abundance of new material that Rand communicated only in private conversation with Peikoff, this book illuminates Objectivism--and its creator--with brilliant clarity.
Acknowledgements Preface
Chapter 1: Reality
Existence, Consciousness, and Identity as the Basic Axioms Causality as a Corollary of Identity Existence as Possessing Primacy over Consciousness The Metaphysically Given as Absolute Idealism and Materialism as the Rejection of Basic Axioms
Chapter 2: Sense Perception and Volition
The Senses as Necessarily Valid Sensory Qualities as Real Consciousness as Possessing Identity The Perceptual Level as the Given The Primary Choice as the Choice to Focus or Not Human Actions, Mental and Physical, as Both Caused and Free Volition as Axiomatic
Chapter 3: Concept-Formation
Differentiation and Integration as the Means to a Unit-Perspective Concept-Formation as a Mathematical Process Concepts of Consciousness as Involving Measurement-Omission Definition as the Final Step in Concept-Formation Concepts as Devices to Achieve Unit-Economy
Chapter 4: Objectivity
Concepts as Objective Objectivity as Volitional Adherence to Reality by the Method of Logic Knowledge as Contextual Knowledge as Hierarchical Intrinsicism and Subjectivism as the Two Forms of Rejecting Objectivity
Chapter 5: Reason
Emotions as a Product of Ideas Reason as Man's Only Means of Knowledge The Arbitrary as Neither True nor False Certainty as Contextual Mysticism and Skepticism as Denials of Reason
Chapter 6: Man
Living Organisms as Goal-Directed and Conditional Reason as Man's Basic Means of Survival Reason as an Attribute of the Individual
Chapter 7: The Good
"Life" as the Essential Root of "Value"
Man's Life as the Standard of Moral Value Rationality as the Primary Virtue The Individual as the Proper Beneficiary of His Own Moral Action Values as Objective
Chapter 8: Virtue
Independence as a Primary Orientation to Reality, Not to Other Men Integrity as Loyalty to Rational Principles Honesty as the Rejection of Unreality Justice as Rationality in the Evaluation of Men Productiveness as the Adjustment of Nature to Man Pride as Moral Ambitiousness The Initiation of Physical Force as Evil
Chapter 9: Happiness
Virtue as Practical Happiness as the Normal Condition of Man Sex as Metaphysical
Chapter 10: Government
Individual Rights as Absolutes Government as an Agency to Protect Rights Statism as the Politics of Unreason
Chapter 11: Capitalism
Capitalism as the Only Moral Social System Capitalism as the System of Objectivity Opposition to Capitalism as Dependent on Bad Epistemology
Chapter 12: Art
Art as a Concretization of Metaphysics Romantic Literature as Illustrating the Role of Philosophy in Art Esthetic Value as Objective Epilogue: The Duel Between Plato and Aristotle References Index
Anonymous
Posted July 23, 2008
In my lifetime I have read this book a number of times, and I love it. I am however quite partial to Objectivism, and am a big fan of Leonard Peikoff and Ayn Rand, and have been for many years. In fact I'm the biggest Ayn Rand enthusiast I know, but I live in Utah, Utah being the citadel of intellectual expression that it is, I doubt there are many Objectivist in my vicinity. But anyway, OPAR is a great book, and *the* comprehensive expression of Ayn Rands philosophy written by *the* worlds foremost expert on the philosophy. Though the book is not too complicated or technical it is often overlooked in its brillant presentation of the worlds greatest, and soon-to-be-discovered, philosophy. And as far as the Peikoff-bashers that one comes across from time to time, you know, those who claim that he is some philosophical-phony, a pretentious cultist cashing in on a best-selling novelists corpse I would bet money that in actual life Dr. Peikoff is an amazing man, a remarkable thinker, a top-notch philosopher with unbelievable integrity. And it would be a dream come true to actually spend time with this man, because no matter how exciting it is to read the writings of great philosophers such as Russell, Spinoza, Blanshard, Plato, Neitzche, etc., there is *nothing* like reading the work of a great Objectivist!
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Posted April 14, 2007
For those people who have read Ayn Rand¿s novels and want to learn more about her ideas, Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand is the book to read. For those people who haven't read any of Ayn Rand's novel, this is still the book to read. One unique feature of Ayn Rand¿s novels We the Living, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged is that they help to express her very original philosophical ideas, which she later called Objectivism. But from these novels, it is difficult to understand the logical structure of Rand¿s philosophy. Some people might get the impression that Ayn Rand was primarily concerned with politics, but in fact, she wrote on all branches of philosophy, from metaphysics to epistemology to esthetics. Leonard Peikoff is very knowledgeable about Objectivism because he knew Ayn Rand and studied her philosophy for most of his life. His purpose in writing this book is to put her philosophical ideas together in one text starting with the foundation of metaphysics and epistemology, and then showing how these fundamental ideas logically led to Rand¿s views on ethics, politics, and esthetics. Even though Peikoff takes on some very abstract subjects, he never fails to write in a very clear style, using several concrete examples to help in understanding. One doesn¿t need a degree in philosophy to understand this well-written book.
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Posted August 2, 2003
Brilliantly rational, or, to steal a line, '...but of course.'
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Overview
This brilliantly conceived and organized book is based on a lecture course given by Dr. Leonard Peikoff in 1976, entitled "The Philosophy of Objectivism." The lectures were attended by Ayn Rand, who helped prepare them and also joined Peikoff in answering questions. Ayn Rand said of these lectures: "Until or unless I write a comprehensive treatise on my philosophy, Dr. Peikoff's course is the only authorized presentation of the entire theoretical structure of Objectivism--that is, the only one that I know of my own knowledge to be fully accurate."Dr. Peikoff, Rand's designated heir and foremost interpreter, reveals the abstract fundamentals of ...