2019 Q2

IMPACTA PUBLICATION OF THE ® INSTITUTE

OCON 2019—Celebrating 50 Years of (pp. 6–7) AynRand®Con 2019 Reason, Purpose, Self-Esteem: Keys to a Better Life

OCTOBER 25 — 27, 2019 W HOTEL MIDTOWN – ATLANTA, GEORGIA

“ To live, man must hold three things as the supreme and ruling values of his life: Reason—Purpose—Self-esteem. ” —Ayn Rand

oin the , October 25–27, in Atlanta, at AynRandCon 2019, to learn about Rand’s unique Jperspective on these values and how they are the keys to a better life and society. AynRandCon is open to everyone—whether they are longtime Rand fans or first-time readers. Attendees will network with other intellectually active students and hear talks on the biggest philosophical questions in life.

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

Ben Bayer Keith Lockitch Dave Rubin Gregory Salmieri Tal Tsfany

Student travel and lodging scholarships are available.

Interested in attending or sponsoring AynRandCon 2019? Visit aynrandcon.org

The Ayn Rand Institute does not necessarily endorse the content of the lectures and courses offered. Conference payments do not qualify as tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. Ayn Rand® is a registered trademark and is used by permission ©2019 The Ayn Rand® Institute. Letter from CONTENTS the CEO Second Quarter Highlights 4 Quarter in Review

ARI’s New Weekly Webinar Series: for Living on Earth 5

elcome to this issue of Impact! I’m pleased to report on an eventful Wand exciting second quarter. OCON 2019—Celebrating Fifty Years of In this edition, you’ll learn about ARI’s increasing output of new introductory content—educational webinars, videos, courses and live The Romantic Manifesto 6 events, meant to be easily discoverable and interesting to intelligent and eager individuals who are starving for better ideas. (See page 5 and read about ARI’s new weekly webinar series, Philosophy for Living on Earth.) On pages 12–13, you’ll learn about a significant expansion of ARI’s live event offerings in 2019 and 2020—including new weekend-long and Spreading : A Vision for one-day Ayn Rand Conferences (AynRandCons). ARI’s Future 8 In the “Objectivism and My Life” feature on pages 10–11, we interview a long- time contributor to the Institute, retired Army colonel Bradley Foster. Brad first read as a young Army officer stationed overseas. Shortly after returning home, he co-founded University of Michigan Students of Objectivism—a successful club and a worthy recipient of assistance from the then-recently founded ARI. Brad’s life story and his insights about Objectivism and My Life: philosophy’s role in that story made for a fascinating interview. Interview with Bradley Foster 10 Finally, this Impact reflects on Objectivist Conference (OCON) 2019, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Romantic Manifesto. This OCON took attendees on a deep exploration of —not only the Objectivist theory of esthetics, but also a tour de force of great art itself. There was a moving live performance of scenes from Cyrano de Bergerac, a beautiful classical concert, Building the Objectivist Community— a display of some of Ayn Rand’s favorite works, and other offerings. Many One Event at a Time energized attendees have already signed up for next year’s OCON, which will 12 be held in Austin, Texas. Learn more about OCON 2020 at aynrand.org/ ocon2020. I hope to see you there!

Sincerely, The False Promise of Stoicism by Aaron Smith 14

Tal Tsfany, President and CEO Ayn Rand Institute

IMPACT 2019 Q2 3 SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

40 23.5M SPEAKING EVENTS POST IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD IMPRESSIONS 660K POST REACTIONS, CLICKS, ARI Campus and the Ayn Rand COMMENTS AND SHARES ARI University Mobile App: CAMPUS UNIVERSITY

NEW YEAR-1 OBJECTIVIST ACADEMIC CENTER STUDENTS AND AUDITORS ENROLLED FOR • 50 THE FALL SEMESTER VIDEO HOURS CONSUMED IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2019 • 24.2K+ 4.1KNEW IN Q2 42K+CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS AVERAGE WATCH-HOURS PER MONTH • 8K+ HOURS OF VIDEO OF COURSE ENGAGEMENT VIA THE 77.3K+ WATCH-TIME AYN RAND UNIVERSITY MOBILE APP • 50% 52% U.S. 48% NON-U.S. APP DOWNLOADS, • 16K+ COUNTRIES UP 8K+ FROM REACHED Q1

130K+FREE BOOKS SHIPPED YTD (BY JUNE 30)

The New article “The False Promise of Stoicism” by ARI fellow and Objectivist Academic Center instructor Aaron Smith was picked up by Google News, helping it to become the publication’s most widely read piece to date. (See pp. 14–15.)

