The Objectivist movement was a movement to popularize Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy that began with the founding of the Nathaniel Branden Institute in 1960. With that event, Objectivism became an organized movement, with its own events, speakers, and publications. This movement has gone through a number of "excommunications" and "schisms" since that time, with various individuals being publicly denounced for their views. Jump to: navigation, search Novelist and philosopher, best known for her philosophy of Objectivism Ayn Rand (February 2, 1905–March 6, 1982; first name pronounced (IPA) (rhymes with mine)), born Alissa Zinovievna Rosenbaum, was best known for her philosophy of Objectivism and her novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Nathaniel Branden Institute was an organization founded by Nathaniel Branden in the 1950s to promote Ayn Rands philosophy of Objectivism. ...

Ayn Rand was an author whose novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged inspired many readers with their message. A young Canadian student named Nathaniel Branden who had been greatly inspired by Rand's work became a close confidante, and encouraged her to expand her philosophy into a formal movement. A group of Branden's friends formed the Ayn Rand Collective, and helped establish the Nathaniel Branden Institute to formally promote Rand's ideas, which she had by then dubbed "Objectivism". The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand (ISBN 0452283760). ... Atlas Shrugged cover Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the USA. Spoiler warning: // Philosophy and writing The theme of Atlas Shrugged is that independent, rational thought is the motor that powers the world. ... Nathaniel Branden Nathaniel Branden is a Canadian psychotherapist and author of self-help books and multiple articles on ethical and political philosophy. ... The Ayn Rand Collective - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Rand and Branden eventually had a romantic affair which ended with a difficult breakup. Branden's status as second-in-command to Rand was terminated along with their relationship, and he was exiled from the Objectivist movement. In the late 70's and early '80s the formal movement faltered in popularity, and many other fomer supporters left. Eventually Leonard Peikoff rose as Branden's replacement. When Rand died in 1982 he assumed full control as the new leader of the Objectivist movement and in 1985 he formed the Ayn Rand Institute to replace the Branden Institute. Jump to: navigation, search Leonard Peikoff circa 1970 Leonard Peikoff (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1933) is an Objectivist philosopher. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the year. ... The Ayn Rand Institute: The Center for the Advancement of Objectivism (ARI) was established in 1985, three years after Ayn Rands death, by Leonard Peikoff, Rands legal heir. ...

Objectivism as a cult?

Some critics of Objectivism as a movement, including many in the libertarian movement like Murray Rothbard, claim that the orthodox Objectivist movement is similar to a religious cult, alleging that Objectivist organizations associated with Rand (and now Peikoff) have developed a dogma to which all followers are expected to adhere, and, further, have excommunicated people (such as Nathaniel Branden) who came in conflict with Rand, her inner circle, and now Leonard Peikoff.[1] This article deals with the libertarianism as defined in America and several other nations. ... Murray Newton Rothbard Murray Newton Rothbard (March 2, 1926 - January 7, 1995) was an American economist and political theorist belonging to the Austrian School of Economics who helped define modern libertarianism and anarcho-capitalism. ... Nathaniel Branden Nathaniel Branden is a Canadian psychotherapist and author of self-help books and multiple articles on ethical and political philosophy. ...

For example, critics like Rothbard allege that Objectivists believe that Rand is the bearer of the absolute and final truth -- a trait generally only granted to gods by theists. Further, they charge that the role Rand's magnum opus Atlas Shrugged plays in the Objectivist movement is similar to holy books in major world religions in that it is seen as the source of objective moral truth to be continuously studied.

Factions

Inside the Objectivist movement, there has been considerable dissension and criticism about Ayn Rand's work and her rightful legacy. Leonard Peikoff, the executor of Ayn Rand's estate and her intellectual heir promotes Objectivism as a "closed system" that consists merely of what Rand herself wrote and said, and considers any disagreement with anything Rand said as a betrayal of Objectivism. The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) is aligned with Peikoff's view of Objectivism. The Ayn Rand Institute: The Center for the Advancement of Objectivism (ARI) was established in 1985, three years after Ayn Rands death, by Leonard Peikoff, Rands legal heir. ...

Another school of thought was started by David Kelley, an academic once affiliated with Vassar College who later worked as an independent writer. In his essay, "A Question of Sanction," and later in his pamphlet, "Truth and Toleration," he argued for greater open-mindedness in working with other groups. Kelley also argued that Objectivism is an "open system" that can evolve beyond Rand's own writings and beliefs, and can even in principle correct her mistakes. David Kelley David Kelley (Born 1949 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American philosopher and writer. ... Closeup of the Vassar Main Building Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college situated in Poughkeepsie, NY. Formerly a womens college, Vassar is the only fully co-educational member of the Seven Sisters. ...

Peikoff informed Kelley that he could no longer lecture under the auspices of the ARI or any of its affiliates. Peikoff claimed that Kelley had violated the basic tenets of Objectivism. Kelley responded by founding the Institute for Objectivist Studies, later renamed The Objectivist Center (TOC). Nathaniel Branden, Ayn Rand's former lover and associate, who had earlier been "kicked out" of Objectivism by Rand herself, later began lecturing at events sponsored by TOC. The Objectivist Center is a think tank in Washington, D.C. dedicated to Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand. ... Nathaniel Branden Nathaniel Branden is a Canadian psychotherapist and author of self-help books and multiple articles on ethical and political philosophy. ...

Peikoff and ARI hold that Kelley is not even an Objectivist. As Rand held that the key to her original insights was her honesty (rather than any kind of superior intelligence), Peikoff and ARI hold that any conclusion that is inconsistent with Objectivism is dishonest and should not be sanctioned under Objectivist auspices. In addition, Peikoff and ARI cite Ayn Rand's opposition to libertarianism in the 1960s as a reason to condemn Kelley's work with libertarians and (perhaps more importantly) his explicit categorization of the Objectivist politics as "libertarian." Kelley and TOC counter this charge by saying that Peikoff and ARI are taking Rand's opposition out of context: what Rand objected to was the ethical subjectivism associated with some early libertarians. As the libertarian movement grew, it came to encompass many thinkers who were not ethical subjectivists, including utilitarians, deontologists, and Aristotelians very similar to Rand. Jump to: navigation, search The 1960s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ...

As Rand's executor, Peikoff handles the copyrights to all of Rand's works (with the exception of Anthem, which has passed into the public domain). He can thus control the translation of Rand's works into other languages. He has the power of editing and releasing Rand's unpublished works, and has written forewords for all the current printings of her books. Kelley, on the other hand, due to his willingness to work with groups that are not explicitly Objectivist, has gained a more mainstream audience. Anthem (ISBN 0451191137), first published in 1938, is a science_fiction novella by Ayn Rand. ...