Volume 12, Number 3, March 2006 OAC Course Garners University Accreditation Sales of or years ARI has offered courses through its ing program, and run from April through June. Books Climb FObjectivist Academic Center with the hope that Students will access class materials, including one day students taking the courses would be able audio recordings of lectures via the University’s ccording to data provided by Penguin Books, to earn official university credit for them. For one Web site. To supplement the prerecorded lectures, Ain 2005 sales of Ayn Rand’s novels in paper- of the OAC’s undergraduate courses, that day has Dr. Ghate may hold additional discussion sections back editions reached 686,104—a new record for arrived. Introduction to , taught by Dr. by teleconference. Initially, the course will only annual sales. This figure is up 59 percent from , will be offered through Chapman be open to existing OAC students; after this pilot 2004, primarily because of the large number of University in Orange County, California, this spring. phase, it may be open to students outside the OAC books ARI purchased for its Free Books to Teachers The first offering of the course through as well. project, which accounted for a little more than half Chapman is a pilot run; if it is successful we Both ARI and Chapman University are the sales. will offer the course through Chapman in enthusiastic about this new opportunity—and so The project consists of sending and The future years as well. are OAC students who may be able to Fountainhead to high school English teachers who The accreditation of the take advantage of it. Approximately would like to teach the books but cannot for lack of course should help build 30 first-year students are currently funding. In July 2005 ARI received a $1 million gift enrollment at the OAC. enrolled in the OAC. There are more earmarked for the project. The gift helped the Insti- Typically, our stu- than 80 students in the graduate and tute increase the number of books it purchased last dents take Introduction undergraduate programs of the OAC. year by more than 310 percent of what it purchased to Philosophy (and other The mission of the Objectivist in 2004. OAC courses) in addition Academic Center is to train students In addition, sales of the large softcover edi- to a normal course load aspiring to be professional intellectu- tions of Anthem and climbed at their university. But the additional time com- als, offering them a grounding in the basics of to a combined total of 53,151—a 16 percent mitment has prevented some students from being Ayn Rand’s philosophy. increase over 2004. This significant increase able to finish the course and stay in the OAC. * * * was aided by the publication of new centennial Now, by enrolling through Chapman University editions of Ayn Rand’s novels (pictured below). as a nondegree student, they can take the course in OAC Application Deadline In 2005 these new editions, commemorating the place of one of their university courses, and they The deadline to apply to the Objectivist Academic 100th anniversary of Ayn Rand’s birth, were fea- will receive transferable college credit that counts Center for the 2006–07 academic year is April 16. tured in table or floor displays at major bookstore towards their degree. For those who miss the first deadline there is a chains, such as Barnes & Noble and Borders. In the past a few students petitioned their second deadline of July 30, but chances of being schools to grant them credit for taking OAC accepted are better for those who apply by the first courses, and in a small number of cases they deadline. The OAC is primarily targeted towards were successful. But now most if not all univer- students who intend to make careers as intellectu- sities should accept the transfer credits earned als, either inside or outside of academia. Others for the course. interested in taking classes are invited to enroll as Introduction to Philosophy will be offered auditors. For more information about the OAC, through Chapman University’s distance-learn- please visit www.aynrand.org/academic.

