Objectivism and the Corruption of Rationality: A Critique of Ayn Rand's Epistemology

by Scott Ryan

Ayn Rand presented Objectivism as a philosophy of reason. But is it? That is the question Scott Ryan seeks to answer in this careful examination of the Objectivist epistemology and its alleged sufficiency as the philosophical foundation of a free and prosperous commonwealth. Sorting painstakingly through Rand's writings on the subject, Mr. Ryan concludes that the epistemology of Objectivism is incoherent and debases both the concept and the practice of rationality.

Genres: Philosophy

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2003

About the author

Scott Ryan is the managing editor of The Blue Rose magazine, the author of Moonlighting: an Oral History, Fire Walk With Me: Your Laura Disappeared, the co-president of Fayetteville Mafia Press and the host of The Red Room podcast.

Reviews

[Apatheia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you already think Rand's philosophy is bad, this book will show you that it is far worse than you thought.

And if you think there's some good to be found in Rand, let this book show you her philosophy is beyond repair.

[Alexei · Rating 1 out of 5]

Scott Rayn inironically endeavours to repeat the feat of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, this time to find a place for Judaism, but instead ends up proving Karl Marx' dictum that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce. Give me my time back.