THE,AYI\ RAND INSTITUTE f,l/ewsletter-

Vol. 6, No. 1 o The Center for the Advancement of Objectivism o Februarv 1991 Fund-raisingGala Institute in Review Sef for September Unexpected successesand dramatic Library (NAL) last April, over 900 The Ayn Rand Institute is pleased to opporhrnities to reach new audiences professional philosophers-far more announce 'An Evening of Celebration," mark the Ayn Rand Institute's projects than expected-have requested and re- to take place September 28, 1991, at the over the past year. ceived complimentary copies from ARI. Vista Lrternational Hotel in New York As ARI begins its seventh year of In addition, 1990saw the publication by City. This special evening, the third of its operation, its two major projects aimed ARI Press of The Biological Basb of Tele- kind since ARI was established in 1985, at reaching high-school and college ological Concepts, Harry Binswanger's will include a banquet and fund-raising students are flourishing. The Institute work in philosophy of science. A major auction of items from Avn Rand's estate. continues to provide camPus Objectivist project for ARI in 1991 and 19P2will be Following dinner, jo(n Ridpath will clubs with valuable materials and sup- the promotion to the academic commun- preside over the auction of various port (for details on the club project, see ity of Leonard Peikoff's definitive book manuscripts, books, and memorabilia- page three of this newsletter). And 1990 on Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectiaism: in all, twenty-seven items created, was the best year yet for the Fountainhead ThePhilosophy of Ayn Rand,scheduled for purchased, or collected by Ayn Rand. Essay Contest, with a record-breaking publication by NAL in December. Proceeds from the event will be 2,830 entries-a twenty percent increase The Institute's sponsorship of Dr. invested in ARI's various projects to over 1989. A new marketing strategy for Binswanger/s intellectual training sem- advance the philosophy of Objectivism. the 1991 contest has resulted in two to inars for Objectivist graduate students The two previous banquet/auctions-in three times the usual number of requests in philosophy continued in 1990, with Los Angeles in 1986,and in New York in for teaching materials and information four young scholars participating in 1987-were highly successful in raising about the contest, and ARI hopes for a extended workshops on philosophic funds. In addition, Objectivists from all significant increase in the number of writing; another graduate student over North America and several coun- entries. In response to suggestions from recently joined the current seminar on tries overseas enjoyed the opportunity teachers, the Institute created new essay the Objectivist ethics. ARI continues its to meet one another and celebrate the questions for this year's contest, and is subsidy of student tuitions for Objec- adrievements of Ayn Rand and of the now developing teaching materials for tivist taped lecture courses, including Ayn Rand Institute. Ayn Rand's novelette, Anthem. Dr. Peikoff's new course based on his This summer, all current mntributors On the academic front, ARI's forthcoming book, and will again offer to ARI will receive invitations to the development and promotion of the new partial scholarships to qualified stu- event as well as a catalog containing scholarly edition of lntroduction to dents wishing to attend this summer's descriptions of the auction items. Mail- Objectiaist Epistemology has been an conference at The ]efferson School. bids will be accepted from those unable important step in conveying to the While the United Statesremains the to attend. Further details will be an- philosophic profession the serious and primary focus of ARI's projects, several nounced in the next Nearleffer and in technical nature of Objectivism. Since opportunities greatly expanded the upccming issues of IMPACT. the book's publication by NewAmerican international reach of the Institute (*e Bevlew,p.4)