In the Media—Briefly Noted Responding to were published in six large newspapers: the the violent assault on free speech mounted Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, by some Muslims in Europe and the Middle Miami Herald, Orange County Register, Tampa East over cartoons depicting Mohammad, Tribune and the Los Angeles Daily News. ARI released two new op-eds and five letters to the editor. In his op-ed “The Twilight of ,” Dr. Onkar Ghate shows how the West’s failure to staunchly defend our NYU Lecture Series Update Impact previously freedom to speak and criticize is explained by announced a lecture series at New York Univer- the injunction to love our enemies. In “The sity that will take place this spring. The dates Cartoon Jihad: Free Speech in the Balance,” of two of the lectures have been reversed: Peter Christian Beenfeldt and Dr. Ghate argue that Schwartz will give a talk titled “The Virtue of the West must uncompromisingly defend the Selfishness” on March 29 and Robert Mayhew right to freedom of speech. The Daily Express will give a talk, “Humor in The Fountainhead,” in England and the largest newspaper in Ireland, on April 24. In addition, ARI archivist Jeff Brit- the Irish Independent, among other newspapers, ting has been added to the roster of speakers. He ran ARI’s letters to the editor upholding the will give his talk, “ on Campus: A absolute right to free speech. Brief Look at the History of the Campus Club Also in February, “Drop the ‘Windfall Movement,” on May 1. (To attend the NYU lec- Profits’ Smear,” an op-ed by ARI junior fellow tures you must register at nyu.objectivismonline. Alex Epstein, was published in the Detroit Free net where you will find details regarding times Softcover (at top) and mass-market centennial editions of Press. In January three ARI letters to the editor and locations of events.) Ayn Rand’s novels. OCON Preview: “Ayn Rand, Public Speaker: A Philosopher Who Lived on Earth” Shoshana Milgram, associate professor of Eng- lish at Virginia Tech, is writing a biography of Ayn Rand’s life up to 1957. Impact recently spoke tomorrow.” (“The ‘Conflicts’ of Men’s Inter- to her about her upcoming lecture at Objectivist Living Long-Range ests,” reprinted in The Virtue of Selfishness) Summer Conference 2006 titled “Ayn Rand, Pub- How does one hold in mind the context of lic Speaker: A Philosopher Who Lived on Earth.” Through Principles the rest of his life when making choices in the The summer conference will be held in Boston Each month Impact suggests readings and other present? In her article “The Anatomy of Compro- from June 30 through July 8; other speakers resources for fans of Ayn Rand’s fiction who wish mise,” Ayn Rand writes: “It is only by means of include , , Peter to learn more about her philosophy, Objectivism. principles that one can set one’s long-range goals Schwartz, , Mary Ann Sures, C. Bradley and evaluate the concrete alternatives of any Thompson and Lisa VanDamme. To register, please art of the task of ethics, Ayn Rand held, is to given moment. It is only principles that enable a call 1-800-365-6552, ext. 239, or visit www.objec- teach man how to think long-range about his man to plan his future and to achieve it.” tivistconferences.com. P life. “If [man] is to succeed at the task of sur- In her novels and her nonfiction writing, * * * vival,” she writes, “if his actions are not to be Ayn Rand defines the principles that allow an What new information will you be sharing at the aimed at his own destruction, man has to choose individual to achieve his life long-range—from summer conference? his course, his goals, his values in the context the principle of egoism to the principle of ratio- and terms of a lifetime.” (“The Objectivist Eth- nality to the principle of productiveness. will report on some of ics,” reprinted in The Virtue of Selfishness) For further reading on this topic, see what I have learned— I “This does not mean,” she explains, “that he Ayn Rand’s essay “The Objectivist Ethics” in from her own accounts has to be omniscient, infallible or clairvoyant. It The Virtue of Selfishness. See also Dr. Peikoff’s and those of journalists means that he does not live his life short-range book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn and other members of and does not drift like a bum pushed by the spur Rand, specifically the section in chapter 7 titled the audience—about the of the moment. It means that he does not regard “Man’s Life as the Standard of Moral Value.” never-recorded speeches any moment as cut off from the context of the Dr. Peikoff’s talk “Why One Should Act on that Ayn Rand delivered, rest of his life, and that he allows no conflicts or Principle” is also illuminating; it is available decades prior to her contradictions between his short-range and long- free of charge on ARI’s Web site to registered major public appearances range interests. He never loses sight of the fact users. (Registration is free.) All of these items Dr. Shoshana Milgram in the years after Atlas that his life has to be an integrated whole—and can be purchased from the Ayn Rand Bookstore. Shrugged (1957). he does not become his own destroyer by pursu- To order, please visit