A Student Organization at Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA)
Latest announcements: (1) See commentary on the financial crisis by the Ayn Rand Center (ARC) in Washington, D.C. (2) ARC has introduced a weblog, Voices for Reason, as well as the video and audio weblog ARCTV. (3) Essays on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged has been released!
Objectivism is the system of philosophy developed by Ayn Rand (1905–1982), who is probably best known as the author of the novels The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957). Her other novels are Anthem (1938, revised 1946) and We the Living (1936, revised 1959). Primary sources on her philosophical ideas include these novels as well as numerous subsequent works of nonfiction, including the treatise Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (second edition 1990) and several published essay collections.
For those interested in an introduction to Rand's ideas, it is a good idea to read The Fountainhead, followed by Atlas Shrugged, followed by a few of her key nonfiction articles. The bare essentials of her system of philosophy are presented in her brief article "Introducing Objectivism." A scholarly perspective is found in "Ayn Rand and Objectivism: An Overview" by Gregory Salmieri and Allan Gotthelf. Leonard Peikoff's video lecture "An Introduction to Objectivism" is highly recommended. Additional introductory resources are referenced below, along with several more advanced works.
Students of Objectivism at Georgia Tech is a chartered student organization dedicated to promoting Ayn Rand's philosophy. Most club activities are about discussing ideas and their relevance to life. Prospective members are welcome at all meetings.
The club is relatively inactive in the summer semester; stay tuned for announcements of fall semester activities.
To receive the most current information and announcements, request to join the club mailing list. According to the club constitution, this will make you a member of the club if you are eligible to participate in student organizations at Georgia Tech. Note that club membership is not to be taken to imply agreement with Objectivism, or even extensive familiarity with the philosophy.
To join the club and get announcements,
please contact
If you are interested in additional material, there are a number of places to look online. The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) promotes Objectivism in the culture. Their writers have published numerous op-eds that offer an Objectivist perspective on current events. Free registration allows visitors to their site to access a great quantity of audio and video recordings featuring Ayn Rand and ARI lecturers. There is also an ARI YouTube Channel, and the institute's executive director Yaron Brook has his own website. Leonard Peikoff, Ayn Rand's student and a founder of ARI, has been producing a podcast in which he answers questions on Objectivism.
Other online resources on Rand's ideas include The Ayn Rand Lexicon (a "mini-encyclopedia of Objectivism") and also a site focusing on her magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged. (See in particular the chapter-by-chapter commentary on the novel and additional audio commentary, but beware of plot spoilers therein.)
More general information about Ayn Rand can be found at the Ayn Rand Centenary site. (See especially the audio recording "My Thirty Years with Ayn Rand: An Intellectual Memoir" by Leonard Peikoff.) Some idea of Rand as a person, as told by two of her friends, can be found at the online version of the book Facets of Ayn Rand. (See also audio recordings along these lines.)
There are essay contests on Ayn Rand's novels; the contests are open to students (including university students) and the prize money is substantial. Students who want to develop thorough knowledge of Ayn Rand's philosophy are encouraged to consider applying for the Objectivist Academic Center, which provides a formal course of study in Objectivism.
The Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism sponsors a summer conference for university students on Atlas Shrugged and the moral foundations of capitalism. The Clemson Institute also has an Objectivist-influenced Capitalism Resources section, including a blog profiling Heroes of Capitalism.
Periodicals applying Objectivism include:
Objectivist literature is available at bookstores everywhere (look for Ayn Rand's novels and essay collections) and at the Ayn Rand Bookstore, which carries recorded lectures and courses among other items. Of particular significance are Leonard Peikoff's two books:
Recent introductory books on Objectivism include:
Recent scholarly books related to Objectivism include:
Finally, Objectivist conferences are held annually, and the Ayn Rand Society (affiliated with the American Philosophical Association, Eastern Division) meets regularly.
The periodic appearances by Objectivist intellectuals at Georgia Tech offer the campus and community a unique perspective on important issues facing our culture. The following is a list of lectures by Objectivists on campus since the club was reinstated in 2004, most of which were sponsored by the club: