Imagine a University Where People Share Your Values

For students interested in Objectivism, the summer offers what the school year does not: the chance to spend time in an Objectivist "university," learning about the philosophy and its applications, and living for a time in a place where your values are understood and appreciated. That Objectivist "university" is TOC's summer seminar, a rich week of courses, lectures, workshops, and performances, ornamented by the whirl of fun-and-games, late-night discussions, and the formation of friendships that can last a lifetime.

The summer seminar schedule is anchored by two week-long courses on Ayn Rand's philosophy. For those just getting acquainted with abstract philosophy or who would like a basic refresher, William Thomas will offer his "101" course, "The Essence of Objectivism," surveying the key ideas of the philosophy and connecting them to real-life issues. For those champing at the bit to tackle thorny philosophical issues, David Kelley will offer an advanced-intermediate course discussing six perennial issues in Objectivism, the topics over which debates within Objectivism seem always to arise.

Other discussions of philosophy will be plentiful, from the Objectivist meaning of "objective" to the philosophy of history and historical change. The history of philosophy is well represented, with talks on reading Plato, on Aristotle, and on Stoicism. You can learn how Objectivism relates to and is applied in political and legal theory, and in the aesthetic fields of fiction-writing, music, architecture, and painting. There will be workshops on writing and on acting techniques, on thinking authentically (through concretization and objectivity) and even on living authentically. And all this from a faculty deeply knowledgeable about the subjects they address and filled with enthusiasm for the ideas they are sharing with you.

In the open atmosphere of the summer seminar, the faculty are available during social hours if you want to get to know them better and dig deeper into ideas with them. This is a conference that takes Objectivism seriously, but knows that education is about learning: it is a vacation for thinking individuals. For those whose thinking increasingly turns to their future path, there will be a career panel featuring members of the faculty and other distinguished seminar attendees offering advice on how to make a living working with ideas in think-tanks, universities, the media, and allied fields. There will also be a career panel focusing on how to succeed in professional careers in areas such as law, medicine, engineering, and consulting. For summer seminar first-timers, there will be a special reception to provide a warm welcome and help participants settle in.

Scholarships are available to aid students with tuition and room-and-board charges. Students interested in a scholarship or a conference assistant position should apply by April 23. The final deadline for summer seminar registration is June 1. Come to the verdant hills of western Pennsylvania and experience university life as it can and ought to be.