Weird Religion

114 THE AYNRAND (what is it like to grow up in an Objectivist household?)

Aug 30, 2023

Dr. David Dault, who grew up in an Objectivist household, discusses the ideology and principles of Ayn Rand. The podcast explores his personal experiences, the influence of Objectivism on his moral compass, and the compatibility of Ayn Rand's radical self-interest with Christianity. The hosts also delve into Ayn Rand's novella 'Anthem', analyzing its storyline and the relevance of her didactic books in today's world.

30:23

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Episode guests

David Dault

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Growing up in an Objectivist household exposes individuals to Ayn Rand's philosophy of radical self-interest and its impact on relationships.

Ayn Rand's novella Anthem portrays a dystopian society where individuality is suppressed, serving as a didactic vehicle for her moral philosophy.

Deep dives

The Influence of Ayn Rand: Objectivism and Individualism

The podcast episode explores the influence of Ayn Rand and her philosophy of objectivism. The speaker shares personal experiences and connections to Rand's ideas, highlighting the moral clarity and selfish individualism present in her works. Rand's philosophy, rooted in egoism and a rejection of collectivism, presented a simple view of reality and a belief in the supremacy of self-interest. Although the speaker was raised in an environment influenced by Rand's philosophy, they ultimately moved away from it, recognizing its detrimental effects on relationships and embracing Christianity. Despite this personal journey, the speaker also acknowledges that there are still individuals and even politicians who misappropriately blend Rand's ideas with Christianity and capitalism. Overall, the podcast episode delves into the complexities and widespread reach of Ayn Rand's ideas and the ongoing debates they inspire.

Introduction

2min

Attending Conferences and Recounting Challenges

2min

Growing up in an Objectivist household

10min

Exploring the Storyline of 'Anthem'

5min

Ayn Rand's Didactic Books and Their Relevance Today

11min

What would it be like to grow up in a household guided by the principles of Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy? We talk to Things Not Seen radio host Dr. David Dault, of Loyola University Chicago, about being expoed to the ideology of Ayn Rand at a young age. If you’ve ever wanted to know about Rand’s “Objectivist” idea but were too afraid to ask, we’ll take you there. Along the way, Brian mispronounces Ayn’s name, David shares several fascinating and vulnerable personal stories, and we review the dystopian novella Anthem, ending with the hard question: Are these principles of radical self-interest compatible with Christianity?

David Dault: https://www.luc.edu/ips/about/faculty/daviddaultphd.shtml

Things Not Seen Radio: https://www.thingsnotseenradio.com/

Ayn Rand on the pronunciation of her first name: https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/1015/Six-things-you-probably-didn-t-know-about-Ayn-Rand/The-name-s-not-Ann

The Ayn Rand Institute: https://aynrand.org/

Max Stirner: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/max-stirner/

Ayn Rand’s Anthem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthem_(novella)

“Paul Ryan and Ayn Rand” (Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/what-ayn-rand-says-about-paul-ryan/2012/08/13/fd40d574-e56d-11e1-8741-940e3f6dbf48_blog.html

Matthew Sitman, Know Your Enemy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-your-enemy/id1462703434

Jordan Peterson on Ayn Rand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9aHYj93xJY