Objectivism

Objectivism also known as Randism or Randianism is a philosophy of author and philosopher Ayn Rand. On political matters, objectivists favour free market capitalism and the opposition to  statism.

History
Rand originally expressed her philosophical ideas in her novels - most notably, in both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. She further elaborated on them in her periodicals The Objectivist Newsletter, The Objectivist, and The Ayn Rand Letter, and in non-fiction books such as Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology and The Virtue of Selfishness.

The name "Objectivism" derives from the idea that human knowledge and values are objective: they exist and are determined by the nature of reality, to be discovered by one's mind, and are not created by the thoughts one has. Rand stated that she chose the name because her preferred term for a philosophy based on the primacy of existence—"existentialism"—had already been taken.

Rand characterized Objectivism as "a philosophy for living on earth", based on reality, and intended as a method of defining human nature and the nature of the world in which we live.

Philosophy
When discussing Objectivism it is important to note that it isn't merely an ideology but rather a full philosophy, meaning that instead of just being a theory of politics it's a theory of philosophy as a whole (meaning: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics as well as politics). Or at least that's what it's intended to be.

Metaphysics
As Ayn Rand wrote in "The Metaphysical Versus the Man-Made" (Philosophy: Who Needs It): "The primacy of existence (of reality) is the axiom that existence exists, i.e., that the universe exists independent of consciousness (of any consciousness), that things are what they are, that they possess a specific nature, an identity.

Epistemology
Rand bases her solution to the problem of universals on a quasi-mathematical analysis of similarity. Rejecting the common view that similarity is unanalysable, she defines similarity as: "the relationship between two or more existents which possess the same characteristic(s), but in different measure or degree."

The grasp of similarity, she holds, requires a contrast between the two or more similar items and a third item that differs from them, but differs along the same scale of measurement (which she termed a "Conceptual Common Denominator"). Thus two shades of blue, to be perceived as similar must be contrasted with something differing greatly in hue from both—e.g., a shade of red.

Accordingly, Rand defines "concept" as: a "mental integration of two or more units possessing the same distinguishing characteristic(s) with their particular measurements omitted."

Ethics
The provocative title of Ayn Rand’s The Virtue of Selfishness matches an equally provocative thesis about ethics. Traditional ethics has always been suspicious of self-interest, praising acts that are selfless in intent and calling amoral or immoral acts that are motivated by self-interest. A self-interested person, on the traditional view, will not consider the interests of others and so will slight or harm those interests in the pursuit of his own. Rand’s view is that the exact opposite is true: Self-interest, properly understood, is the standard of morality and selflessness is the deepest immorality. Self-interest rightly understood, according to Rand, is to see oneself as an end in oneself.

Politics
Although her political views are often classified as conservative or libertarian, Rand preferred the term "radical for capitalism". She worked with conservatives on political projects, but disagreed with them over issues such as religion and ethics. Rand denounced libertarianism, which she associated with anarchism.

Aesthetics
The essence of Rand's view of art is that an artwork presents a philosophy, that is, a basic view of life. To identify what an artwork concretizes, Rand introduces her concept of metaphysical value-judgments. Rand's aesthetic theory, being reached inductively rather than being deductively imposed on phenomena, allows for special cases which differ in certain respects, such that the same general principles apply in a somewhat different way. Architecture and music are such cases. Rand's championing of Romanticism is one more case in which she applies the principle that underlies her entire aesthetics. Art serves a fundamental need of man's consciousness by bringing his concepts to the perceptual level of his consciousness and allowing him to grasp them directly, as if they were precepts, thereby unifying man's consciousness and offering him a coherent view of existence

Personality
Objectivism will usually display exaggerated traits of her founder, Ayn Rand.


 * Selfish and proud to be so.


 * Writes mediocre fiction.
 * Writes mediocre philosophy.


 * REEEEES at collectivism.


 * Loves bosses.


 * Will beat you to death with her bare hands if you are a freeloader/thief.


 * Takes speed (the drug).
 * Favorite game is Bioshock, but only the opening monologue.

How to Draw
Obj_flag.svg And you're finished!
 * 1) Draw a ball with eyes and a pink bow
 * 2) Separate the ball into 2 equal diagonal sides of Gold on the top and Light Blue on the bottom
 * 3) On the ball draw a white circle outline, with arched lines in it.
 * 4) Below the globe draw a person holding it up.

Friends

 * [[File:Minarchist.png]] Minarchism - Shares my beliefs on economics and the state.
 * [[File:Cap.png]] Capitalism - Only social system compatible with my philosophy.
 * [[File:Zio.png]] Zionism - Israel is the only democratic, civilized country in the Middle East, and I support the Israeli people against their savage enemies.
 * [[File:Neobert.png]] Neo-Libertarianism - The only other one in my quadrant who agrees with me on the Middle East.

Frenemies

 * [[File:Ancapf.png]] Anarcho-Capitalism - Stupid anarchist, but otherwise he is not an enemy.
 * [[File:Libcon.png]] Libertarian Conservatism & [[File:Xbert.png]] Christian Libertarianism - Thanks for quoting me, now please stop the Bible thumping.
 * [[File:Libertarian.png]] Libertarianism - For the last time, we aren't the same! I don't care how much you think we look alike!
 * [[File:Libertfem.png]] Libertarian Feminism - Better then [[File:Fem.png]] her I guess, but when will you realize that the collectivist identity politics of feminism aren't really compatible with my kind of values?

Enemies

 * [[File:Leftunity.png]] All the poors, beggars, and bums - You immoral, low-life, low-IQ, PARASITES!!!
 * [[File:Gay.png]] LGBTQ+ - Unproductive freaks.
 * [[File:Polpot.png]] Pol Potism - Literally Anthem, but even worse!
 * [[File:Synd.png]] Syndicalism - FUCKING PARASITE!!!
 * [[File:Ego.png]] Egoism - He's anti-philosophy and thinks private property is a spook.
 * [[File:Fem.png]] Feminism - Identity politics are not good for achieving individualism, and I cannot stand this alliance with lesbians and prostitutes! Abortion rights are cool though.
 * [[File:ML.png]] Marxism–Leninism - Filthy collectivist.
 * [[File:Egocom.png]] Ego-Communism - Does.... not...... compute......
 * [[File:Whitesup.png]] White Nationalism - Racism is the lowest, most crudely primitive form of collectivism. (The civil rights movement is assaulting our liberty.)
 * [[File:Nazi.png]] National Socialism - Evil Jew-hating collectivist.
 * [[File:Marxfem.png]] Marxist Feminism - I told you feminists were collectivist reds.

By Ayn Rand

 * Philosophy: Who Needs It? (Metaphysics)
 * Introduction to Objectivist Empistemology (Epistemology)
 * The Virtue of Selfishness (Ethics)
 * Capitalism The Unknown ideal (Politics)
 * The Fountainhead (Aesthetics)

Others

 * The Ominous Parallels: The End of Freedom in America by Leonard Peikoff
 * The Logical Leap: Induction in Physics by David Harriman and Leonard Peikoff
 * Ayn Rand Nation: The Hidden Struggle for America’s Soul by Gary Weiss
 * Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life by Michael Caine

Wikipedia

 * Objectivism
 * Objectivist movement
 * Ayn Rand

Videos

 * What is Objectivism? The Life and Philosophy of Ayn Rand | Polandball/Countryball History/Philosophy by CallMeEzekiel
 * The Fountainhead in 5 Seconds

Websites

 * The Atlas Society
 * Capitalism Magazine
 * The Intellectual Activist

Communities

 * r/Objectivism