www.aynrandbookstore. After the publication of (1936), ing a desire today which wipes out all his values com or call 1-800-729-6149. she was much in demand on the lecture stage, and the response was enthusiastic. The columnist O. O. McIntyre acclaimed her as an “intellectual sensa- tion,” and commented: “Her recent speech at Town copies on bound acid-free paper. Each format has Hall deploring the loss of under Preserving Ayn Rand’s its own advantages and helps ensure that if one Soviet rule was a high light of the season.” Her Legacy medium ever becomes defunct the material will success should have been no surprise. Channing still be accessible in another format. Pollock, her friend and political ally, recommended anuscript pages of Ayn Rand’s writings are The nonfiction manuscripts span the mid- her for speaking engagements before he even Mtreasures, particularly to scholars. Her edi- 1940s to 1976, and include her articles for the heard a single lecture: he said that if she could torial revisions, whether captured on the page or three periodicals she wrote for and edited: The speak in public “with any degree of the conviction evident by comparing drafts with the published Objectivist Newsletter, The Objectivist and The and eloquence with which she speaks in private, version, can bring to Ayn Rand Letter. There and with which she writes, she should be one of light substantive deci- are also some pieces the greatest orators of our time. I have never met sions of philosophic and she wrote but that anyone of more remarkable personality and indi- literary import. Such were never published, viduality, or with a more burning conviction.” revisions—reword- such as an essay titled I will be following the course of that “burning ing key formulations, “Consciousness, Purpose conviction” through the speeches she gave in sup- say—are valuable clues and Happiness.” port of We the Living and The Fountainhead (and to the scholar studying Several years ago of the ideas in these books), as well as in the later Ayn Rand’s ideas and the archives undertook speeches (many of them recorded and published) development. Recently a similar conversion delivered in colleges and universities, public sym- the Ayn Rand Archives, project for the 17,000 posia, and her favorite venue, Boston’s Ford Hall a special collection of pages of Ayn Rand’s Forum. From her first lecture (New York, 1936) ARI, completed the manuscripts on deposit at to her last (New Orleans, 1981), her procedure was “backup” of several the Library of Congress. consistent: she offered new, true, and important thousand copies of her The printed facsimiles insights about her chosen subject—in the light of manuscript pages. of these items filled 57 principles unlimited by any particular subject. A standard pro- hardcover volumes. cedure used by many An even larger How was Ayn Rand’s public speaking related to people who work with task remains: to convert her career as a writer of fiction? computers is to backup everything in the files, for example, by Ayn Rand Papers col- er speaking was like her fiction-writing in two saving them to a CD- lection at the Ayn Rand Hways: her metaphysical value-judgments— ROM. This procedure Archives to other media her fundamental view of man and existence—set ensures that if anything formats. The collection the terms of the presentation, and her work (i.e., renders the files inacces- encompasses manu- the speech or the novel) showed how ideas apply sible (for example, one’s scripts, typescripts to reality. As a philosopher who lived on earth, she hard drive crashes) there and galley proofs of gave speeches that provided philosophical guid- is another way to access Ayn Rand’s published ance and direction for grasping the essential mean- them. Similar precaution- Bound volumes of Ayn Rand’s manuscripts in the Ayn Rand Archives. writings as well as ing of human life—viewed long-range as well as ary measures are advis- The eight volumes on the top shelf contain copies of nonfiction manu- unpublished writings, scripts; the 57 volumes on the lower three shelves contain copies of day by day. Her public lectures, moreover, are like able when working with drafts of her novels that are on deposit in the Library of Congress. correspondence and notes. the speeches in her novels: they were dramatic paper files that are of Stored in more than 190 events that made explicit the meaning of other significant value, such as those on deposit in the document boxes, these items occupy approximately events. It’s entirely appropriate, that in her very Ayn Rand Archives. 87 linear feet of shelf space. first lecture, she quoted Kira’s speech from her Some 4,500 manuscript pages of Miss Rand’s Thanks to a consortium of donors who agreed first novel—and, in her final lecture, she quoted nonfiction and a previously unavailable section to finance this project, ARI has secured the funding Galt’s speech from her final novel. of an early draft of were recently necessary to carry out the entire project. The initial * * * converted into three new formats: microfilm, phase has already begun. In due course Impact will digital files stored on CD-ROM and xerographic report on the progress of this important endeavor.

