The Atlas Society Case Statement

 

The Atlas Society promotes open Objectivism: the philosophy of reason, individualism, achievement, and freedom originated by Ayn Rand.

The Atlas Society provides a moral defense of freedom.

Our liberty is at risk. The assault on individual liberty and capitalism is relentless. Government spending and regulation have corrupted every area of economic life, with the resulting problems blamed on capitalism. The crony capitalism depicted in Atlas Shrugged has become real. The voices of envy, egalitarianism, and class warfare are growing louder.   Producers are demonized, and a culture that punishes achievement and rewards dependency stifles the potential ambitions of the poor.  We cannot repel the assault on liberty without a comprehensive, compelling, and moral foundation for freedom. The Atlas Society demonstrates why collectivism is immoral, and why our loss of liberty is not primarily about diminished material prosperity, but about the spiritual and moral loss of what it means to truly own one’s life.   
 

People are energized. The gravity of the threat has inspired a renewed interest in Ayn Rand as people search for intellectual ammunition to defend their lives, liberty, and property. What they need are the principles that Objectivism proudly affirms: that the individual is an end in himself, entitled to live by the judgment of his mind in pursuit of his own life and happiness, and that we are sovereign beings who deal with each other by voluntary trade to mutual benefit. The need to act is urgent. With your help, we at The Atlas Society can make the moral case for liberty heard, to win in this epochal time.
 

                                                                              Bob Poole, Founder, The Reason Foundation

The Atlas Society is your guide to Objectivism as a way of life.

The pursuit of happiness. Ayn Rand’s exalted view of man’s potential, and her call for a morality of rational self-interest, achievement and personal happiness, speaks to the best in each of us. Open Objectivism applies to every aspect of life, from achievement at work to art and love, character and pride. The Atlas Society gives you insight on how to apply the principles of the philosophy to personal life and the pursuit of happiness.
 

A lens on the world. Objectivism provides a philosophical perspective for making sense of the world, a lens for seeing things clearly. The Atlas Society provides insight on the essential causes of events and the meaning of trends in politics, culture, and ideas. We also bring you the good news, from art that affirms human beings, to innovations in technology, to the heroes and mavericks who are making a difference.
 

A resource for life. We continuously add to our extensive library of Objectivism for those who want to study the philosophy, keep up with new research, and expand Objectivism’s application to their lives.
 

                                                                              Edward Crane, President, The Cato Institute

 

A global approach. The Atlas Society has developed the content, programming, platforms, and approach to engage audiences beyond existing Objectivist and libertarian circles.   Our user-friendly Web site, www.atlassociety.org, features videos, webcasts, and other state-of-the-art media. The site has several thousand pages of Objectivist philosophy, cultural commentary, and applications to personal life—all the best of the powerful intellectual work we created in over two decades, with new material added continually. These ideas can change our culture and the world.  The Internet is our low-cost tool for reaching a global audience: millions of striving entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and seekers in the rapidly developing portions of the world can find support, justification, education, challenge, and entertainment.
 

The Atlas Shrugged movie. We are active participants in the production and promotion of the Atlas Shrugged film trilogy. If there is anything whose time has come, this is it! For the millions inspired by Atlas Shrugged, we have an entire section of our Web site devoted to both the novel and the film, with new online resources for learning more about Ayn Rand’s philosophy and artistic vision.
 

Open Objectivism. Ayn Rand laid the foundation of Objectivism. It is now the responsibility of those who grasp the brilliance of her achievement to build on that foundation, addressing the many philosophical questions she left unanswered, from the nature of certainty… to the ethics of families…to the requirements of objective law.
 

A commitment to truth and independence. Objectivism is not a religion with teachings defined by a sacred text like the Bible or Qur’an. Our loyalty is not to Rand’s words but to the truth of her fundamental insights. A commitment to truth and respect for independent thought must lead onward to new questions, new answers. Our scholars have produced insights in Objectivist philosophy, from the virtue of benevolence to the nature of knowledge, and more needs to be done.
 

Uncompromising but civil. We address public issues in a way that is uncompromising but civil, aimed to engage and persuade all who are open to reason and committed to independent thought. We reject any use of loyalty tests in giving thinkers their due. We acknowledge, respect, and cite good work by all Objectivists, not just those who agree with our stance on this (or any other) issue. We believe this is the only approach for future success. The Objectivist movement must not revert to the closed, dogmatic style that has retarded its progress for fifty years.
 

Invest in freedom. The Atlas Society is your agent for promoting a free society. We communicate the meaning and compelling importance of capitalism based on the values of reason, ethical self-interest, and achievement, with government limited to protecting individual rights.
 

Invest in yourself. When you engage with our community of thinkers and achievers who share the values you cherish, your reward is ever-growing knowledge and insight into a rational philosophy and what it can mean for your happiness and success..
 

Invest in us. As a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, we need your financial support to fight for the lives of those you love and the world that reason created—and can still save.