4 IMPACT 2019 Q2 ARI’S NEW WEEKLY WEBINAR SERIES: PHILOSOPHY FOR LIVING ON EARTH

n an effort to encourage newcomers to read Here is a list of some of the questions that have been I Ayn Rand’s works, consume educational discussed in recent webinars: content and attend local Objectivist group • Does Love Require Sacrifice? meetings, the Ayn Rand Institute is hosting a • Can There Be Good Without God? new weekly webinar series called Philosophy for • What Is Self-Esteem? How Do I Get It? Living on Earth. • Can You Take Credit for Who You Are? • Should I Follow My Head or My Heart? The series was developed to increase the amount of easy- to-find introductory content on Objectivism for anyone • Is Selfishness the Root of All Evil? browsing online for related topics—and to support local • Should I Go by Reason or by Faith? community groups and their members with a steady stream • What Are Rights and Where Do They Come From? of content for discussion. • Isn’t Everybody Selfish? These free webinars feature twenty-minute presentations by • Isn’t Free Will an Illusion? Objectivist intellectuals, followed by forty-minute Q&As with online attendees. The series premiered on Saturday, July 20, Over one thousand people have already subscribed to this free 2019, and takes place weekly. Each webinar addresses crucial weekly webinar series. Subscribe now at courses.aynrand. issues in life (e.g., career, romance, self-esteem, morality) org/webinars to receive your personalized call-in details! from a philosophical perspective and does not presuppose You can browse past episodes on ARI’s YouTube channel knowledge of Objectivism. (youtube.com/aynrandinstitute) or on the ARI Live! podcast. IMPACT 2019 Q2 5 OCON 2019—CELEBRATING FIFTY YEARS OF THE ROMANTIC MANIFESTO

n June, more than 450 Ayn Rand admirers met in One of the art-related general sessions featured Yaron I Cleveland, Ohio, for ARI’s annual Objectivist summer Brook and exploring some of the insights into conference. Held at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Objectivism one can get from the Romantic Manifesto and the conference featured five full days of programming to offering lessons to take—and not to take—from the book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Romantic Manifesto— increase one’s enjoyment of art and of life. In a related session, and offered opportunities to learn about Ayn Rand’s Brook and Ghate discussed the difference between great art ideas and to socialize and network. and art you like; how to define your personal favorites; and The conference featured Harry Binswanger’s presentation of how, over time, to elevate your taste in art. his course Logic: The Cashing In, as well as talks by Yaron Although art was the focus of the conference, other Brook, Alex Epstein, Onkar Ghate, Robert Mayhew, Gregory philosophical topics were discussed in a variety of general Salmieri, Tara Smith, Tal Tsfany, Lisa VanDamme and others. sessions, talks and panels—some particularly timely. Brian Also on the program were events that included prominent Amerige, Yaron Brook, Dave Rubin and Gregory Salmieri social media personalities Gloria Álvarez and Dave Rubin of engaged in a panel discussion on the relationship between The Rubin Report. “big tech” companies and the issue of free speech. This event was livestreamed and has accumulated over 70,000 views so far on Dave Rubin’s YouTube channel. Rajshree Agarwal CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS and Tal Tsfany presented a general session about integrating There were many -related talks and events devoted to Rand’s philosophy into one’s life and career to achieve literature, music, sculpture and painting, as well as live happiness and live a life with purpose. Tara Smith examined performances, that gave this year’s conference a palpable the underappreciated implications of free speech on free emotional resonance. Quent Cordair Fine Art staged a markets. pop-up gallery offering its own programming for attendee The conference offered many opportunities to socialize enjoyment. Ann Ciccolella directed a performance of selected with other Ayn Rand admirers, including those new to Ayn scenes from Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, whom Rand’s ideas or attending the conference for the first time. Ayn Rand regarded as a top-rank Romantic playwright. ARI hosted a First-Timers Meet and Greet reception where Thomas Shoebotham conducted a classical concert first-time attendees were welcomed to the conference and featuring works by Edvard Grieg, Samuel Barber, and Pyotr given an opportunity to meet ARI staff, conference speakers Tchaikovsky. Lisa VanDamme’s lectures “Literature and and other first-timers. In addition to the opening and closing the Quest for Meaning” and “Keats, Life and Poetry” were receptions and dance, there was an attendee talent show, Ayn as moving as they were intellectually stimulating. The rare Rand Trivia night and a mixer and graduation ceremony for deep immersion into art made the conference especially Objectivist Academic Center students and alumni. Attendees meaningful to many. gathered after-hours at the hotel lobby, bar and outside