Merrrorabilia Manuscripte (picwreddght) | "Playboy'slnterview with Ayn Rand," typed but edited in her I Cigarette lighter handwriting with some pages mmpletely handwritten €ngrarredwittr'AYN I Handwritten 'lntroduction" toTheVirtue of Setfthness and a dollar sign I Heavy glass ash- Books tray with a cat's face etched in the base I Humcn Action by Ludwig von Mises, with extensive and I Sealed box of generally negative marginal notes on 128 pages dollar-sign ciga- I L'HommeQui Rit (TheMan Wholaughs) by Vi*or Hugo, two rettes, with ",Iufio Is volumes in French lofn Qatt? filEY XIIOWAT RANDOM HOUSE"printed onthecover I Six paperback mysteries by Agatha Christie; inside each I Brass replica of the "Golden Spike," purchased by Ayn Rand cover, Ayn Rand wrote "AR" and later crossed it out, indicating from Gump's in Beverly Hills to commemoratethelohn Galt Line she had read it twice InstituteInterview: ANDREWBERNSTEIN by lGthy Kroegu knew that sincelwanted to write serious entrenched beliefs of a conservative fiction, training in philosophy would be society, Good students can't miss it- invaluable,solgotmyM.A. and Ph.D.in they seeit in RoarlCsstruggle. philosophy, instead of literahrre, at the Q: RegardingARf s asay contat on The City Uriivirsity of New York. [t was a Fountainead: youatrote the teacher's guide, horrible, agonizing experience,don- anil you'aehelped grade the essaysfrom the inated by contemporary linguistic phi- beginning;what is your aiao of the impact losophers,who are much worse, I think, that thecontat is haoing? than the ldanists or Existentialists. But A: I think the contest has been a grealt the training in philosophy has been practical step in the spread of Obiec- indispensable,not only in my develop- hvism. rhe lids who reid the novel ind ment as a writer, but in teachingas well. enter the contest are the above-average- Q: Youhaoe taught at bah thehigh-school to-excellent students, so that in itself is andcollecelnel. Whichdo vou prefq? encouraging. And the essaysfve graded A: Both lave their virtues-underappro- over the last five years have been pretty priate circumstances.Bright, motivated good; the students are certainly getting are a joy to teach' iomething out of reading the book. of philonphyat high-school.kids "ffiDr. Bernstein is aprofesnr Also, I trv to keepin mind that when vou teach, yeducation.I have to say how in "understanding Objectivism," A:When I was a junior in high sdrool in thal teaching theseadqlts is the gleatest Leonard Peikoff discusses"chewing" teaching experience had. They'r9 ideas?Well,I've read Arlls Shruggdfive Brooklyn I had a very bright gym teach- -I've er wh6 managed to woik Ayn Rand's highly motivated and always prep,ared, times,and I don't think I havethorough- ideas into a f,vcieneclass. Il was the an-dI don't haveto wastetime on "class- ly drewed it-and I'm no lessintelligent spring of 1968,-iiuring the height of the Klom management" It's rcallya pleasure. than the next guy! SoI had to reccgnize Vietram War and the riots at Columbia; Q: Could you descibe your approadt to that seventeen-year-oldsare not likely politicalandmoralquestionswereinthe teachingTheFountainhead? to understand all the themes.What I iir, and occasionallythis teacher would A: I've-taught The Fountainhea'dmany want them to get is the brilliant integra- discuss the Obiectivist perspective in times,at about ten different universities tion of the plot structure on a massive class,He was iever dolmafic, but he and at a private high school. At the scale;thereG nothing in all of literature was always very firm aFout his views. collegelevel, I use it a9 one of the texts to compare to it Rand is an incredible It was th6 first [ime Id heard anything in m! moral philosophy class; I assign literary genius,and I want my students that made so mudr senseto me- That it at the end of the course, after the to recognizeher stature in that regard. summer I read all of Ayn Rand's books. shrdentshave ccmplgted a fairly tradi- Beyond that, I hope they acquire some es- Q:Howdidyourinterestinaliterarycarw tional rcading list. They definitely ggj rudimentarygrasp of the philosophy, begin?hp,oin? the contrastconilast between RandKand and the self-selt- peciallv the role of reasonand the fun- AiFor as long as I can remerrber, I've sacrifice tradition represented by Plato, hamerital nature of free will-the choice ailiwfffietlFsus; fGEFan lldarx==aiiat howdifficuft er, and fiction hasbeen my passionsince or painful,like Galt, or to willfully I was a kid. Dscovering Ayn Rand's evadereality,like Jim Taggart. novelsonly reinfored my goal; Howard Q: Do you haue a faaorite scenein Roark became my hero, a man who Avn Rand'sfictbn? not only defined his values rationally, Ai I love thd dramatic impact of RoarKs but would never sprrifice them. That secondtrial, whenWynand standsupin was a great inspiration to me. the back of the room becausejudgment being pronounced on him, too. I think Q:Diil Wu pursuea fonnal ducation in is literature? Gail Wynand's story is the greatesttraS- A: Yes,up to a point. I earnedmy B..d in integrated inb the story, at several dif- edy in world literaturHven more so English from a small Catholic sdrool in ferent levels: there's the first-hand/ thin Hamlet,Macbeth, or Oedipus.And rural South Dakota, where I was offered second-hand,independent/dependent part of Ayn Rand's staggering achieve- a basketball scholarship. Going there conflic$ then there'sthe profound moral ment is that she accomplishesthis as a really openedmy eyes,after being raised question of the relationship between secondary matter, the focus of the in a lewish family in a big city and at- moral virtue and practical suctess;and novel being Howard Roark'sstory! Only tending a huge p,trblichigh school. Uke finally there is the issue of rational Ayn Rand could have written that scene, many New Yorkers,I hadn't known what egoism, the idea that you have to form inwhich so much thematicallyand phil- the rest of the country was like. Anyway, ybur values rationally and then be osophically is dramatized in the simple I minored in history and political science; commited to them in action. So you action of a man rising in a courkoom. having read Ayn Rand,I was also very have three levels of thematic signifi- And the scene in Atlas Shruggeilwherr interestedin philosophy, so I tookevery cancewoven into a Perfect storyline- Reardenenters Dagn/s apartmentwhile philosophy oourse the school offered. I the innovator struggling against the Francisco is there is very powerful, (*e Bemcteln,P.4) 2 CampusClubs:1990 CurrentClub Roster TapedLecture Courses University of Alberta ARI providcs clubs with Wge quantitbs of thefol- Offering Objectivis taped lecture cowses is thc BostonObjectivist StudentCormcil lowing parnphb* od flyers to distribute at tleir higlrest edacational value a club cot ofer its BostonUniversity promotional tables,meetings, and anefis. members. ARI helps make tlese coursesfiord- University of British Columbia able by srbsidizing students'tuitbnfees. Tltle Quantlty Cal. StatePolyteclrric Univ.-Pomona 'Introducing Objectivism' 4015 Course Offerings Students University of California-Berkeley *An Objectivist Bibliography" 4530 "The Philosophyof Objectivism" 9 50 University of California-Ios Angeles "Objectivism: ABrief Summry" 4635 'UnderstandingObjectivism' 8 36 Camegie-MellonUniversity "Playby's Interview with Ayn Rad" 6265 "Foundersof WestemPhilosophy'' 7 33 University of Chicago "Philosophy: Who NeedsIt" 6365 'Modern Philosophy" 3 20 University of Cincinnati "Man's Rights" & "Nahre of Govemm€nt" 6375 "Inftoductionto[,ogic" 3 15 ClarernontColleges "Religion vs. America" (new in 1990) 6735 "Ayn Rand'sFictionWriting" 3 8 CopenhagenUniversity (Denmark) 33 Drke University Toul ilistributcd in 1990 38920 Toblfor 190 Univenity of Florida GeorgeMason University GeorgeWashington Universiry In additionto philosophic discussbn,playing video d University of Georgia audio tapesis a regular activity of most clubs. In 199,0, Univenity of Gothenburg(Sweden) cW-sponsored sha+ings on carnpusreaclled approx- University of Houston inutely 2,700peoplc, nostly students. ARI loans,at rc University of Illinois cost to tlrc chbs, thefollovting videotapes: University of Iowa Jesusand Mary College (India) University of louisville "An Introduction to Objectivism" 45 MacalesterCollege "Individualism:TheMoralBasisofFreedom" 15 MassachusettsInstitute of Technology "Conservatism:The Antithesisof Capitalism" 1l University of Massachusetts-Amherst "Socialism = Fascism" 15 Miami University (OH) "The Sanctionof the Victims" 19 University of Michigan '"TheAmerican School: Why JohnnyCan'tThink" 13 University of Minnesota "The OminousParallels" 10 Univ. of New SouthWales(Australia) "Debate1984: Capitalismvs. Socialism" 20 New York University "Religionvs. America" l0 NorthwestemUniversity 'Why ShouldOne Act on Principle?" L4 Ohio StateUniversity 'My Thirty Yearswith Ayn Rand" 8 OklahomaState University l,bmbers ot the Uniwrsity ot BritishColunua Sat&nE Tobl numbcrof showhgs tn 1990 University of WesternOntario of Otiectivismat theh tableon 1dubday,' Nndete wilh Total audbncc (average15 per shovhg) University of Oregon signs,pewhlets, flyers, !pp,ks,and ideotape. Univenity of Oslo (Norway) SpeakersBureau Our Lady of the Lake Universiry CfX) PennsylvaniaState University Club-sponsoredtalksanddebatesoncanptureacled3,900peopl+nostly students-in l9N. ARIprwides University of Pennsylvania assistancein organizingand publbizing tlese events,arrd in r?anycases prwides funding to corterthe costs. PurdueUniversity Date School Speaker Toplc Attendance RensselaerPolytechnic Instiurte 1-10 Waterloo Ridpattt Debate:"Capitalism vs. Socialism" 725 StanfordUniversity l-25 Michigan Binswanger "Bridging the 'Is'-'Ought' Gap" I l0 StateUniv. of New York-Stony Brook L-26 Michigan Binswanger '"ThePrimacy of Existence"(seminar) 25 Tel Aviv University (Israel) 2-13 Cal Poly Reisman "Capitalism: The Cure for Racism" 50 TexasA&M University 2-20 Chicago locke 'Emotions andReason" 70 University of Texas-Austin 2-21 Northwestem Iocke '"TheCase Against Animal Rights" 100 University of Utah 2-22 UCLA Ift4p "Free Will h Literature" 45 Vanderbilt University 3-11 Collegeof Marin Ridpath "Righs-Reason-Reality" 180 Villa del Sol High Schml (Yuma, AZ) 3-13 Cd State Reisman "Everyone's Stakein Capitalism" 50 University of Virginia 3-L4 Boston Binswanger "Ayn Rand'sTheory of FreeWill" 60 Washingtur StateUniversity 3-15 MIT Binswanger "The Moral Basis of Capitalism" 80 University of Washington 3-19 PennState l.ocke "The CaseAgainst Animal Rights" 85 University of Waterloo (Ontario) 3-20 Camegie-Mellon locke "The CaseAgainst Animal Rights" 45 WesleyanUniversity 3-214 Collegeof Marin locke Debate:'Do Animals Have Righs?" 200 Whiunan College 3-29 Ohio State Binswanger '"TheMoral Basis of Capitalism" 75 Univenity of Wisconsin-Madison 4-2 NYr.J Schwartz '"TheVirtue of Selfhhness" 120 University of Wisconsin-Stout 43 Yale Locke '"TheCase Against Animal Rights" 55 Wright StateUnivenity 44 Wesleyan l,ocke '"TheCase Against Animal Rights" 120 Yale Univenity 4-ll Wisconsin Knapp "Literature and Literary Theory" 75 York University (Ontario) 5-3 Cal Poly Schwartz "The Virtue of Selfhlmess" 80 5-8 Georgia Schwartz 'The Virnre of Selfishness" 115 9-20 Michigan Binswanger "Laissez-FaireCapitalism" 80 10-22 Wisconsin Binswmger "Laissez-FaireCapitalism" 70 10-23 Chicago Binswanger/Ridpath Debate:"Capitalisrn vs. Socialism" 520 lL-7 Wesleyan Binswanger 'Bridging the'Is'-'Ought'.Gap" 35 1l-14 GeorgeWashington locke "Emotions and Reason" 60 11-19 Washington locke "Emotions and Reason" r70 II-20 British Columbia locke Debate:"Do Animals Have Rights?" 175 LL-27 Boston Buechner '"TheRoot of Terrorism" 75 l2-3 Boston Binswanger Debate:"Cpitalism vs. Socialism" 250 (n daqantiruedfrone. 1) (Bcn.tdn, @ntirwedfront P. 2) during1990. ARI arranged speechesat and brilliantly done. And the sanction at that level to write an outstanding Polish universities by Harry Binswanger of thevictim scenewhenRearden stands noveMt's about a proud and talented and lohn Rdp"ttr, provided Hungarian up and says,{ don't recognizeyour right college basketball player named Swoop bookstoreswith 400copies of Ayn Rand's to try me." That'sa greatsceng but there who attends a small college in the Mid- non-fiction, began work on a Russian- are so many great scenesin Ayn Rand. I west, where he must deal with the moral languagebooklet of Ayn Rand's essays, don't understand people who say they and psychologicalconflicts betweenhim advertisedthe C'errran-languageedition find her emotionless-she's the most pas- and his humble Christian teammate$it's of AtlasSfuugeilin Germannewspapers, sionate writei fve ever read in my life! not