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The Vision of Ayn Rand: The Basic Principles of Objectivism
The original, never-before-printed, lectures on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism by Nathaniel Branden with a foreword by Barbara Branden and an epilogue by Dr. Branden. These lectures systematized Rand's philosophy for the first time and created a philosophical movement.
587 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2014
About the author
Nathaniel Branden
165 books587 followersNathaniel Branden was a Canadian–American psychotherapist and writer known for his work in the psychology of self-esteem. A former associate and romantic partner of Ayn Rand, Branden also played a prominent role in the 1960s in promoting Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. Rand and Branden split acrimoniously in 1968, after which Branden focused on developing his own psychological theories and modes of therapy.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 2, 2014
The clearest book on Objectivism that I have ever read (and I have read all of them). And his essay at the end, about what Objectivism gets wrong is sooooo important and well-said. None of it was news to me, but it was well-said. I also thought the first chapter was so crucial. Most people don't realize that the main idea of Objectivism is that knowledge is knowable. So many people would be so happy to read that first chapter and realize that they don't, after all, agree with Kant.
July 11, 2014
This is an absolutely excellent book about Objectivism. It is Nathaniel Branden's lecture series (which I listened to many years ago) transcribed. The last chapter deals with problems the author sees with Objectivism as put forth by Ayn Rand. I highly recommend the whole book.
July 28, 2026
Where to start? There is a lot to digest here, but overall, Branden does a fantastic job of codifying Rand's philosophies as gleaned from both his close association with her and from her books. At one point, Rand even said that Branden was the only one who could speak authoritatively on Objectivism. Regardless of Rand's change of mind later (which, incidentally, also cuts the legs out of either Branden's Objectivism or her's as portrayed in this book, but I digress), Branden at the time of putting this together was one of the only two authorities on Objectivism. Leonard Piekoff, the eventual heir to the throne of Objectivism, would struggle to attain even a small amount of Branden's authority here. So, in other words, Branden's description of Rand's philosophy is probably as close as one will get to a systematic doctrine of Objectivism.
I have an academic interest in Objectivism but disagree with its assumptions and therefore strongly so with the majority of its conclusions (although some of its doctrines have been personally influential); listening to Branden is an interesting experience for me (I listened to the lecture series from which this book is derived). Branden covers topics of epistemology, morality, ethics, government, god, sex, self-esteem, reason and virtue, 'mysticism', economics, and purpose. He also fits in a literary study of Rand's works including We The Living, Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. For those looking for the encapsulated premises and conclusions of an Objectivist, this covers it all.
As for the lecture series itself, Branden's work is exactly what you'd expect from an Objectivist. With an uneven application of logic drawn from assumptions and premises that they refuse to prove or question, he just as often supports the Objectivist position as he does spend his time critiquing the positions of others.
He spends a great deal of time critiquing what he (and Rand) call the "mystics" (his derogatory term for anyone that believes in a god). Branden, almost worse than Rand, simplifies the Christian doctrine (which he takes most regular aim at) down to self-sacrifice, spending a great deal of time straw-manning the Christian view. He does this in the regular. It is both unnerving (although not surprising; Objectivists hate Christians) and pitiful for someone with such a great degree of arrogance for his own superior ability to reason (taking on the real tenets and positions of Christians is much more difficult, although perhaps the average Christian may not do that reputation any favors). It would have been more intellectually interesting for Branden to have addressed real issues and positions, not the ones he and Rand made up in their mind that others hold. Don't even get me started on his arguments against the existence of God.
Brand straw-mans the most difficult arguments, which, of course he has to. He can't actually win a real debate on the origin of things and he doesn't have any clue as to Christian theology.
That having been said, I applaud Objectivist ethics because at least they arrive at the expedient and reasonable conclusion from an atheistic worldview that the self is all that matters. There isn't any other way to slice it, from a naturalistic, humanistic perspective.
In spite of these areas of contention, Branden does a fantastic job of explaining the ethic of the ego in Objectivist philosophy, the relation of work to that idea and self-sacrifice as a moral evil. At the bottom of the well of Objectivist philosophy is the mind's use of reason, and from that Branden (and Rand) argues that all morality is centered on the self and the free implementation of the mind to the objective reality of the world around them (thus the name, Objectivism). From this self comes their ethic that confining reason is evil. From this self comes personal values (the application of reason and personal admiration for compatible values) which are sourced in universal values (the use of the reason by the mind). From this self comes ethics, placing the productivity of man's mind as sacred. The Objectivist epistemology is reality, citing A is A as an argument for the positive assertion of existence, however it fails to address causes. Branden and Rand postulate existence and reality as an irreducible primary and therefore never explain why that might be true, however it guides everything about their belief system.
Although this review appears to be more a loose collection of thoughts, it should at least give insight into Branden's codification of Objectivism and serves as an important founding document to these ideals. Anyone with an interest in the subject should take this as a central pillar of understanding this flawed philosophical system. Branden constantly draws from Rand's writings and I assume his own long conversations with Rand in putting this together.
In total, it is well-presented if not flawed for the same reason that all atheistic philosophical systems are flawed. It is unable to answer first order problems and therefore holds premises because of a sort of methodological naturalism. That said, it is at least an attempt to put together a cogent view of the universe apart from the borrowed capital of theism that the modern atheist uses to prop up their own view of the universe including issues like morality (why shouldn't I kill or harm my enemy?), origins (if matter is eternal, does that make it god, or if matter isn't, where did it all come from?), purpose (why does my life matter?), and others. Branden and Rand do the academic service of at least rejecting those ideas whose origin they disagree with, and therefore it is an interesting yet vain attempt to codify a philosophical system to address all the important questions that greet people today and in the 1950s.
In total, 4/5 for its importance to the Objectivist canon.
I have an academic interest in Objectivism but disagree with its assumptions and therefore strongly so with the majority of its conclusions (although some of its doctrines have been personally influential); listening to Branden is an interesting experience for me (I listened to the lecture series from which this book is derived). Branden covers topics of epistemology, morality, ethics, government, god, sex, self-esteem, reason and virtue, 'mysticism', economics, and purpose. He also fits in a literary study of Rand's works including We The Living, Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. For those looking for the encapsulated premises and conclusions of an Objectivist, this covers it all.
As for the lecture series itself, Branden's work is exactly what you'd expect from an Objectivist. With an uneven application of logic drawn from assumptions and premises that they refuse to prove or question, he just as often supports the Objectivist position as he does spend his time critiquing the positions of others.
He spends a great deal of time critiquing what he (and Rand) call the "mystics" (his derogatory term for anyone that believes in a god). Branden, almost worse than Rand, simplifies the Christian doctrine (which he takes most regular aim at) down to self-sacrifice, spending a great deal of time straw-manning the Christian view. He does this in the regular. It is both unnerving (although not surprising; Objectivists hate Christians) and pitiful for someone with such a great degree of arrogance for his own superior ability to reason (taking on the real tenets and positions of Christians is much more difficult, although perhaps the average Christian may not do that reputation any favors). It would have been more intellectually interesting for Branden to have addressed real issues and positions, not the ones he and Rand made up in their mind that others hold. Don't even get me started on his arguments against the existence of God.
Brand straw-mans the most difficult arguments, which, of course he has to. He can't actually win a real debate on the origin of things and he doesn't have any clue as to Christian theology.
That having been said, I applaud Objectivist ethics because at least they arrive at the expedient and reasonable conclusion from an atheistic worldview that the self is all that matters. There isn't any other way to slice it, from a naturalistic, humanistic perspective.
In spite of these areas of contention, Branden does a fantastic job of explaining the ethic of the ego in Objectivist philosophy, the relation of work to that idea and self-sacrifice as a moral evil. At the bottom of the well of Objectivist philosophy is the mind's use of reason, and from that Branden (and Rand) argues that all morality is centered on the self and the free implementation of the mind to the objective reality of the world around them (thus the name, Objectivism). From this self comes their ethic that confining reason is evil. From this self comes personal values (the application of reason and personal admiration for compatible values) which are sourced in universal values (the use of the reason by the mind). From this self comes ethics, placing the productivity of man's mind as sacred. The Objectivist epistemology is reality, citing A is A as an argument for the positive assertion of existence, however it fails to address causes. Branden and Rand postulate existence and reality as an irreducible primary and therefore never explain why that might be true, however it guides everything about their belief system.
