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The Objective Standard: Fall 2012, Vol. 7, No. 3
The Objective Fall 2012, Vol. 7, No. 3
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2012
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September 16, 2015
The Objective Standard is a quarterly magazine devoting to the discussion of Ayn Rand's philosophies, ideas or angles taken in analysis of the world's affairs. The collection of the short and concise essays in the magazine are timely refreshing, refueling Ayn's followers and rekindling their spirits after exhausting one's daily repetitive works.
The soul-scratching sketch of Ayn Rand herself on this issue cover delights the readers or followers of her ideology and as the editor's saying, "showing her intelligence, certitude, and benevolence". Also a major reason for my choice among the many past issues.
Aside from the usual departments in which the readers and editors exchange their comments, there are three main parts in the magazines: Featured articles, blog articles and book reviews. The quality of the featured articles is exceptional. In addition to outlining the general thoughts on Ayn's morality and romanticism, and how they are the "scaffolding" to America's founding principles of liberty and individualism, the writers went on to contrast them against religious undertakings in the development of mankind's morality and scientific revolutions.
So Ayn Rand's philosophy holds that "reality is real, that "existence exists"...there is only one reality; it is the given, everything in ti has a nature and can act only in accordance with its nature..." whereas religion holds that there are two realities (nature and supernature) and subjectivism holds that there is no reality but personal opinion and social convention. Similar contrast is extended to the realm of knowledge, the way people obtaining it - by rationality in Objectivism or by faith in religion. I should say the application of Ayn Rand's philosophy is striking, enlightening, and yet again, eloquent.
There are lot of discussions in the second part of the magazine about the U.S. politics back in the issue's date when Mit Romney-Paul Ryan run for presidential campaign, which is supported by the "rightists" on the political spectrum. While it was timely, these discussions might be a bit boring and wordy to the non-U.S. readers, as the writers explain why Paul Ryan was working on principles as a "Randist" or not.
The final part of the magazine contains 10 book reviews, showing the way for readers' further exploration. There are books which talk about economics like Free Market Revolution, The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Curve Ameritopia, the Unmaking of America, that they defend morality of capitalism and the self-interest pursuit of profit against both the "altruism" conservatives and "progressive" leftists. There are books which put Rand's philosophies in historical context like Ayn Rand's Nation, Alexander Hamilton. After hardening one's mind with all these books, there are entertaining books suitable for coffee break or lunchtime. One may choose to taking a ride in "The Secret Lives of Codebreakers" - perusing the faces of Alan Turing and his men and women working in Bletchley Park for breaking the codes of Enigma and winning the war against Nazi Germany. A good companion to code-breakers might be those spies working in "Double Cross", continuing to misinform the Germans that the Allies were going to land at Calais instead of the caved-in region and long winding Normandy coastline. Finally you can take a rest while reading "Lunch Break" through a journey of "stylistic romanticism", in which a painter uses word to paint a portraiture in action.
In conclusion, my eyes have been open more and more after reading the magazine. The hearts and minds of the literary Objectivists are delineated with careful details, and a more enriching life after drumming up your own.
The soul-scratching sketch of Ayn Rand herself on this issue cover delights the readers or followers of her ideology and as the editor's saying, "showing her intelligence, certitude, and benevolence". Also a major reason for my choice among the many past issues.
Aside from the usual departments in which the readers and editors exchange their comments, there are three main parts in the magazines: Featured articles, blog articles and book reviews. The quality of the featured articles is exceptional. In addition to outlining the general thoughts on Ayn's morality and romanticism, and how they are the "scaffolding" to America's founding principles of liberty and individualism, the writers went on to contrast them against religious undertakings in the development of mankind's morality and scientific revolutions.
So Ayn Rand's philosophy holds that "reality is real, that "existence exists"...there is only one reality; it is the given, everything in ti has a nature and can act only in accordance with its nature..." whereas religion holds that there are two realities (nature and supernature) and subjectivism holds that there is no reality but personal opinion and social convention. Similar contrast is extended to the realm of knowledge, the way people obtaining it - by rationality in Objectivism or by faith in religion. I should say the application of Ayn Rand's philosophy is striking, enlightening, and yet again, eloquent.
There are lot of discussions in the second part of the magazine about the U.S. politics back in the issue's date when Mit Romney-Paul Ryan run for presidential campaign, which is supported by the "rightists" on the political spectrum. While it was timely, these discussions might be a bit boring and wordy to the non-U.S. readers, as the writers explain why Paul Ryan was working on principles as a "Randist" or not.
The final part of the magazine contains 10 book reviews, showing the way for readers' further exploration. There are books which talk about economics like Free Market Revolution, The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Curve Ameritopia, the Unmaking of America, that they defend morality of capitalism and the self-interest pursuit of profit against both the "altruism" conservatives and "progressive" leftists. There are books which put Rand's philosophies in historical context like Ayn Rand's Nation, Alexander Hamilton. After hardening one's mind with all these books, there are entertaining books suitable for coffee break or lunchtime. One may choose to taking a ride in "The Secret Lives of Codebreakers" - perusing the faces of Alan Turing and his men and women working in Bletchley Park for breaking the codes of Enigma and winning the war against Nazi Germany. A good companion to code-breakers might be those spies working in "Double Cross", continuing to misinform the Germans that the Allies were going to land at Calais instead of the caved-in region and long winding Normandy coastline. Finally you can take a rest while reading "Lunch Break" through a journey of "stylistic romanticism", in which a painter uses word to paint a portraiture in action.
In conclusion, my eyes have been open more and more after reading the magazine. The hearts and minds of the literary Objectivists are delineated with careful details, and a more enriching life after drumming up your own.
Displaying 1 of 1 review