The Objective Standard: Spring 2012, Vol. 7, No. 1

by Craig Biddle, Richard M. Salsman, Earl Parson

The Spring 2012 issue (Vol. 7, No. 1) features the following articles and In Memory of John David Lewis, by Craig BiddleIndividualism vs. Our Future, Our Choice, by Craig BiddleObjectivism vs. Kantianism in The Fountainhead, by Andrew BernsteinInterview with Boaz Arad on the Israeli Freedom Movement, by Craig BiddleInterview with Ellen Kenner and Ed Locke on The Selfish Path to The Architect and the Painter, reviewed by Earl ParsonThe Closing of the Muslim Mind (Robert R. Reilly), reviewed by Burgess LaughlinThe 7 Principles of Zionism (Dan Illouz), reviewed by Gideon ReichTreason (Ann Coulter), reviewed by Joshua LipanaMao’s Great Famine (Frank Dikötter), reviewed by Daniel WahlObjective Economics (M. Northrup Buechner), reviewed by Richard M. Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength (Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney), reviewed by Daniel WahlYour Brain at Work (David Rock), reviewed by Daniel WahlThe Killer of Little Shepherds (Douglas Starr), reviewed by Daniel WahlIf I Die in the Service of Science (Jon Franklin and John Sutherland, MD), reviewed by Daniel WahlObit (Jim Sheeler), reviewed by Joseph KellardThe Objective Standard is a quarterly journal of culture and politics written from an Objectivist perspective (Objectivism being Ayn Rand’s philosophy of reason, egoism, and laissez-faire capitalism). The journal is based on the idea that for every human concern—from personal matters to foreign policy, from the sciences to the arts, from education to legislation—there are demonstrably objective standards by reference to which we can assess what is true or false, good or bad, right or wrong. The purpose of the journal is to analyze and evaluate ideas, trends, events, and policies accordingly. We maintain that the standards of both knowledge and value derive from the facts of reality; that truth is discovered only by means of reason (i.e., through observation and logic); that the factual requirements of man’s life on earth determine his moral values; that the selfish pursuit of one’s own life-serving goals is virtuous; and that individual rights are moral principles defining the fundamental requirements of a civilized society. We stand opposed to the notion that the standards of knowledge and value are not factual but subjective (feeling-based) or other-worldly (faith-based); that truth is ultimately dictated by majority opinion or a “supernatural” being’s will; that democratic consensus or “God’s word” determines what is moral; that sacrifice for “the common good” or in obedience to “God’s commands” is virtuous; and that rights are social conventions or “divine decrees.” In stark contrast to these philosophic approaches, ours is a philosophy of reality, reason, egoism, and laissez-faire capitalism.

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2012

About the author

Craig Biddle writes and lectures on philosophical and political issues from an Objectivist perspective, Objectivism being the philosophy created by Ayn Rand. Craig also edits The Objective Standard, a quarterly journal of culture and politics. His first book, Loving Life: The Morality of Self-Interest and the Facts that Support It, is a highly concretized, systematic introduction to Ayn Rand's ethics.

The book in progress is an introduction to the principles of good thinking and the fallacies that are violations of those principles. He has lectured and taught seminars at universities across the country, including Stanford, Duke, Tufts, UVA, UCLA, UM–Wisconsin, and NYU. Also lecture regularly at Objectivist conferences.

For a brief elaboration on the nature of Objectivism, see my essay “Introducing The Objective Standard” or Leonard Peikoff’s essay “The Philosophy of Objectivism: A Brief Summary.” To learn more about the philosophy, I suggest beginning with Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged.