THE INSTITUTE

Vol. 4. No. 1 . The : The Center for the Advancement of 'January,1989

"The Meaning of Money" BENEFITPREMIERE The Ayn Rand Institute has Los Angeles - More than 250 film, and a dessertreception. just published its first pamphlet people attended the Institute's bene- In his introductory remarks, aimed primarily at businesspeople. fit premiere of the film version of discussedvarious "The Meaning of Money" is a Ayn Rand's novel We the Liuing. aspects of the novel's history and reprint of Francisco d'Anconia's Held at the Director's Guild of . Then Duncan Scott, "money" speech from Atlas Shrug- America on November 19, 1988, co-producer of the restored film, ged.In that speech,Ayn Rand chal- the financially successful event who worked on the editing with lenges the idea that "money is the raised funds to help support the Miss Rand, related some of the root of all evil" and explains both Institute's projects. Guests came movie's history, including the Fas- the economic and moral signifi- from across the and cist authorities' attempt to confis- cance of money. as far away as Toronto and Aus- cate the film: they were foiled when The pamphlet includes a spe- tralia to enjoy an evening which the producers tricked them by sub- cial introduction by , included introductory talks, the (SeeBenefit, p. 4) owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and a member of the Institute's Board of Directors. In his introduc- tion, Mr. Snider explains why the "money" speech was so important to him personally: "[it] identified for me why I work and why work is noble. It explained that money is the reward but not the reason we work...." He also tracesthe reasons leading to his decision to help start the Institute: his frustration at the self-destructive policies of most business people and his growing awarenessof the anti-capitalist phi- losophy taught on college cam- puses. The purpose of the pamphlet is to interest business people in Peikoff, Michael Berliner,and Duncan Scott Objectivism and the Institute and, ultimately, to develop increased financial support for Institute pro- AYN RAND SOCIETYMEETS jects. It is hoped that more business "Perceptual (See"Money," p. 4) The first regular sessionof the paper, Appearance: Ayn Rand Society took place on Realism vs. Representationalism," December 28, 1988. The session based on his book The Euidence of was held in Washington, D.C., in the Senses.Dr. Kelley's paper was conjunction with the annual meet- followed by a prepared responseby ing of the Eastern Division of the jaegwon Kim, American Philosophical Associa- and President of the Central Divi- tion. sion of the A.P.A. The well- The featured speaker was attended session concluded with a , who delivered a (SeeAPA, p. 4) InstituteInterview: M. NORTHRUPBUECHNER by lennifer Trainer colleaguesmake comments to me. tures at St. Iohn's. Also, while I There's been a shading of scep- was a graduate student at Virginia, ticism in what they have to say, but I helped organize the first Objec- those comments are coming frorn tivist conference ever held. It took neo-Marxists. place on the Virginia campus over a Qz Did you eaer meet Ayn Rand? weekend in the spring of tgOZ.' A: Yes. I spent the summer of 1965 About 300 people attended from all working in a bank in as over the United Statesand . a summer intern. I attended all the The speakersincluded Dr. Peikoff, lectures and functions going on at , and . that time and did get to talk to her Q: Hout do you think "The Pouer occasionally after lectures-to ask of Reason" conferenceuent? M. Northrup Buechnerhas her questions. A: It was basicallyvery successful, been a professorof economicsat Then Dr. Peikoff had a semi- particularly the intellectual con- St. Iohn's Uniuersity in Queens, nar where a group of graduate stu- tent. There were two morning lec- NeutYork for 1-9years. A member dents got together to discuss her tures given to everybody. Then in of the lnslt_t4lq'sBoqtd of Aduisoyg, ideas. 4s__a_fes!{!L w-_ewere all _the-aftelnoon there w-q1-e--optional his articleshaae appearedin such invited to a meeting with Ayn courses, each of which was four publications as The Neu York Rand. After the general discussion, hours long, spread over 3 or 4 Times, The Journal of Economic I was lucky to catch her alone for a days. In general, the courses were Issues,Vital Speechesof the Day, minute. I told her that she had very well-attended, and it was a lot and The ObjectivistForum. totally changed my life and made it of fun, becauseit was a chance for into something wonderful that I those of us who are teachers to Q: Hou didyour interestin Obiec- knew it would not have been with- actually teach, which you really tiuismeooloe? out her, and that I wanted to thank can't do with lectureswhen you have A: There was a young lady I was her. It was a debt I couldn't begin 250 people-you can't get any real very interestedin when I was nine- to repay, I said, but if there was interactiongoing. I was able to teach teen who inspired me to quit col- anything I could do....(knowing my classwith the samemethod and lege and take a year off and that was a totally vain offer). And format that I use at St. John's. hitchhike around the country. she surprised me by saying that Qz Are you planning to do any Among other things, she recom- there was something I could do. other conferences? mendedI read . "You can maintain your loyalty to A: Oh, yes. I'm making plans now When I finally found it-while reason," she said. That was quite for 1990, working as a busboy in Scottsdale, an inspiration. Qz Are you going to do anything Arizona-it was certainly the cli Qz Last year Vour company, Con- different in L990? macticmoment of my life. ceptual Conferences,put on a con- A: The most important thing I I then went back to college f erence at Wagner College on want to do is expandthe number of (LawrenceU.), finishedmy under- Staten Island. TeIl me about it, individual courses.I'm going to cut general -iteEfioolatgradgllt-ework, an{ry-en1^togradrl- A: I had been thinking fo-r many _E!k the lecturesto one-a- TF,eUnEer6itv-ifTiF veaG tbouftiting a co;iarEnie on--day, mayUetess.]h-deFin Clygoing gmla. the East Coast. I began to investi- to extend the conference to two Q: Hoto did your interest in eco- gate what would be necessary, in weeks. However, for all those people nomics det:elop? the spring of 1987' Actually, my who asked that I keep it a one-week A: When I read in original idea had been for a four- conference, they will be able to \962, I had taken some courses in week summer school. That is still attend for only one week if they , and it struck me imme- my long-run goal, by the way. The want to. I'm also looking for a site diately that what I had learned in summer school was announced in that can accommodate more people those courses was antithetical to the Objectivist publications in the more comfortably-including the what I was reading and under- fall of 1987, but there was just not possibility of a resort in the Catskills. standing in Atlas Shrugged.It took enough interest to support it. When Q: What do you enioy in your off from there-I wanted to answer that was clear, I went ahead with a spare time? those argumentsfrom that point on. one-week conference, "The Power A: I'm an avid skier, I like to cook, Q: Haoe you had problems at St. of Reason," not really knowing I enjoy good wines, but those are Iohn's us{ng Obiectipism in your what I was getting into. It was an personal interests. In terms of pas- courses? enormous amount of work. sion, there really is nothing in my A: I've never had any problem. In Qz Did you haue any prior experi- life that compares with the passion the last few years it's become evi- ence tnith conferencesT I have for Objectivism. That has dent that it's now well known that I A: Not much. I had put on some been the motivating force in my life teach Ayn Rand, because I've had banquets and organized some lec- since I read The Fountainhead. o 2 Obiectivism Overseas:India

The follotuing is fourth in a by "Understanding Objectivism." States and the fact that most of series of articles about Objectiztist In Calcutta, Objectivists have their members are non-earning stu- actiztitiesthroughout the toorld. formed the "Ayn Rand Radicals" dents. (As a result, they) find it In1970, a small advertisement and started a two-page monthly very hard to sustain the interest of appeared in the evening newspaper newsletter which currently has 50 their members for a long time." in Bombay, and The Ayn Rand subscribers. "Our immediate The religious climate of India ReadersClub was born. aims," said Barun Mitra, editor and also makes it difficult to spread The only qualification for president of ARR, "are threefold: Objectivism. Malkani recently sent membership, according to found- first, creating a better understand- the Institute a newspaper clipping ing member Tara Malkani, is to be ing of Ayn Rand's works through from The Times of India in which a student of Objectivism. Mem- discussions. Secondly, analyzing the marriage of God Shiva to god- bership fluctuates, and the club has the issuesand events of the day- ess Parvati was celebrated. "Such lost at least a dozen members who including the personal ones-from newspaper reports," she wrote, have left for the United Statesover the Objectivist standpoint. Thirdly, "should give you some idea of the the past few years. Presently there acquiring a historical and theoretical millions of cultural miles any are six to eight regular members, perspective of philosophy." The Indian has to travel to get out of the and another twenty living outside activities of the club are predomi- mystical miasma to get anywhere Bombay with whom Mrs. Malkani nantly discussionsof Objectivism. near Objectivism." corresponds by mail. In other pockets of India, However, Malkani has Club members meet on Satur- small Objectivist groups have observed no formal opposition to day afternoons and evenings, where organized. For example, in Trib- Objectivism in India. Miss Rand's they discuss Objectivism and cur- andrum, a group called the "Ayn books-particularly her novels- rent topics. They also read printed Rand Forum" was organized in sell well in India, and she is popular materials that Mrs. Malkani has 1983. In Baroda there is a small but among university students. received from the United States, as active group of Objectivists, and For more information about well as replies to mail she gets about yet another group in Poona. activities in India, contact Tara Ayn Rand and Objectivism. The "These groups have very little Malkani, 1,5/13 Navjivan Society, club also sponsors taped lectures, of the material on Objectivism," Lamington Road, Bombay 400008, and is currently running "The Philos- Malkani noted, "due to the high INDIA. ophy of Objectivism," to befollowed cost of obtaining it from the United