6 IMPACT 2019 Q2 garden for friendly discussions and other fun activities. Many attendees organized outings to the Cleveland Museum of Art, West Side Market, the USS Cod Submarine Memorial and other local attractions. By all accounts, the conference was a resounding success. Next year’s conference will take place June 17—21 in Austin, Texas, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. Information about the schedule of events and registration is available online at the OCON 2020 website: aynrand.org/ocon2020. We hope to see you there!

Here are a few of the many comments we’ve received from OCON 2019 attendees:

OCON 2019 has provided me with a great “number of new insights into different areas, especially linkages between art and Objectivism that will help me continue to make a difference in my life and in my community. —Mehmet Murat Dogan ”

The opportunity to enjoy these talks and diverse“ topics in a welcoming atmosphere was very satisfying. Many bright minds of all ages there, and I hope I may attend again in the future. —John A. Carter ”

I loved the positive, spirit-fueling atmosphere “ that permeated every corner of OCON. —OCON 2019 Attendee ”

As usual attending an OCON is an inspiring“ event that helps me learn more not only about Objectivism, but also about living a better life. I did come back home from the conference with a lot of life-changing ideas that I am planning to implement. —OCON 2019 Attendee ”

It was my first OCON and was awesome; “ I really appreciate what I have learned. Thank you for the opportunity to learn how to be a better human being. —Vanessa Aguila ”

IMPACT 2019 Q2 7 SPREADING OBJECTIVISM: A VISION FOR ARI’S FUTURE

At ARI, we are making“ the future what it could and should be. This is educational activism. ”

t Objectivist Summer Conference (OCON) coming into and out of the Objectivism movement over the A 2019, Ayn Rand Institute CEO Tal Tsfany past decades. The purpose of the exercise was to develop delivered a high-energy, interactive talk— detailed profiles of the most promising kinds of target audiences—those people who do not yet know much about “Spreading Objectivism: A Vision for ARI’s Ayn Rand, but whose personal attributes make them likely Future”—in which he celebrated last year’s to be receptive to Objectivist ideas. successes and unveiled ARI’s strategies and goals Through the discussions, it became clear that all such for spreading Ayn Rand’s ideas in the year ahead. target audiences are valuers who have four attributes ARI has ambitious plans for 2020, most of which focus in common. These people take ideas and themselves on delivering meaningful educational experiences to more seriously; they value intellectual clarity and precision; people in more places around the world than ever before. they are intelligent—but more importantly, they value their intelligence; and they are suspicious of conventional To make the best use of its marketing resources to achieve wisdom and are comfortable adopting unpopular this and other goals, Tsfany explained that ARI has been viewpoints they believe to be true. focusing on sharpening its answers to strategic marketing questions: Whom to target? What introductory content to Several concrete “personas”—detailed profiles reflecting approach them with? How best to deliver that content? specific segments of ARI’s target audiences—emerged from this project and have begun guiding ARI’s efforts to market to more receptive, high-value audiences. (Activists Whom to Target? and others interested in access to information about In early 2019, ARI held a series of discussions among those this work in progress may write to Adam Edmonsond at staff with the most face-to-face experience with people [email protected].)

8 IMPACT 2019 Q2 . . . delivering meaningful educational experiences to more people in more places “ around the world than ever before. ” What Kind of Content Is Needed? OCON and Ayn Rand Conference (AynRandCon), ARI will host a series of regional one-day conferences in cities Tsfany observed that most of the existing content available around the United States. You can learn more about these from ARI is suitable for people with a moderate-to-advanced conferences on pp. 12–13. Through these new conference level of knowledge about Ayn Rand’s works and ideas. If offerings, ARI aims to double, then triple, attendance at ARI’s mission is to spread Objectivist ideas, he observed, then its live events, compared with those in 2018. ARI hopes its content offerings should reduce the difficulty of getting many Objectivist community groups will play an active started. To accomplish this, ARI will focus on developing role in helping to organize and promote these regional more introductory—but no less deep—educational content conferences. ARI has committed to hosting a conference in that assumes no prior knowledge of Objectivism. the city of any group that can demonstrate demand for at This new introductory content will be: introductory, yet least fifty potential attendees. deep; engaging and inspiring; supportive of a gradual Tsfany explained that ARI would also take a renewed interest learning path; and relevant to and beginning from the in helping to support the development and growth of local issues that motivate people’s reasons for exploring new community groups. By offering a stream of stimulating ideas. Much of it will be live and interactive. introductory content for use in discussion groups (such as Two examples of content that will incorporate all those ARI’s new weekly webinar series), ARI hopes to make these specifications are: groups easier to operate. Local organizers can invite people at all levels of familiarity with Objectivism to watch the live • Weekly Objectivist Webinars. Each week via the webinar presentation, or to view a recording of it, and to Zoom video conference and webinar platform, a engage in stimulating and educational group discussion. rotating cast of ARI and associated intellectuals deliver standalone, 20-minute talks, then field ARI has also been facilitating roundtable discussions among questions from a live audience for 40 minutes. (See existing and potential community leaders, so they can share page 5 for more information about this series.) knowledge and resources for improving and growing their groups. To be invited to the next discussion, write to Adam • “This Is Ayn Rand Speaking” is a new series Edmonsond at [email protected]. ARI will featuring audio clips of Ayn Rand speaking about support some of the operational efforts of these community philosophical issues, accompanied by newly created groups with assistance, for example, building a website, videos. Tsfany offered a glimpse of the current advertising, and filling seats at events. Tsfany encouraged work-in-progress: Ayn Rand explains freedom of activists to give feedback to ARI about the sort of help they speech while animated illustrations concretize would consider most useful. “By avoiding duplication of the abstract ideas. (Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube effort, we can leverage ARI’s assets and work together to channel or its email newsletter to be alerted when educate people about Objectivism,” Tsfany said. “ARI can’t do this series goes live.) it all alone.” With its ambitious plans and an increasingly energized and How to Deliver More Educational Experiences to empowered community of activists to support its mission, More People? ARI is poised to make next year a milestone in the spread of Ayn Rand’s ideas around the world. Tsfany said, “At ARI, Tsfany observed that an important part of building a we are making the future what it could and should be. This flourishing philosophical community is to create more is educational activism.” environments in which newcomers can explore ideas, ask questions, challenge and debate the ideas with others at Tsfany’s talk “Spreading Objectivism: A Vision for ARI’s Future” varying stages of knowledge and experience. is available on the Ayn Rand Institute YouTube channel and at To create more of this kind of engagement, ARI will expand youtu.be/ValW7iPhP_4. its conference offerings in 2020. In addition to its annual

IMPACT 2019 Q2 9 OBJECTIVISM AND MY LIFE: INTERVIEW WITH BRADLEY FOSTER

IQ: Was there a big difference between the ideas you grew up with and the ones you discovered? BF: Yes and no. My father read Atlas Shrugged shortly after it came out, and it had a profound impact on him. He was a businessman and a strong believer in individual rights, freedom and . I grew up steeped in those ideas. But my parents were born and raised in Iowa and, like most Americans, they went to church and I went to Sunday school. In ethics, it was Judeo-Christian values: share your toys, sacrifice, duty and God. So it was a mishmash of premises and it was hard for my young mind to sort out. I went through classes at church and thought, “You know, I don’t think this is true.” But I didn’t know what to believe. I spent a lot of time, through high school and college, taking a lot of philosophy courses, trying to figure out what was true. I kept reading after college. When I read Atlas Shrugged, it all just fell into place for me. Finally there was a coherent, consistent—internally consistent and consistent with reality—system of ideas. I could start to have a framework to understand what was going on, and it made sense. I was electrified. I read everything I could get my hands on. I just wanted to understand it better.

IQ: You’ve been a donor to ARI since around the time it opened. What has motivated you to remain a donor? Is there a particular program that is important to you? BF: Oh, gosh. I guess it began because of the help ARI gave us getting a campus club started. When I got to the University of Michigan, I met Darryl Wright and Janet radley Foster is a retired Army colonel and Westphal, and we founded the University of Michigan businessman, as well as a certified rifle instructor B Students of Objectivism. We held our first public event and Second Amendment rights activist. He co-founded on the , 1986. the University of Michigan Students of Objectivism club in 1986 and has been a contributor to the Ayn Rand ARI had just started up and was instrumental in Institute since the late 1980s. He and his wife recently built providing ideas and speakers, and helping with funding. and moved into their dream retirement home in Idaho. It was all very new. We didn’t really know what we were doing, and I think they were finding their way in terms of Impact Quarterly: How did you discover Ayn Rand? how they were going to accomplish their mission. Bradley Foster: I first started reading Ayn Rand in 1983 It’s been interesting to watch the different projects while in the Army stationed overseas in Germany. As I was over the years. I’m just utterly astonished and deeply growing up, my father said many times, “Son, you should impressed by the way you’ve taken advantage of the read Atlas Shrugged.” When I was looking for something to internet—the web presence and content that’s now read while out on summer field exercises, I saw a copy of available. I took the taped lecture courses in the ’80s, Atlas Shrugged in the British bookstore in Frankfurt and and I still remember being huddled around a cassette finally picked it up. It’s a wonder I didn’t get fired from my player, furiously scribbling notes, stopping, rewinding. job, because for the three weeks we were in the field I had To see that content online, available for everyone, is very my nose in that book. I couldn’t put it down. gratifying. I certainly want to continue to support it.

10 IMPACT 2019 Q2 What I realized over the years was that the unifying theme of my life is the defense of ” liberty. That’s what really motivates me. ”

IQ: You studied business, then had a military career? Army. They don’t always like what you say, and they may get BF: I had a kind of inside-out career. I joined the Army right in your face and challenge you. You have to be willing to say, after college, in 1980, and spent five years on active duty. “That may be what you wish, but these are the facts.” When I got out, I earned my MBA and then worked for IBM for four years. I stayed in the Michigan National Guard while IQ: What’s next for you? a student and while at IBM, and got out in 1993. BF: I retired from the Army two years ago. My wife and I The day after 9/11—literally on the 12th—I was back at my old bought property in Idaho and built our retirement home. Up National Guard unit, but they had no openings. I thought I to now, moving has been our central focus, and we’re just now was too old to get back in, until I read that they were taking ready to start reaching out into the community. 42-year-old officer candidates. I decided maybe a 46-year-old I’ve not been that involved in Objectivism in recent years, major could be useful and joined the Army Reserve. It took a outside of supporting the Institute. But I do think that once few years, but when the call came in 2006 mobilizing me for we get settled, I’d like to become more active. I talked with overseas service, I was ready to go. ARI about where I can find groups to reach out to. As a civilian, I had become a recruiter for IT professionals, I’ll also remain active in defending liberty. My chosen issue is and I did that for fourteen years, until 2006. By that time the defense of the Second Amendment, the right to keep and I was self-employed, so being mobilized put a stop to my bear arms. Almost as soon as I moved to Michigan as a newly business. But I found that I felt a sense of purpose being back discharged young Army officer, there was a proposal to ban in the Army. I spent three years in Kuwait and Qatar. I was handguns in Ann Arbor. We defeated it in a frenzied three- technically in the combat zone, but never in combat per se. week grassroots effort. That got me started in activism. Later These were logistics bases in friendly countries, supporting I became president of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gun Owners and was deeply involved in getting “shall-issue” While there, I realized, “Wow, this is what I should have been concealed-carry reform passed. That effort took several years, doing all along. Why did I get out of the Army in the first and is something I am proud to have helped accomplish. It place?” I realized what the consistent theme of my life was. was an example of the American political system, the way it’s Business was a way to make a living, but it was never the supposed to work. It’s amazing the effect individual citizens passion for me that it had been for my father. What I realized can have if they get involved. over the years was that the unifying theme of my life is the Today, I’m a rifle instructor for the NRA, for the Civilian defense of liberty. That’s what really motivates me. Marksmanship Program and for the Appleseed Project. I learned about the Appleseed Project when I saw a IQ: Did Objectivism give you an advantage in the military? person wearing a t-shirt that said “April 19, 1775, when BF: Oh, absolutely. Objectivism has given me a clear lens Marksmanship met History.” The program exists to rekindle through which to understand and interpret events and decide the spirit of the American Revolution and to educate people on a proper course of action. I’ve always been reality-oriented, on the events of the Revolutionary War, and the price our but it gave me a foundation to know I’m making correct ancestors paid to leave us our unique form of government. judgments. We teach these things over a weekend-long, family- friendly marksmanship clinic. In 1775, it was American So many people are overly impacted by what other people marksmanship—farmers and shopkeepers!—that caused the think, or they’re not sure what’s the right thing to do. I’ve greatest army on earth to break and run at Concord Bridge. never felt that way since understanding Objectivism and integrating it into my life. I always feel, not that I know the We close the weekend by telling people, “It’s up to you to exact right answer, but that I have the framework to assemble preserve and protect what we have. Don’t just sit on the couch, facts and make judgments, and it’s helped me not be afraid to watch TV and complain. Get out and get involved. Make this speak the truth. the kind of country you think it should be. Someone needs to, and you can. That’s unique in human history.” I remained on active duty and retired as a colonel, working in three- and four-star headquarters. I advised top leaders in the

IMPACT 2019 Q2 11 GROWING THE OBJECTIVIST COMMUNITY— ONE EVENT AT A TIME

s a major part of its plans for 2020, the Ayn Rand This October 25 to 27, attendees at AynRandCon-USA A Institute is increasing in-person event offerings will hear leading experts on Rand’s philosophy discuss the and expanding its community development efforts. ARI conference theme, titled “Reason, Purpose, Self-Esteem: Keys CEO Tal Tsfany says, “For helping newcomers appreciate, to a Better Life and Society.” Speakers include Ben Bayer, understand and apply Ayn Rand’s ideas, and to build a Yaron Brook, Keith Lockitch, Aaron Smith, Tara Smith flourishing philosophical community, the value of face- and Tal Tsfany—and a special guest, the Rubin Report’s Dave to-face interaction among attendees and with Objectivist Rubin. Attendees will meet others who love Rand’s novels and intellectuals cannot be overstated.” are eager to explore her ideas—and they will have the chance For the past four years, the Ayn Rand Conference to network with speakers, students and professionals from (AynRandCon) in Atlanta, Georgia, has served as an various fields. There is still time to register for AynRandCon intellectually challenging conference exploring Ayn Rand’s 2019 or to sponsor students: visit aynrandcon.org or write ideas—ideal for students and those relatively new to to [email protected]. Objectivism and its application to life’s big questions. On February 14 through 16, 2020, the next AynRandCon- This year and next, ARI intends to increase the number Europe takes place in Warsaw, Poland. ARI aims to repeat of and attendance at AynRandCons around the world. the success of AynRandCon-Europe, held in Prague earlier this year, when successful grassroots recruiting AynRandCons Abroad and in the U.S. by enthusiastic young activists more than doubled the expected attendance. In September 2019, ARI provided speakers for two independent AynRandCons abroad—one hosted by María Marty’s Ayn Rand Center Latin America in Buenos Aires, Join Us for an Upcoming AynRandCon! , September 6 and 7, and another a week later in Porto Alegre, Brazil, September 14 and 15, co-hosted by • United States: October 25 to 27, 2019, in Atlanta, Roberto Rachewsky and ARI. The latter conference was Georgia (aynrandcon.org) also supported by the Liberty Institute, Ayn Rand Center • Europe: February 14 to 16, 2020, in Warsaw, Latin America, Students for Liberty–Brasil, the Institute Poland (website coming soon) for Education (IEE), and the Atlantos Institute. These conferences represent positive results of ARI’s strategy of helping to develop independent Ayn Rand New Regional One-Day AynRandCons Centers. As they begin to flourish, we hope these first Ayn To reach more newcomers with introductory talks and Rand Centers will encourage more entrepreneurial activists discussions about Ayn Rand’s ideas, ARI is launching a series like Maria and Roberto to approach ARI for help in of regional one-day AynRandCons in cities across the United spreading Ayn Rand’s ideas in their own countries. AynRandCon AynRandCon LATIN AMERICA BRAZIL 2019 2019 Buenos Aires Porto Alegre SEPTEMBER 6–7 SEPTEMBER 14–15

12 IMPACT 2019 Q2 AynRandCon AynRandCon ATLANTA 2019 EUROPE 2020

Warsaw, Poland OCTOBER 25–27 FEBRUARY 14–16

States. These conferences will deliver Objectivist content at Those interested in working with ARI to organize a one- live events without the travel and hotel costs of attending an day regional conference may write to Jennifer Minjarez at AynRandCon or OCON—significantly lowering any barriers [email protected]. for those prospective attendees who are curious but not yet committed to an interest in Ayn Rand’s ideas. By making the conference experience accessible to more people in more places, ARI expects to radically grow its AynRandCon Orange County 2020 audience among those whose attention and interest have been piqued, but who have yet to consume much, or any, educational content, and who have not yet participated in ARI programs. Growing and continually replenishing this JANUARY 18, 2020 audience is vital to fulfilling ARI’s educational mission. AynRandCon San Francisco 2020 Five One-Day Events Are Scheduled: • Orange County (January 18, 2020) • San Francisco Bay Area (January 25, 2020) JANUARY 25, 2020 • Dallas (February 29, 2020) • Philadelphia (March 14, 2020) AynRandCon Dallas 2020 • Chicago (April 18, 2020)

