The Objective Standard: Summer 2011, Vol. 6, No. 2

by Craig Biddle, Daniel Wahl, Joshua Lipana

The Summer 2011 issue (Vol. 6, No. 2) features the following articles and The Iranian and Saudi Regimes Must Go, by Craig BiddleInterview with Reza Kahlili, an Ex-CIA Spy Embedded in Iran’s Revolutionary GuardsInterview with Historian John David Lewis about U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle EastObamaCare v. the Constitution, by Paul J. Beard IIThe Government’s Assault on Private-Sector Colleges and Universities, by Craig BiddleInterview with Andy Kessler about the Virtue of Eating PeopleIranium, reviewed by Daniel WahlRemple Grandin, reviewed by C. A. WolskiSurrender Is Not an Option (John Bolton), reviewed by Gideon ReichThe Chapter One (Bosch Fawstin), reviewed by Joshua LipanaWhy Obamacare is Wrong for America (Grace-Marie Turner, James C. Capretta, Thomas P. Miller, and Robert E. Moffit), reviewed by Jared M. RhoadsEthical Oil (Ezra Levant), reviewed by Andrew BannanAnti-intellectualism in American Life (Richard Hofstadter), reviewed by Burgess LaughlinHis Dark Materials Trilogy (Philip Pullman), reviewed by C. A. WolskiMoonwalking with Einstein (Joshua Foer), reviewed by Daniel WahlOperation Mincemeat (Ben Macintyre), reviewed by Daniel WahlThe Objective Standard is a quarterly journal of culture and politics 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. In a word, we uphold Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, and it serves as our frame of reference in analyzing the cultural and political issues of the day.

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2011

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.