Although this review appears to be more a loose collection of thoughts, it should at least give insight into Branden's codification of Objectivism and serves as an important founding document to these ideals. Anyone with an interest in the subject should take this as a central pillar of understanding this flawed philosophical system. Branden constantly draws from Rand's writings and I assume his own long conversations with Rand in putting this together.
In total, it is well-presented if not flawed for the same reason that all atheistic philosophical systems are flawed. It is unable to answer first order problems and therefore holds premises because of a sort of methodological naturalism. That said, it is at least an attempt to put together a cogent view of the universe apart from the borrowed capital of theism that the modern atheist uses to prop up their own view of the universe including issues like morality (why shouldn't I kill or harm my enemy?), origins (if matter is eternal, does that make it god, or if matter isn't, where did it all come from?), purpose (why does my life matter?), and others. Branden and Rand do the academic service of at least rejecting those ideas whose origin they disagree with, and therefore it is an interesting yet vain attempt to codify a philosophical system to address all the important questions that greet people today and in the 1950s.
In total, 4/5 for its importance to the Objectivist canon.
March 30, 2013
Must read for fans of Atlas Shrugged and Ayn Rand
September 12, 2018
Branden does the best lectures on objectivism and I've read them all.
April 25, 2022
Not as detailed as Leonard Peikoff's book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, but more accessible. Doesn't go into nearly as much depth in Epistemology, but it may be more than enough for most people. Read at least The Fountainhead and preferably also Atlas Shrugged first. Contains references to both.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn...
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn...
June 3, 2016
Ultimately, I'm glad I read this book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wanted to have more complete understanding of objectivism. The last chapter, where Branden writes a critical retrospective, was a necessary, redeeming chapter.
Overall, this book was tedious to get through. I can certainly make an allowances that these were audio lectures, not written book chapters, but it still makes for some uninteresting reading at times. I would also note that this book contains a master class of sorts, not merely a distilled synthesis of objectivism. So, for me, there was much more detail than I probably really needed. But the really tedious aspect was the severity of Rand's black-and-white views. It all felt so insurmountable, and Branden acknowledges as much in his closing addendum.
Overall, this book was tedious to get through. I can certainly make an allowances that these were audio lectures, not written book chapters, but it still makes for some uninteresting reading at times. I would also note that this book contains a master class of sorts, not merely a distilled synthesis of objectivism. So, for me, there was much more detail than I probably really needed. But the really tedious aspect was the severity of Rand's black-and-white views. It all felt so insurmountable, and Branden acknowledges as much in his closing addendum.
September 8, 2014
Excellent Book
I loved the epilogue which brought a better balance to what can be deemed rigorous objectivism and close mindedness. Great book explaining the principles of objectivism in easy to understand language with insight into Rand's philosophy using examples of her work. I liked the insight Branden gives into Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead among others. Great work and I will be reading more of Branden. I recommend this to those who may not yet know what they believe in.
I loved the epilogue which brought a better balance to what can be deemed rigorous objectivism and close mindedness. Great book explaining the principles of objectivism in easy to understand language with insight into Rand's philosophy using examples of her work. I liked the insight Branden gives into Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead among others. Great work and I will be reading more of Branden. I recommend this to those who may not yet know what they believe in.
March 21, 2015
These are transcriptions of the original audio courses offered by the Nathaniel Branden Institute. Of all of the Objectivist overviews, I found this one far and away the best, and highly recommend it to anyone desiring an A to Z account of Ayn Rand's philosophy as revealed by its originators. Of special interest is Branden's epilogue, in which he expresses his current views of Objectivism, indicating some gaps or errors in Rand's thought or methodology, yet acknowledging the greatness of her works overall.
February 27, 2015
The Vision of Ayn Rand is a collection of a lecture series written and conducted by Rand's pupil Nathaniel Branden, it covers all parts of Objectivism including discussions of her works too. A must read for new Objectivists or people interested in reason and freedom.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews