The Atlas Society Case Statement

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. We are facing a radical loss of economic freedom, and we cannot repel this assault without a rational moral foundation. Ayn Rand’s Objectivism provides a comprehensive, compelling, and philosophically defensible foundation for freedom.
 

People are energized. The gravity of the threat has inspired tea parties, town hall meetings, radio talk shows—and a renewed interest in Ayn Rand. It is a fertile time for Ayn Rand’s ideas as people rethink their beliefs and 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 not our brothers’ keepers but sovereign beings who deal with each other by voluntary trade to mutual benefit.
 

We must preserve liberty. The need to act is urgent, lest we reach the time when our children ask, “Where were you when our liberty was lost?” With your help, we at The Atlas Society can make the arguments, and make them heard, to win in this epochal time.
 

There’s more to life than politics. Objectivism gives you a philosophical perspective for making sense of your world, a lens for seeing things. We apply Objectivist principles to show you the essential causes of events and the meaning of trends in politics, culture, and ideas.
 

Seeking the good life. We also bring you the good news, from art that affirms human beings, to innovations in technology, to heroes and mavericks who are making a difference. Objectivism is “a philosophy for living on Earth” that applies to every aspect of our lives, from achievement at work to art and love, character and pride. We give you insight on how to apply the principles to personal life and the pursuit of happiness.

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.
 

“The Atlas Society represents the best of Ayn Rand and Objectivism. The soaring sales of Atlas Shrugged suggest this is the time to leverage the good efforts of The Atlas Society. I urge you to support Atlas.”

The New Individualist. We publish a first-class magazine that speaks to the complete human being. TNI is reasoned and sensuous, analytical and entertaining, lofty and personable.
 

A global approach. Our new 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 intellectual capital we have created in the past two decades, with new material added continually. 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 Atlas Shrugged Part 1to life on screen as the first of a three-part movie sequence. If there is anything whose time has come, this is it! For those inspired by the film, we have an entire section of our Web site devoted to Atlas Shrugged—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 what Ayn Rand called “the capitalist ideal,” based on the values of reason, individualism, and achievement, with government limited to protecting individual rights. Help us promote that ideal by supporting The Atlas Society.
 

Invest in yourself. When you subscribe to The New Individualist or participate in our conferences and online intellectual exchanges, your reward is ever-growing knowledge and insight into a rational philosophy and what it can mean for your happiness and success. Please join our community of thinkers and achievers—friends, allies, and soul-mates who share the values you cherish.
 

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

“Anyone who fights for the future, lives in it today.”

                                                                    — Ayn Rand, The Romantic Manifesto