 The New Intellectuals: Q & A with Dr. Keith Lockitch

Dr. Lockitch is a resident valuable for students interested in epistemol- was not what I wanted to do and that I wanted to fellow at ARI. He teaches ogy, the theory of knowledge. In particular, it be an intellectual activist rather than a physics pro- writing courses for the provides a wealth of examples of scientists using fessor. I was interested in writing, specifically on Objectivist Academic the method of induction—the process of forming issues where science and culture intersect (such as Center’s undergraduate generalizations from particular, concrete observa- environmentalism or the issue). program and a history tions. Newton’s law of gravity, for example, is a After I left physics and before coming to work for of physics course for the grand-scale inductive generalization built on a wide ARI, I did some writing, and was an assistant edi- graduate program. His variety of concrete facts and evidence, from the fall tor, for The Intellectual Activist. writings have appeared in of an apple to the motions of the moon and planets. Impact: Dr. has described some publications such as The Students who want to understand the method of of ARI’s programs as a “funnel” for collecting new Dr. Keith Lockitch Intellectual Activist, the induction must, at the very least, have a good gen- intellectuals who will disseminate Objectivism: Orange County Register eral understanding of the history of science. a broad base of students enter ARI’s high school and San Francisco Chronicle. Prior to joining Impact: How does this course differ from a essay contests, some of them go on to become ARI in 2003, Dr. Lockitch was a postdoctoral typical physics course you might get at a university? involved with campus Objectivist clubs, and a researcher in physics at the University of Illinois KL: What is unique about Harriman’s subset of these enroll at the OAC. I understand that and at Pennsylvania State University. He earned approach is the idea of using the historical develop- you’ve gone through every stage of this funnel. his PhD in physics from the University of Wiscon- ment of a science as a guide to understanding its KL: Yes. But I discovered Ayn Rand before sin, Milwaukee, in 1999. He also worked as the logical, hierarchical development. To understand a learning about the essay contest. My parents assistant editor of The Intellectual Activist and is science properly, you need to understand the key introduced me to the novels when I was in high an alumnus of the Objectivist Graduate Center. His discoveries that scientists made in the order they school. By the time I finished Atlas Shrugged I was lecture “Creationism in Camouflage: The ‘Intel- discovered them. Newton, for example, didn’t just completely blown away. I was desperate to read her ligent Design’ Deception” was delivered at last come up with his laws out of the blue. He had to nonfiction works and to find out more about her summer’s Objectivist conference in San Diego; it know about the discoveries of Kepler and Galileo ideas. This was back in the “Dark Ages” before the has also been delivered on college campuses and before him. And their work was based on earlier Web existed, so I sent in the little card insert from to the general public and is available for purchase discoveries going all the way back to the ancient one of the novels and started getting info about from the Ayn Rand Bookstore. Greek astronomers, and beyond. The course starts Objectivist organizations and conferences. I entered Impact recently spoke with Dr. Lockitch about the way mankind started, it assumes no knowledge the funnel, i.e., had my first contact with ARI’s the physics course he teaches for the Objectivist of science; students then see how scientific knowl- educational programs, in 1987 when I entered Academic Center and the road to becoming an edge was gradually built up from a state of igno- ARI’s essay contest on The Fountainhead. intellectual activist at ARI. This is the second and rance. They see how, starting from observations A few years later I went to the summer Objec- final part of the interview. of concrete reality, the principles of physics were tivist conferences [in 1990 and 1991] at which Dr. * * * eventually discovered. Peikoff was discussing his then-forthcoming book Impact: What does your job at ARI consist of The way physics is typically taught in Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand. The and how has your science background been help- a university class fosters rationalism. A physics exciting thing then was that if you were registered ful in it? teacher, for example, will typically start by writ- for the conferences, you would get a prepublication Keith Lockitch: Essentially, my job consists ing down Newton’s laws of motion on the black- copy of the book to read in advance. You could of writing and editing articles and teaching courses board without any context. The laws, in effect, are study it in depth and prepare questions to ask Dr. for the OAC [Objectivist Academic Center]. I teach presented as bolts from the blue. It is only later that Peikoff at the conference. The book arrived about the undergraduate courses Introduction to Writing one learns about Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, a month before I had my final exams at college. and Intermediate Writing and a graduate course on and these are presented as something that one I knew I wouldn’t have studied for my exams if I the history of physics. deduces mathematically from Newton’s laws. This had access to it, so I literally gave it to my mother My science background has been helpful in completely inverts the proper hierarchical order and to hide from me until the exams were over! As writing op-eds on issues that deal with scientific actually prevents students from seeing how these soon as they were done, I devoured the book. topics. For instance, I wrote one, “Reject Environ- ideas are connected to reality. As a result, students It was after I went to my first Objectivist mentalism, Not DDT,” about the environmentalist don’t understand how knowledge progresses and conference that I decided I wanted to revive the campaign against the pesticide DDT. Environ- they don’t learn what proper thinking consists of. campus club at the University of British Columbia. mentalists insist that DDT is harmful to man, but Impact: How did you become interested in In addition to having regular club meetings where the scientific evidence shows otherwise; it can physics and why did you decide not to become a we discussed Objectivist literature, we brought in be used safely for such purposes as eradicating physics professor? some speakers from ARI to give talks. One talk malarial mosquitoes without posing a threat to Keith Lockitch: As an undergraduate, I was on environmentalism drew a crowd of over 400 people. Of course, the real motive for the opposi- interested in both physics and philosophy, and in people. I think we had a pretty successful run. tion to DDT is not concern for human life, but the the intersection of these fields in the philosophy of Right after I went off to physics graduate desire to sacrifice man to the alleged value of an science. I was interested in big-picture questions school, the Objectivist Graduate Center was untouched environment. Their scientific claims are about the nature of science and in understand- launched in 1994, which was very exciting. A just a cover for their anti-man ideology. Having a ing the philosophical errors underlying theories couple of years into grad school I joined the pro- scientific background helps me get to the bottom of of modern physics, such as quantum theory and gram. This eventually transformed into the OAC, the scientific issues fairly quickly—to clear away the theory of relativity. I was majoring in physics where I now teach. the pseudoscientific claims they use to rationalize and taking a bunch of philosophy classes on the Impact: How has the funnel changed since their true aims. side, thinking that I might change my major and you went through it? The main area in which my science back- go to graduate school in philosophy. But I came to KL: The big difference now is that the open- ground has been useful, however, is in the history realize that I wouldn’t actually learn much about ing of the funnel is the Free Books to Teachers of physics course I teach. The course, which was philosophy in view of what passes for philosophy project and not the essay contests. I was fortunate developed by David Harriman, traces the essential today. The philosophy that I was interested in enough to have been introduced to the novels at steps in the history of physics by which some of understanding was Objectivism and I wasn’t going home, but now students whose parents have never the basic laws of nature were discovered. to get that in school. So I decided that I would heard of Ayn Rand can discover her works at Impact: What is the value of having a history study that on my own and that I would get my school. Hundreds of thousands of students have of physics course as part of the OAC graduate cur- degree in physics and possibly become a physics already had that opportunity in the few years the riculum? professor. I thought I might enjoy teaching physics program has been running. Also, there were just a KL: Many of the students in the OAC’s gradu- and doing research in it, so I decided to pursue that handful of people taking OGC classes when I took ate program are graduate students in philosophy. path, always knowing that if I didn’t like it I had them, now we’ve got more than 80 students in our Unfortunately, it is possible today to go through other intellectual interests that I could pursue. OAC undergraduate and graduate programs. college and reach graduate school without acquir- So I went to graduate school in physics and In addition to there being more students in ing a good general knowledge of subjects like his- got my PhD. As I went further and further along in the funnel now, there are also more opportunities tory, science and literature. Yet these fields, in addi- the graduate program and started doing research on at the end of it for going into academia. When I tion to the experiences of one’s own life, provide my own, however, I found that the range of issues was trying to make my decision about whether to the concrete facts on the basis of which one forms that I was dealing with gradually became narrower go into philosophy or to stay in