SECOND RENAISSANCE HCONFE RENCES ANNOUNCES ~1DEA S FOR THE RATIONAL Ml ND,. A PHIL.OSOPHICAL. CONFERENCE JUNE 29 TO JULY 14, 1996 THE MCLEAN HILTON AT TYSONS CORNER MCLEAN, VIRGINIA / ~ L;.;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;.;;;.;;;;.;;.;;;.;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;____ .;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;;.;;;;;;;;;;;; ________________ .;;;;,1 _, Dear Reader: ----- The hotel offers numerous amenities, including in­ SECOND RENAISSANCE CONFERENCES is door pool, outdoor sundeck, state-of-the-art fitness cen­ proud to announce a philosophical conference featur­ ter, sauna, wooded jogging trails around a pond, and ing lectures by Leonard Peikoff, the pre-eminent Ob­ complimentary bicycles. In-room extras include hair jectivist philosopher, and classes by Harry Binswanger. dryer, coffee maker, iron/ ironing board, voice mail, PC Detailed descriptions of the lectures, courses, and fac­ dataport(!), mini-bar, and a large selection of current ulty follow, so let me tell you something about the con­ videos. Guest services include free parking and shuttle ference site. I really think this is the best hotel ever se­ service to the subway and the nearby malls-which lected for an Objectivist conference. offer restaurants, movie theaters, and some of the best The McLean Hilton at Tysons Comer, in McLean, shopping on the East Coast. This is a marvelous hotel! Virginia, is a superb facility. It is centrally located be­ I'm sure you will appreciate the intellectual content tween National and Dulles International Airports, and of the conference and luxuriate in the accommodations just 25 minutes by shuttle and subway from downtown of the hotel. I hope you will attend and I look forward Washington, D.C. Its striking architecture features an to seeing you. · . ·exterior designed as a bold, three-sided pyramid, and an interior highlighted by a dramatic, nine-story atrium ~~ Sc~-ctL lobby (with live piano music in the afternoons). Sandra Schwartz GENERAL LECTURES Each ofthe four lectures by Dr. Peikoff is from 10:30 am-12:15 pm; each ofthe two lectures by Mrs. Sures is from 10:30 am-12 :30 pm; the Independence Day Celebration is from 10 am-11 am; all other General Lectures are from 10:30 am-12 pm. UNITY IN EPISTEMOLOGY AND ETHICS Leonard Peikoff 1. Knowledge as a Unity: A detailed analy­ principles of epistemology? of ethics? of politics? Do we sis and concretization of the principles that !earn that reason is man's basic means of survival by study­ everything in the universe is interrelated, ing the nature of man or the history of men? Why did Ayn and that every item of knowledge is con­ Rand say that she could not have formulated her ethics prior n_ected to every other. Why these prin­ to the Industrial Revolution? How would an Objectivism ciples are the antidote for ra tionalism. Ex­ formulated in the 17th century differ from the philosophy in ercise: Students are given a simple item of Atlas S/Jrngged? knowledge, e.g., "The plane from Los An­ geles will be two hours late," and are led to 3. Definitions: The principle of two definitions: why a see connections between th is statement and certain category of philosophic term requires not one, but . the total content of human cognition in two definitions, both necessary to the unity of knowledge. every field, area, and era. Which terms fa ll into this special category, and therefore, how to answer such questions as: Does James Tnggart pur­ 2. How ~o Uni_te His~ory and Philosophy: Does philosophy sue any va /11es? Since Christianity preaches sacrifice, does it make ~ 1ence, including history, possible-or is it vice versa? real.ly offer a code of morality? ls Linguistic Analysis a What, if any, Is the role of historical fact in validating the p/Jilosop/1y? Exercise: Students are offered a definition ⇒ 2 i:~_~_1__,;_=-_.:,;:.__=.,;:=--==.:::::...::::::....::._ R ~ ( .( ,'\J l l ()[DJ U ITY I EPISTEMOLOGY AND ETHI THE VJ ION AND nlli GENESIS front J I OF THE O BCt.ARATION OF ,lt "r .ism~ f\>nnulatl."\l t ~,mth ~,11 • and an! mi'\'.! to INOEPENDEN E d :,:t m 1t .i 11m 11 nd , m\preh ruh , ph1h. ph v, ,, • p.iint METAPHYSICAL V LUE•JUDGMEN Gary Hull THE ART OF THE ANOENT WORLD \Vhatpremisemotivates ~n 'sc:(lmm\'nt (2 I tures, illustrated with rolor slid ) to alt, in Atlas . lrru,_~~1-d: " \I e miver had Mary Ann llre to take an , of it •riousl , did we " In T/11• This s urvey of the nrt of the :indent world Fou11taillh.>ad, wh d0t~11•t Dominique want dcm nstrates the ronn ~ tion between art a ,u\.