CAMPUS CLUBS The clubs also offer video lec- the idea that this is a serious philo- tures by Objectivist speakers and sophical movement that is grow- SPREAD sponsor vs. socialism ing-one that professors can't laugh OBIECTIVISM debates.In the past, some clubs have off ." More than 75 campus Objec- donated Objectivist literature to a For more information, contact: tivist clubs are at various stagesof library on campus or in the commu- Kathy Kroeger, Field Representative, activity worldwide. nity, or written letters to the editors Campus Club Office, The Ayn Rand The majority of clubs are of local newspapers. Institute, 401 Lawrence Street, #1,, located in the United States, while Club members often find Ann Arbor, MI 48104, or call (313) eleven exist in Canada and overseas. potential new members by engaging 747-9805. o Although the clubs are indepen- in campus-wide publicity campaigns dent entities run by student volun- (seephoto of N.Y.U. poster) and by teers, the Institute provides financial setting up tables and disseminating and other forms of assistanceto literature at orientation or registra- clubs whose goals are consistentwith tion sessions.Some clubs also pub- those of the Institute. lish campus newsletters. There is a wide variety of "The purpose of the clubs is activities available to student mem- two-fold," says Kathy Kroeger, the bers. Many clubs sponsor Leonard Institute's campus club field repre- "\Ne Peikoff's taped lecture courses or sentative. want to market our- Hrrv/ rs a .orni.y hlrneC lrto I iolaldzfidn drci;hrsnLp? bring Objectivist speakers to cam- selves to the massesso we reach the $'n6i g;jve 1199i0 Na:isn : i5 rl haFF,prlng her "? lonr fo the lidso pnseriijtiori,rl L€ntznl Pe)kdff's pus. Last semester,for example, John people who are interested, and then Ridpath spoke at Harvard University provide the educational opportunity a- ruill trrrFttltiflllll+l and the University of Michigan, for those who indicate sufficient i i tl quL,lt!trrt+ addressedstudents at interest and want to learn more." An I and Bel sofie answe-r! 10 ihege and ciher rnpriar\l i l+ji'€r qoDri-../bn:/ Ih.(!,,fd.-s: ,,.c I : oeb ciLC(r' 1er '{4 .o ihL }{,: 1 i al / the University of Michigan, and additional benefit, she noted, is that I l Cc 4jq. )Lrv fr. y3,qliFme4r'pFyo.airrid Edwin Locke lectured at several cam- faculty members are exposedto Miss ] pus clubs in Southern California. Rand's ideas. "We are putting across Club posterfrom NYU (Benefit, continued from p. L) (APA, continuedfrom p. 1-) stituting the print of another film general discussionperiod. George Walsh, Allan Gotthelf, and for We the Liaing. The Ayn Rand Society is an David Kelley began their efforts Reaction to the movie was affiliated society of the American toward formal organization and very positive, especially to Alida Philosophical Association. Dozens recognition by the A.P.A. Valli's stunning portrayal of Kira. of similar groups exist, including "The Ayn Rand Society is a Duncan Scott commented that this societiesfor the study of Hume, very significant step in increasing audience seemed more deeply Nietzsche, and Leibniz. Mem- the professional recognition of affected by the film than had any of bership in the Ayn Rand Society is Objectivism," said Prof. Walsh. the other dozens of audienceshe'd open to all A.P.A. members The Society plans to hold seen.Many remained silently in their regardless of their own schools of annual meetings, and to present seatslong after the film had ended. thought; it does not imply even papers on Objectivism and issues In addition to the Los Angeles partial agreement with Obiec- related to Objectivism. tr benefit, another Institute benefit tivism, merely a serious interest in was organized in by the philosophy. Jim Smith and Kathryn Eickhoff. The Society held its organiza- Following the screeningon Novem- tional meeting in December, 1987 ber 24 at the BleeckerSt. Cinema, a and was officially recognized by reception was held at the Village the A.P.A. in April, 1988. The Corner cafe in GreenwiiliVillage. SoCiety's9ieering Committee Jon- We the Liaing is now sched- sists of George Walsh (Salisbury uled for openings in more than fifty State and the group's executive sec- cities across the United States. tr retary), Allan Gotthelf (Trenton State), Lester Hunt (Wisconsin), ("Money,"continued from p. L) David Kelley, JamesLennox (Pitts- peoplewill cometo realizethat the burgh), and Douglas Rasmussen survival of capitalismand of their (St. John's,New York). own freedom depends on the Although the Society has no spreadof Objectivism. connection to the Institute, the The pamphlet will be dis- impetus for such a group grew out tributed via advertisementsin of discussionsin 1986 at a special national publications,as well as Institute meeting on "Objectivism through personalcontacts. tr and Academia," after which

The Ayn Rand InstihrteNEWSLETTER is publishedby The Ayn Rand Institute, 330 WashingtonSt., Marina del Rey, CA 90292,(213) 3$-9232. All rights reserved@ 1989. Reproduction without permissionis prohibited. Dr. Michael Berliner, Editorial Director; Iennifer Trainer, SeniorEditor/Writer; Donna Montrezza,Assistant Editor,lssues are complimentaryto all contributorsto The Ayn RandInstitute.

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