Similar to its strategy for conferences overseas, ARI will rely in part on local activists who are willing and able to help FEBRUARY 29, 2020 with recruiting newcomers to events. Toward that end, ARI recently hired a full-time events marketing coordinator, AynRandCon Philadelphia 2020 Jennifer Minjarez, whose focus will be on maximizing event attendance.

Host a One-Day AynRandCon in Your City! MARCH 14, 2020 In his State of ARI presentation at OCON this year, Tsfany challenged local activists and community organizers to AynRandCon Chicago 2020 interest at least fifty people in committing to attend a one- day regional conference in their home cities. “If you are able to fill fifty seats,” he said, “we will come to you!” APRIL 18, 2020

IMPACT 2019 Q2 13 THE FALSE PROMISE OF STOICISM By Aaron Smith

n June, ARI published this article in its journal, New Ideal. Written by ARI fellow and Objectivist I Academic Center instructor Aaron Smith, it is the journal’s most widely read article, after being picked up by Google News; it stoked lively discussions on Reddit and other online forums. The first part of the article is published here. The complete piece can be found at aynrand.org/stoicism.

ver the past decade, the ancient Greek philosophy of time spent hurling yourself at these immovable objects O Stoicism has seen renewed public attention. Recent is time not spent on the things we can change. [1] popular books are selling Stoicism as a guide to self-mastery, psychological resilience, inner tranquility and happiness. There is something right in this advice, as far as it goes. The There is William Irvine’s A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient problem, however, is that Stoicism endorses determinism— Art of Stoic Joy (2009); Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way: The the view that our actions and choices are necessitated by Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph (2014) and The Daily factors beyond our control. So, strictly speaking, nothing is up Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living to us. And if nothing is up to us, what use is Holiday’s advice (2016); and Massimo Pigliucci’s How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient or the Serenity Prayer or anyone’s advice for that matter? There Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (2017), to name a few. The is no philosophically consistent answer to that question, philosophy has garnered the interest of CEOs, entrepreneurs, except: “None whatsoever.” [2] Silicon Valley tech workers and professional athletes. There are good reasons, however, to steer clear of Stoicism as Stoicism endorses determinism—the view a philosophy of life. For although the Stoics raised important that“ our actions and choices are necessitated by questions and issues, which these recent books are surfacing, factors beyond our control. the answers the Stoics offered to these questions are, in the end, deeply problematic. ” The chief theoretician of Stoicism, Chrysippus (ca. 280–206 B.C.), held that an action is “up to us” (or in our power), if it What is up to us and what is not results, at least in part, from a cause that’s within us. But he also held that these internal causes (our judgments, values, Popular treatments of Stoicism universally stress the Stoics’ motives and choices) are the inexorable result of a whole chain point that some things are “up to us” and other things are of prior (and equally inexorable) causes, which he called Fate. not up to us, and that it’s crucially important to distinguish Whatever you do or decide to do—whether to get married, to correctly between these. Many of today’s advocates of leave your job or to order another round of sake—you had to Stoicism cite the famous Serenity Prayer to capture what do it; your decisions and actions were necessitated by factors they take to be the essence of this point: “God grant me the preceding your birth. Despite his language of some things serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to being “up to us,” Chrysippus is neither endorsing free will nor change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” rejecting determinism. In his book The Daily Stoic, entrepreneur and media strategist The Stoics will often say that although events are not up to Ryan Holiday pitches this point as follows: us, our judgments about events are. The implication, however, is that our judgments have nothing to do with what does The single most important practice in Stoic philosophy is differentiating between what we can change and what or doesn’t happen to us. Every event is determined to occur we can’t. What we have influence over and what we do precisely as it does, but we can choose to accommodate not. A flight is delayed because of weather—no amount ourselves to events (rather than bemoan them) by viewing of yelling at an airline representative will end a storm. them as outside our control and, at least for the Stoics, No amount of wishing will make you taller or shorter or as divinely ordered for the best. As one ancient writer, born in a different country. No matter how hard you try commenting on Stoicism, put the point: you can’t make someone like you. And on top of that,