>er \, h , do some p•·opl •opt t11 hoard and ideas. Mrs. urcs follows the develop­ mone , fo r retirement rather than pursue n ment of ort from Egypt to ra-ce t() Rome bu iness drt.'am- \ hllc thcr take caku· to the Ea rly hristian era. Using exomples lated risk to make their value o reality? from l.'ach period, sh~' shows how ort re­ ach of theS(: ncretc 0 is ca used by n •rh1 in flects the rise nnd dee.line of philosophy­ metaphysical value-judgment . This lee• in particular, thl' hanging views of man. ture explain the · nee of su h iudgment , and the crucial Subje ts include: the characteristics of role the)• play in <1 11 area of li fo, from on •'s attitude toward Egypthm art, the evolution of the nude figure in Greek justice to Clnc's enjoyment of everyday activities. sculpture, the P,,rthenon frieze, Roman portraiture, Roman Sunday, July 7 painting, Ea rly hristinn mosaics, and perspective in an­ cient nrt. Sunday, June 30 & Monday, July 1 THE "TRIAL" OF MICHAEL MILKEN Edwin A. Locke ECONOMIC GROWTH: In 1990, after years of relentless persecu­ How to Foster It/How to Destroy It tion by the government and vicious treat­ M. Northrup Buechner ment by the press, Michael Milken, a fi. In the second half of the 19th century, the nancial genius, fe lt compe lled to plead rate of economic growth in the United guilty to charges of which he believed he Statesa er;1ged over S oayearfor40years. was innocent. (He subsequently served a Today o ur long-term grt1wth rate is less pdson sentence.) This presentation con- than half that. What has happened and sists of a fictionalized ending to the trial why? What are the preconditions for eco­ 1111 that should have taken place but m:ver did. ClosingI arguments are presented by the "prosecution" nomic growth? What is the role of saving? The role of production? In the process of and the "defense." A jury from the audience will be impan­ answering these questions, Dr. Buechner eled and will reach a verdict. Thursday, July 11 shows that if a diabolical genius had set I outtodestroyeconomicgrowth in America, EsSENTIALIZED THINKING he would have initiated exactly the policies we have been Peter Schwartz following for 100 years. Tuesday, July 2 Logical thinking takes place through the identification of essentials. This lecture dis­ cusses the meaning of essentialization. It INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION examines the crucial role of context-i.e., * * how two things can be essentially similar The highlight of our Independence Day celebration is a in one context and essentially different in reci ta ti on of the Declaration of Independence by another. It explains the process by which conference attendees who wish to participate by reading one reduces complex issues to their essen­ a chosen sentence. This is followed by a dramatic reading tials. And it shows the cultural hostility by Leonard Peikoff of a short work by John Adams, toward the principle of essentialized thinking, as manifested entitled "A Nation Was Born in a Day." Thursday, July 4 in the widespread practice of "package-dealing" (e.g., the use of anti-concepts). Saturday, July 13 3 EVENING EVENTS WHY BUSINESSMEN N EEO PHILOSOPHY: DANCE WITH DJ Friday,JulyS Videotape Presentation Leonard Peikoff This talk, given to a group of businessmen, shows how free AN OBJECTMST QUESTION PERIOD enterprise is under cultural attack, and how businessmen are Leonard Peikoff, Michael S. Berliner, Harry Binswanger, abetting their own destruction. Dr. Peikoff identifies the John Ridpath, and Peter Schwartz three crucial premises they need lo grasp in order to repel the Questions on any topic related to Objectivism may be ad­ attacks. Includes a question period, conducted in "talk-show" dressed to one or more of the participants. format. (Presented courtesy of the Ayn Rand Institute.) Sunday, July 7 Sunday, June 30 I NTRODUCTION TO OBJECTMSM: BALLROOM DANCE INSTRUCTION Videotape Presentation Leonard Peikoff Ted Gray and Marilyn George In this new video, Dr. Peikoff presents an overview of Objec­ In two, one-hour classes, this high-stepping couple teach the tivism-to a novice audience. Structured as a classroom foxtrot, waltz, rhumba, and swing. Students are taught the presentation, it explains all the essentials of Objectivism, same steps in the first three dances, thereby reinforcing the from metaphysics to esthetics, including the importance of idea that the differences among these ballroom dances are philosophy as such. Even for those well-versed in Objectiv­ primarily differences in style. A small amount of time is also ism, this is a unique object-lesson in how to convey complex, devoted to technique-such as leading for the men and challenging ideas to complete beginners. (Presented cour­ following for the ladies-as well as dance-floor etiquette. tesy of the Ayn Rand Institute.) Thursday, July 11 Ted Gray and Marilyn George have taught ballroom dancing for 2 years, and recently, were dance instructors on a cruise ship. Monday, July 1/fuesday, July 9 AYN RAND IN RussIA Michael S.