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The Pursuit of Happiness
Explore the ideas of Atlas Shrugged
This audio program addresses Rand's conception of happiness as an end in itself, including differences in her formulations of that end; and the moral right of the individual to live for himself, against the altruistic creed of self-denial and self-sacrifice.
Covers the following:
- The principle: Moral individualism
- Plot implementation: Rearden's victimization and the producer's strike
- Characterization: Francisco D'Anconia vs. Lillian Rearden
- Clearest statement of the theme: The story of Starnesville
- Buried riches: A surprisingly complex moral goal
DOWNLOAD: Accompanying PowerPoint presentation.
Note: This audio program is the second in a 6-part series, "Atlas Shrugged as a Philosophical Novel," presented at The Atlas Society's 2006 Summer Seminar. The other programs in the series are:
Part 1: Atlas Shrugged as a Philosophical Thriller
Part 2: Producers vs. Looters and Parasites
Part 3: Reason vs. Anti-Reason
Part 5: The Unity of Mind and Body
Part 6: Trade vs. Power
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David Kelley earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University in 1975, and later taught cognitive science and philosophy at Vassar College and Brandeis University. His articles on social issues and public policy have appeared in Harpers, The Sciences, Reason, Harvard Business Review, The Freeman, and elsewhere. His books include Unrugged Individualism: The Selfish Basis of Benevolence; The Contested Legacy of Ayn Rand; The Evidence of the Senses; and The Art of Reasoning, one of the most widely used logic textbooks in the country. Kelley is founder and executive director of The Atlas Society.
TNI articles by David Kelley Atlas Society articles by David Kelley