physics, the odds philosophic abstractions. Without such knowledge and narrower. My doctoral research, for instance, that an Objectivist could get a PhD in philosophy it is easy to succumb to the error of “rationalism,” was in astrophysics, studying radiation produced and actually get hired to teach philosophy seemed that is, thinking in terms of “floating abstractions,” by stars. But what I actually ended up focusing on pretty remote. Now, organizations such as Anthem ideas cut off from reality. was a particular type of radiation produced by a and BB&T [the Anthem Foundation for Objectiv- The physics course is one of a number of particular class of stars and only when they vibrate ist Scholarship and BB&T Charitable Foundation] optional history courses our graduate students will in a particular way. I was specializing in something are making it easier for Objectivist intellectuals, be able to choose from. What the history of phys- so narrow that I was no longer dealing with the specifically philosophy PhDs, to find teaching posi- ics provides is a wealth of examples of scientists big-picture issues that got me interested in the field tions in philosophy departments. using proper thinking methods. So it is extremely in the first place. So, I eventually decided that that continued on page 4  programs, last year the Institute received match­ New Journal The Objective Standard: A Journal Double Your Support of ing contributions from major corporations such as of Culture and Politics, edited and published Microsoft, Verizon, ExxonMobile, Google, Cingular ARI—at No Additional Cost by Craig Biddle, has recently begun publica- and Wachovia—amounting to tens of thousands of tion. The journal is quarterly and its first issue any employers sponsor “matching gift” dollars. This is one of the most important ways that includes two articles by ARI writers: “‘Just- programs and will match dollar for dol- you can help support ARI, with minimal effort and M War’ Theory vs. American Self-Defense,” by lar the charitable contributions made by their at no additional cost to you. Dr. Yaron Brook and Alex Epstein and “Exposing employees. By taking advantage of such a To find out if your company has such a pro­ Anti-Muslim ‘Conspiracies,’” by . program from your employer, you could effec- gram, contact the personnel department at your The journal’s Web site states that “[W]e uphold tively double your support of ARI. In fact, some place of work. Or, you can tell us the name of your Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, and companies will even match contributions made employer, and we can attempt to find out on your it serves as our frame of reference in analyz- by retirees and/or their spouses. behalf; please send us your details by e-mail to ing the cultural and political issues of the day.” Thanks to ARI donors who participate in such [email protected]. Mr. Biddle is the author of Loving Life: The Morality of Self-Interest and the Facts that Sup- Upcoming Product News from the Ayn Rand The final price of the book, which will sell at port It and has given courses at two Objectivist Bookstore Cambridge University Press—one textbook rates, has not yet been determined by the summer conferences. The Objective Standard is of the world’s most prestigious academic publisher, but is expected to be around $80. The not affiliated with the . The publishing houses—is targeting May 2006 Ayn Rand Bookstore will make this title available journal’s inclusion of articles by ARI writers as the publication date of Dr. Tara Smith’s for preorder as soon as publication details are does not necessarily imply ARI’s endorsement latest book, Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics: The made final. We will post further information of the journal. Virtuous Egoist. We regard this as a special on the Ayn Rand Bookstore Web site (www. breakthrough for Objectivism. aynrandbookstore.com) as it becomes available. Job Opportunities ARI is currently recruiting a Mailroom Assistant. For full details, including information on how to apply, please visit: The New Intellectuals: Q & A with But at the same time, she does everything with com- plete joy. She has the most amazing smile. When www.ayrnand.org/employment. Dr. Keith Lockitch, continued from page 3 she sees me after I get home from work, I always Impact is published monthly by the Ayn Rand® Institute (ARI) and is Impact: On a personal note, what do you like get that smile, and there’s just nothing else like that. complimentary to current donors who contribute $35 or more per year. to do outside of work? * * * For information on how you can support ARI and to learn about our projects, please visit our Web site: www.aynrand.org. Atlantis KL: Is there such a thing as “outside of Erratum Notice: Due to a printing error some cop- Legacy®, the Institute’s planned giving program, and related indicia work”? [laughter] The main thing I like to do is ies of the February Impact had missing words on are registered trademarks. The Ayn Rand Archives is a special collection of the Ayn Rand Institute. Objectivist Conferences (OCON) spend time with my wife and baby. I also read a lot page 3, in part one of the interview with Dr. Lock- and the Ayn Rand Bookstore are owned