autobiographial, but it is based on and worked with Obiectivist groups in Q: lNhichother writers ih you like? some of my experiences. Australia and India on systematic A: Well,I have to agreewith Ayn Rand: Q: You seem to haaea positiaeattitude ahout promotion of the FountainheadEssay I think Victor Hugo is a great writer. Les Objectiaism'schancre. C-an you elaborate? Contest in those countries. Some of MisCrableswas disappointing intellec- A: I'm very optimistic about the future of these opportunities were unexpected, tually, becauseof his Christian humanist Objectivism; the rebirth of the culture and thus not budgeted for; ARI gives views, but what a powerful emotional will definitelvdefinitely not occur in our lifetimes,, special thanks to those donors whose experienceit is to read that book; what a but I believe it zrill happen. It'sIfs going to additional contributions made these sei*of granilerr!Also,IenjoytheFrench bealongstruggle,buthistoricallyspeak- activities possible. Romanti-cs.I love Cyranode Btgnac, and ing, you canalready seeAyn Randas the Planning and implementing the ad- Chantuleris a very fine play. Then there epoch-making genius she is. Tradition- vancementof Objectivism is a demand- are writers I reipect but don't love. ally,Plato,Aristotle,andKanthavebeen ing drallenge for the Institute's staff of Shakespeardstragedies are very great regardedasthe'tigthree"amongqhil-o9- six. Forfirnately, the fmstration brought Sophoiles, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy I ophers.Well,thebigthreeisnowthebig *-dmhgtutl on-bf Ths3tow-paee- of intietterctuttt cart't stand.tttert *eading' -fou4 dthough-not marqrpeuple-know changein the ctrlture is balanced by the theirbooks is a literary chorefor me,be-- it When ideas of such magnitude and knowledge that ARI's work is quick- causeof the oppressively gloomy sense power are part of the world, they will ening the paceof that change,and by the of life and mllevolent world view.In necessarilyhaveanimpact,intime. The pleasure of working together to help popular literature, I like well-plotted, causehas been enacted, and there will create the kind of world Ayn Rand heioic action-adventure noveis with be an American Renaissance.I'm just envisioned. Your contributions have real swashbucklingheroes, the kind glad tobeabletoseethefirstsignsofit- made the Institute's important work played by Errol Flynn. I enjoy Dumas in the essay contest and ARI's other possible,and for this we offer a valuable ittd SaUititti. Of'the cont6mporary successes,dnd in the responsesI get return on yourinvestmentas well asour thriller writers, my favorite is Alistaii every day from my own itudents. The deep appreciation. However, we cele- lr4aclean; even though he's a Christian, Fouininiead and AtlasShruggd as_well Hugo in thit he's incapableof as Ayn Rand'snon-fiction are out there, brate the many accomplishments in a he's like 'soon larger context the Institute is a rela- writing aboui anybody but giants. and Dr. Peikoff's book will be out tively new organization, the Objectivist Q:Telimeaboutliouroiwrwrltingcaren there, too. I feel like somebodywho movement is still in its infancy, and a A: Since I finished graduate school in was living in, say, 1290,about fifteen successfulchallenge to the dominant 1985, I've been woiking on my first years after Thomas Aquinas's death, philosophical traditions of the last two novel,Hartof aPagan.fvereallyputmy when you could see the Higi Renais- millenia requires long-rangeplanning soul into it, and it's nearly finished. It's sancecoming in the fourteenth century. as well as patienceand persistence. I certainlynotcomparabletoAynRand's You can see the next Renaissance novelsiut one iioes not have to write coming, if you know where to look. I

Thc Ayn Rand Inatituo Nelarrslcttrz-is published by the Ayn Rand Institute, 330 Washin$on Blvd., Marina del Rey, CA 90D2, Q13,%-9232; FAX: Q73rg0f,.49?f. All rights reserved@1991. Reproduction without permissionis prohibited. Dr. MichaelBerliner, FiitorinlDiratot l(athy Kroegu, SaniorF-ditorlWritq; DonnaMonhezz4Flitor. Issuesare complimentaryto all current contributors.

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