14 IMPACT 2019 Q2 They too [Zeno (334–262 B.C.) and Chrysippus] affirmed The most likely interpretation is that Epictetus held that that everything is fated, with the following model. When our judgment affects only our mental life, whereas events a dog is tied to a cart, if it wants to follow it is pulled themselves happen as God (or Fate) would have them. In such and follows, making its spontaneous act coincide with a case, freedom, for Epictetus, is not a matter of possessing necessity, but if it does not want to follow, it will be the ability to control or impact the events of our lives—it is compelled in any case. So it is with men too: even if they about being free from the frustration and pain that comes do not want to, they will be compelled in any case to from wanting events to occur other than they do. follow what is destined. [3] As Anthony Long, one of the leading scholars on Epictetus, Stoic philosophy leaves us with no causal power to impact writes: events, only at best the ability (so far unexplained) to voluntarily accept our leash and accommodate ourselves Our responsibility as individual persons is solely over the to the inevitable. This may provide a false sense of solace to area in which we are capable of being autonomous—the some, but it isn’t exactly an empowering perspective on life. ‘proper use of mental impressions’ (I. 12.34). Everything else is God’s business; it concerns us only to the extent that For a philosophy to be useful as a guide, it must at least we adapt ourselves to it by understanding its rationale acknowledge that we have some genuine, volitional control within the world’s inevitable and providential system. [7] over our actions and choices—actions and choices that make a difference to where we end up in life. So, although the Stoics raise the important question of what In his book How to Be a Stoic, philosopher of science Massimo is in our control and what is not, they are unable to offer Pigliucci seems to acknowledge this problem. But his way of anything close to a satisfactory viewpoint on this issue. handling this problem, and others, is to “update” Stoicism Advice about distinguishing between what is up to us and into something it never was. what is not (and acting accordingly) rests on, and only makes sense in the context of, the fact that human beings have free Many of the particular notions developed by the ancient will. Embracing this fact requires rejecting Stoicism’s basic Stoics have ceded place to new ones introduced by modern view of reality: its deterministic framework, including its science and philosophy and need therefore to be updated. exhortations to willingly accommodate ourselves to events. For instance . . . the clear dichotomy the Stoics drew between what is and is not under our control is too strict: Continue reading this article in New Ideal: aynrand.org/ beyond our own thoughts and attitudes, there are some stoicism things that we can and, depending on circumstances, must influence—up to the point where we recognize that nothing more is in our power to be done. [4] Endnotes In addition to abandoning Stoic determinism, Pigliucci 1. Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman, The Daily drops the central Stoic doctrine that a living, rational God Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the pervades everything in the universe and providentially orders Art of Living (New York: Portfolio, 2016), 9. everything for the best—replacing it with , Darwinian 2. An accurate and clear-headed discussion of this natural selection and a modern scientific notion of causation. tension in Stoicism by a writer sympathetic to the Whatever the merits of these changes, what survives in How to philosophy can be found in appendix 1 of Keith Seddon’s Stoic Serenity: A Practical Course on Finding Be a Stoic is not Stoicism. [5] Inner Peace (Lulu.com, 2006). The pervasive determinism of Stoicism is likely what leads 3 A. A. Long and D. N Sedley, The Hellenistic Philosophers, many of today’s popularizers to focus heavily on Epictetus (ca. vol. 1 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), A.D. 55–105), a Stoic of the later Roman imperial period, who sec. 62A, 386. taught that the human faculty of judgment is completely free 4. Massimo Pigliucci, How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient and unconstrained—unconstrained, says Epictetus, even by Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (New York: Basic Books, God. Whether Epictetus is introducing into Stoicism a notion 2017), 11. 5. In a recent article, “Can Stoicism Make Us Happy?” of free will, however, is unclear. [6] Although the Stoics raise published in The Nation, Carlos Fraenkel, a professor the important question of what is in our control and what is of philosophy and Jewish studies at McGill University, not, they are unable to offer anything close to a satisfactory rightly criticizes Pigliucci on just this point. viewpoint on this issue. Relying on the Stoic doctrine that 6. For citations and a summary of the major scholarly our souls are fragments of God, Epictetus asserted that just interpretations on this point, see A. A. Long’s as God is completely free, so is our faculty of judgment. The Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life (Oxford: question of how an unconstrained faculty of judgment could Oxford University Press, 2002), 229–30. be consistent with the Stoic deterministic worldview does not 7. Long, Epictetus, 153. seem to have been of particular concern to him.

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