(in Polish) Reading Ayn Rand. An Introduction to the Objectivist Philosophy

elective monographs
general courses

Very good English language skills (at least B2): students are supposed to be able to read the assigned essays/articles, and actively participate in the discussion. A basic knowledge in philosophy is especially welcomed.

Classroom

The goal of the tutorial is to introduce the participants to Objectivism—philosophical system created by Ayn Rand in the XXth century. During the classes, we will analyze essential essays of Rand pertaining to each element of her system, including: metaphysics and epistemology, metaphilosophy, metaethics, normative ethics, political philosophy and aesthethics. We will also refer to some articles or books written by commentators and interpreters of Rand’s philosophy.

Ayn Rand is a world-wide known—although especially in the United States where her influence on the culture and intellectual communities is the strongest—novelist and philosopher. She presented her system, Objectivism, in both her novels and philosophical essays. Recently, Rand’s philosophy has been becoming more and more discussed in philosophical debates; the group of academic philosophers commenting on and interpreting her philosophy is constantly growing. The fact that her philosophy is indeed a system—created in an anti-synthetic times—is unique in itself.

Rand proposed not only her own ethical theory known as rational egoism (for which she is mostly known) but also very specific metaphysics, epistemology, philosophical anthropology, political and social philosophy as well as aesthethics. Each of these branches and their specific aspects are being intensively studied by both advocates and critics of the Objectivist philosophy.

The seminar will be mostly focused on analyzing and discussing Rand’s works: her essays or excerpts from her books. The main and basic goal of the course is to understand Objectivism as a whole system and its specific assumptions, arguments, and theses. During the course the following issues will be discussed:

- Rand’s radical view on philosophy as a field necessary for every human beings;

- basic concepts and arguments in the Objectivist metaphysics and epistemology;

- the Objectivist metaethics;

- the Objectivist normative ethics;

- Rand’s social and political philosophy;

- aesthethics and the nature of art in Rand’s philosophy.

A deep analysis of the aforementioned issues will help us understand Rand’s system, which is a necessary condition for a creative and critical (deliberative) perspective on it.

Rand, A. (1963). For The New Intellectual, New York: New American Library, 130-216.

Rand, A. (1964). The Objectivist Ethics, in: Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism, New York: A New American Library, 13-39.

Rand, A. (1964). Man’s Rights, in: Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism, New York: A New American Library, 108-117.

Rand, A. (1964). Collectivized “Rights”, in: Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism, New York: A New American Library, 118-124.

Rand, A. (1964). The Nature of Government, in: Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness: A New Concept of Egoism, New York: A New American Library, 125-134.

Rand, A. (1967). What is Capitalism?, in: Ayn Rand, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. New York: New American Library, 1-29.

Rand, A. (1982). Philosophy: Who Needs It, in: Ayn Rand, Philosophy: Who Needs It, New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1-15.

Rand, A. (1982). Causality versus Duty, in: Ayn Rand, Philosophy: Who Needs It, New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 128-136.

Rand, A. (1975). Philosophy and Sense of Life, in: Ayn Rand, The Romantic Manifesto: A Philosophy of Literature: Second Revised Edition, New York: New American Library, 14-23.

Rand, A. (1975). The Goal of My Writing, in: Ayn Rand, The Romantic Manifesto: A Philosophy of Literature: Second Revised Edition, New York: New American Library, 155-156.

Rand, A. (1990). Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, expanded second edition, Binswanger, H., Peikoff, L. (red.), New York: Meridian.

Secondary literature:

Binswanger, H. (1990). The Biological Basis of Teleological Concepts, Los Angeles: Ayn Rand Institute.

Gotthelf, A. (2000). On Ayn Rand, Belmont: Wadsworth.

Gotthelf A., Salmieri, G. (2006). A Companion to Ayn Rand, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Gotthelf, A. (2011). Metaethics, Egoism, and Virtue: Studies in Ayn Rand’s Normative Theory, Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.

Peikoff, L. (1991). Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, New York: Dutton.

Smith, T. (2000). Viable Values: A Study of Life as the Root and Reward of Morality. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman&Littlefield.

Smith, T. (2006). Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics. The Virtuous Egoist, New York:

Cambridge University Press.

After completing the course the student knows:

- key issues in Ayn Rand’s philosophy

- the main concepts in Ayn Rand’s ethical theory, such as the concept of value, virtue, and life as the standard of value

- links between each branch of the Objectivist system

After completing the course the student can:

- critically analyze Ayn Rand’s works and literature focused on Objectivism

- identify and interpret key problems, theses, and arguments in the Objectivist philosophy

- formulate her/his own view on Rand’s philosophy and philosophy in general

After completing the course the student can:

- appreciate practical and theoretical significance of philosophy as such

- appreciate practical and theoretical significance of Ayn Rand’s philosophy

- appreciate the significance of philosophical reflection for everyday life as well as social life and politics

Single-choice test (80%); active participation (20%)

Permissible number of absences: 2