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).

Metaphysics
Rand's philosophy begins with three axioms: existence, consciousness, and identity. Rand defined an axiom as "a statement that identifies the base of knowledge and of any further statement pertaining to that knowledge, a statement necessarily contained in all others whether any particular speaker chooses to identify it or not. An axiom is a proposition that defeats its opponents by the fact that they have to accept it and use it in the process of any attempt to deny it." As Objectivist philosopher Leonard Peikoff argued, Rand's argument for axioms "is not a proof that the axioms of existence, consciousness, and identity are true. It is proof that they are axioms, that they are at the base of knowledge and thus inescapable."

Epistemology
According to Rand, attaining knowledge beyond what is given by perception requires both volition (or the exercise of free will) and performing a specific method of validation by observation, concept-formation, and the application of inductive and deductive reasoning. For example, a belief in dragons, however sincere, does not mean that reality includes dragons. A process of proof identifying the basis in reality of a claimed item of knowledge is necessary to establish its truth

Ethics
Objectivism includes an extensive treatment of ethical concerns. Rand wrote on morality in her works We the Living (1936), Atlas Shrugged (1957) and The Virtue of Selfishness (1964). Rand defines morality as "a code of values to guide man's choices and actions—the choices and actions that determine the purpose and the course of his life". Rand maintained that the first question is not what should the code of values be, the first question is "Does man need values at all—and why?" According to Rand, "it is only the concept of 'Life' that makes the concept of 'Value' possible", and "the fact that a living entity is, determines what it ought to do". Rand writes: "there is only one fundamental alternative in the universe: existence or non-existence—and it pertains to a single class of entities: to living organisms. The existence of inanimate matter is unconditional, the existence of life is not: it depends on a specific course of action. [...] It is only a living organism that faces a constant alternative: the issue of life or death".

Politics
Rand's defense of individual liberty integrates elements from her entire philosophy. Since reason is the means of human knowledge, it is therefore each person's most fundamental means of survival and is necessary to the achievement of values. The use or threat of force neutralizes the practical effect of an individual's reason, whether the force originates from the state or from a criminal. According to Rand, "man's mind will not function at the point of a gun". Therefore, the only type of organized human behavior consistent with the operation of reason is that of voluntary cooperation. Persuasion is the method of reason. By its nature, the overtly irrational cannot rely on the use of persuasion and must ultimately resort to force to prevail. Thus, Rand argued that reason and freedom are correlates, just as she argued that mysticism and force are corollaries. Based on this understanding of the role of reason, Objectivists claim that the initiation of physical force against the will of another is immoral, as are indirect initiations of force through threats, fraud, or breach of contract. The use of defensive or retaliatory force, on the other hand, is appropriate.

Aesthetics
The Objectivist theory of art derives from its epistemology, by way of "psycho-epistemology" (Rand's term for an individual's characteristic mode of functioning in acquiring knowledge). Art, according to Objectivism, serves a human cognitive need: it allows human beings to understand concepts as though they were percepts. Objectivism defines "art" as a "selective re-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value-judgments"—that is, according to what the artist believes to be ultimately true and important about the nature of reality and humanity. In this respect Objectivism regards art as a way of presenting abstractions concretely, in perceptual form.

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


 * Selfish and proud to be so


 * Writes mediocre fiction


 * 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
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:Ego.png]] Egoism - Only non-rightist who doesn't make fun of me.
 * [[File:Cap.png]] Capitalism - Only social system compatible with my philosophy.
 * [[File:Zio.png]] Zionism - Israel is the only democratic, civilised 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:Egocom.png]] Ego-Communism - Does.... not...... compute......
 * [[File:Ancapf.png]] Anarcho-Capitalism - Says I have some dumb takes, but otherwise he is not an enemy.

Enemies

 * [[File:Synd.png]] Syndicalism - FUCKING PARASITE!!!
 * [[File:Fem.png]] Feminism - Identity politics are not good for achieving Individualism.
 * [[File:ML.png]] Marxism–Leninism - Filthy collectivist.

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



Wikipedia

 * Objectivism
 * Objectivist movement
 * Ayn Rand

Videos

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

Communities

 * r/Objectivism