Whew! The abstract and outline of my six-lecture “Objectivism 101″ course for TOC’s summer seminar is done too! Given that I only just started revising these lectures, some of it is likely to be not-entirely-accurate by the time the seminar rolls around. But since the outline covers six hours of lecturing, it’s pretty short on detail anyway.

Objectivism 101 Abstract

Ayn Rand’s novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged offer a unique and inspiring moral vision, but translating those ideals into daily life can be a challenge. In these lectures, we will survey the basic principles of Objectivism, from metaphysics to aesthetics. We will focus on both the theory and practice of the philosophy, contrasting it with common religious and cultural views. Although no familiarity with the philosophy of Objectivism is presumed for this course, acquaintance with Ayn Rand’s two major novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged will be helpful. Each session will draw upon ideas and themes from the earlier lectures, so attendance of all the lectures is recommended.

Objectivism 101 Outline

I. Ayn Rand and Philosophy
	Ayn Rand's life and work
	Philosophy
		The questions of philosophy
		Philosophy as universal, inescapable, and influential
		Philosophy in everyday life
	Objectivism in brief

II. Reality and Reason
	Metaphysics
		Primacy of existence
		Primacy of consciousness
	Epistemology
		Perceptual and conceptual awareness
		Reason
			The data of the senses
			The method of logic
			The effort of volition
		Emotions
	God and the supernatural

III. Life and Happiness
	Ethics
		The ethics of Western culture
		Why do we need ethics?
		Life and happiness
		Rational self-interest
		Moral principles
		Values and virtues
	Social ethics
		Sacrifice of self or others
		The Trader Principle
		Individualism
	Mind-body integration

IV. The Virtues
	Virtue
		Rationality
		Productiveness
		Independence
		Honesty
		Justice
		Benevolence
		Integrity
		Pride
	The self-made soul

V. Individual Rights and Capitalism
	Politics
		Individual rights
		Negative (and not positive) rights
		Coercion
		Government
	Economics
		Economic systems
		Capitalism
		The critiques of capitalism
		Defending capitalism

VI. Art as Spiritual Fuel
	Aesthetics
		Art as spiritual fuel
		Art and philosophy
		Sense of life
		Standards in art
	Objectivism
		Objectivism as a system
		Studying Objectivism
		The future of Objectivism

Now I have a week to revise and complete my Advanced Seminar paper on philosophy of mind. Oy.