Philosophy

The Experience of Freedom

In this talk on free will, David Kelley focuses, not on the classic issue of how freedom of choice relates to causal determinism, but on the inner experience of freedom. We experience free will in many forms and contexts. To explore this variety, we will discuss three particular modes of experience: self-control of impulse, meditation, and flow. What are the similarities and differences among these experiences? In which of them do we experience free will most clearly? In addressing these questions, Kelley draws on the Objectivist theory of volition and on the work of psychologists
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Objectivism, Public Policy, and Entrepreneurship

In this talk, delivered at the 2012 Atlas Summit, Professor Stephen Hicks presents an Objectivist perspective on entrepreneurship and public policy. Objectivism's ethical philosophy is highly entrepreneurial, emphasizing initiative, self-responsibility, and self-creation. Consequently, Objectivism's political philosophy is entrepreneurship-friendly, emphasizing the protection of individual rights necessary for entrepreneurs to be able to function and flourish. Beyond that, are there more specific government policies that Objectivism should promote to foster entrepreneurship--e.g., specific tax, immigration, or education policies? Further: given that we live in a sometimes-hostile-to-entrepreneurship culture, are there second-best policies that Objectivism should support to protect and encourage entrepreneurship in a mixed economy?
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Values in Atlas Shrugged (Part 1): Career

The heroes of Atlas Shrugged are rational, productive businesspeople. In Ayn Rand's thought, a career represents the central value in one's life, the means by which one supports oneself independently and reshapes the world. In this talk, William R Thomas discusses the value of a career of productive work in the context of the Objectivist philosophy and the events in the novel. He will consider how Objectivist ethics apply to productive titans Hank Rearden and how they apply to ordinary workers like Eddie Willers.   Watch now >

Values in Atlas Shrugged (Part 2): Goodwill and Trust

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