by Second Renaissance, and we like to travel when we can. itch; we have reprinted the two affected sentences Inc., which is operated by the Ayn Rand Institute. Second Renaissance, Inc., and the Ayn Rand Institute do not necessarily Impact: How is it being a new father? here: “They concede that religion is not ‘wrong,’ it endorse the content of the lectures and courses offered. All photos KL: It’s totally amazing. We have a one-year simply refers to different things and has a differ- of Ayn Rand are used by permission of the Estate of Ayn Rand. ent purpose than science; on this view, the reason Purchases from the Ayn Rand Bookstore do not qualify as old girl, Cailey, and it’s so incredible to watch her tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. develop and to be an integral part of that develop- science studies nature is not because there isn’t Editor: Elan Journo Assistant Editor: Dan Norton ment. She shows an intense determination in doing anything beyond nature, but simply because doing Editorial Advisors: Dr. Yaron Brook, Mark Chapman, Anu Seppala whatever she’s trying to do, whether it’s turning the so happens to ‘work.’ But, of course, allowing any Designer: Simon Federman Printing: David Antonacci pages of a board book or pulling herself up to stand appeals to what is ‘beyond nature,’ is an assault on Copy Editor: Donna Montrezza the basic nature of science.” Headquarters: 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 250 or grabbing something and banging it on the table. Irvine, CA 92606-4926 Phone: 949-222-6550 Fax: 949-222-6558 © The Ayn Rand Institute 2006. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission. Q & A with Dr. Yaron Brook In this feature of Impact a more significant factor is the accreditation of Dr. Brook answers ques- one of our classes, Introduction to Philosophy, tions from ARI donors. taught by Dr. Onkar Ghate. As ARI is your agent, we Chapman University, a well-established, think it is important to private, degree-granting institution in Orange address issues that are County, is going to carry the course as part of of interest to you; your its online program. We view the first run of the financial support makes course as a pilot; if things go well, as I anticipate possible our efforts in they will, we would eventually like to make the behalf of your values. entire OAC undergraduate curriculum available We hope that you via Chapman University’s state-of-the-art online will take advantage of this opportunity by send- learning system, so that students can earn credit ing us your questions; please write to: impact@ for all our courses. aynrand.org or Attn: Impact, Ayn Rand Institute, Although there is an audio component in the 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 250, Irvine CA 92606. university’s online educational system, it is pri- While we cannot promise that every question marily Web-based: readings, student assignments submitted will be answered, we will try to address and participation—all of which will be presented the ones that are of most general interest. through a Web site. I see this as the wave of * * * the future, and we’re excited about offering our Last summer the first group of students com- classes through this new platform. In the future, pleted the four-year undergraduate program of a one-way video-feed is planned, so that stu- the Objectivist Academic Center; and in the fall, dents can view and listen to the instructor, which ARI launched a systematic graduate program should obviate the challenge of concentrating for for new intellectuals. Where next? What is your hours on a voice heard through the telephone. long-range vision for the OAC? And some day, fully interactive, two-way video classes might be feasible. o have a real impact on the world, to change Our students will need to register with Tthe fundamental ideas in the culture, we need Chapman and pay tuition, but we’ve worked talented Objectivist intellectuals—and significant with the university to make the process as easy numbers of them. In essentials, my long-range as possible for our students. For example, we vision for the OAC is unchanged—to find and will provide them scholarships so that it will not train the next generation of new intellectuals— increase the cost of their education, and we’re but there are some new means by which we’re developing a streamlined way for them to sign working to make that vision a reality. up for the class. The falling cost of long-distance telephone Our focus is on growing the OAC; the calls, and Internet-based calling, have made it undergraduate curriculum, which we’ve refined, possible for students around the world to take is excellent and I don’t foresee any major part in OAC classes via teleconference. Today changes on that score. As enrollment increases we have about 80 students, and I want to triple and we want to have more than one section of a or quadruple that number. To attract more stu- given course, we will need to add instructors or dents, we are promoting the program to campus teaching assistants. And so part of the long-range clubs and entrants in our essay contests on The plan calls for cultivating more instructors. Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. But perhaps