Ayn Rand Centre UK Podcast

“I swear—by my life and my love of it—that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” Ayn Rand, Atlas ShruggedAyn Rand’s novel, Atlas Shrugged, is a gargantuan work of fiction and philosophy, offering profound insights into morality, politics, love, sex, conflict, evil and much more.Join us for today's event, as we celebrate and discuss Atlas Shrugged, with Ellen Kenner, Shoshana Milgram and Andrew Bernstein.This event comes ahead of our new series, The Psychology of Atlas Shrugged Characters, premiering this Friday.

“‘Envy’ is the only name she could find for the monstrous thing she faced, but it was much worse than envy: it was the profound hatred of life, of success and of all human values…” Ayn Rand, “Through Your Most Grievous Fault,” The Voice of ReasonIn this essay, Ayn Rand delivers a sharp philosophical indictment on the culture that responded to Marilyn Monroe’s benevolent spirit and gaiety, with envy and malice.Join our upcoming discussion session with James Valliant, as we discuss this essay and explore its themes.Full essay: https://courses.aynrand.org/works/through-your-most-grievous-fault/Consider supporting our work by becoming a member: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

Up next in our ongoing exploration of Ayn Rand’s most controversial views: her views on a woman becoming the President of a country.Harry Binswanger and James Valliant discuss this issue and raise questions such as:What exactly were Ayn Rand’s views on a woman president?What can psychology tell us about healthy dynamics between a feminine woman and her masculine partner?Is hero-worship primarily a feminine trait?Consider supporting our work by becoming a member: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

“Most men […] find it particularly difficult to regard ethics as a science and to grasp the concept of a rational, objective ethics that leaves no room for anyone’s arbitrary ‘decision.’” Ayn Rand, The Voice of ReasonMost debates about what is morally right and wrong, come down to this issue: how do we verify what is morally right? Where—or to whom—do we turn to validate our ethical beliefs?James Valliant, discusses this issue in tandem with Ayn Rand’s essay, “Who is the Final Authority in Ethics?”Consider supporting our work by becoming a member: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

Since 2020 has been such a calamitous year for the world and our values, in 2021 we need to strike back on all fronts. Objectivism should and can play a key role in this struggle; thus, we need to discuss how to advocate effectively in each branch of the philosophy. In our first event of the year, we are joined by 4 Objectivist intellectuals who will each explain what they think is the best approach for promoting Objectivism through one branch of the philosophy.Consider supporting our work by becoming a member: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

Ayn Rand’s views on homosexuality have long been a major point of controversy—even many people who admire her ideas don’t know how to reconcile their admiration with their strong disapproval of her views on this subject.Some important points of clarification would be:What exactly were Ayn Rand’s views of homosexuality?Where do these views fit into the philosophical system of Objectivism?Was Ayn Rand wrong in holding these views?Dr. Harry Binswanger and James Valliant discuss in this event, moderated by Nikos Sotirakopoulos.Consider supporting our work by becoming a member: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

“A sense of life is a pre-conceptual equivalent of metaphysics, an emotional, subconsciously integrated appraisal of man and of existence. It sets the nature of a man’s emotional responses and the essence of his character.” — Ayn Rand, The Romantic ManifestoEach of us has a sense of life, that informs and impacts our relationship with the world—it influences the kind of art we’re drawn to, the romantic partners we choose, our engagement with our work, and so on.And our sense of life, in turn, is informed by our philosophical convictions and perspectives, held implicitly or explicitly.How can we identify our own senses of life?What contributes to the development of a certain sense of life?Can we change our sense of life?Join Nikos and James every Saturday in our in-depth discussion group on Dr. Leonard Peikoff's courses, open to all ARCUK members: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

One of Ayn Rand’s most controversial stances has been her perspective on Native Americans, in terms of whether they had a claim to the land that was ‘taken’ from them, and if their rights were violated in the process.In this event, James Valliant and Nikos will discuss Ayn Rand’s views on this issue, and debate whether she was right in holding these views.Join Nikos and James every Saturday in our in-depth discussion group on Dr. Leonard Peikoff's courses, open to all ARCUK members: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/

Dr Leonard Peikoff’s essay ‘Fact and Value’ is an important moment in the history of the Objectivist movement. It clarifies Rand’s view on the bridging of the ‘is-ought dichotomy,’ and refutes the idea of Objectivism being an ‘open’ system.Consider supporting our work by becoming a member: https://aynrandcentre.co.uk/membership/