Topic: Libertarianism
A Respectful Suggestion to Dr. David Kelley and the Board of Directors of The Atlas Society This article ponders the nature of Dr. Kelley's personal championing of Individualism and of Rational Libertarianism during his past twenty years. Nick Flint offers his suggestion as to the new possible names (and brands) under which The Atlas Society, which currently brands itself as being "The Center for Objectivism", might carry on the late Ayn Rand's fight for Individual Liberty into the 21st Century and beyond, distinguish itself from ARI, and grow Objectivism in both the American and world culture.by Nick Flint
(Libertarian)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Since returning from the highly enjoyable 2008 Summer Seminar held in Portland, Oregon by The Atlas Society, I've been reading Dr. Edward Hudgin's excellent collection of thoughts and analysis authored by himself and other Objectivist writers concerning vital issues of common interests that they share with the growing audience of secularists, skeptics, humanists, and atheists -- many of whom are Libertarians. The collection is gathered in a small book, "An Objectivist Secular Reader," and in fact, Dr. Hudgins told me at the conference that in his recent efforts to build alliances within the Libertarian community, he was offering his book for free at certain events he attends for their cause.
I cannot say whether Dr. Hudgins will be offering his book at the Upcoming event at the Cato Institute (held this July 30th, perhaps you can ask TAS), but regardless of that, this is an inexpensive and refreshing book on the subjects of Individual Rights, "Religious Conflicts and Culture", "The Islamist Threat", and (not the least of which is) "Life's Meaning".
I can't recommend too highly that all Libertarians, regardless of theistic orientation, read this excellent small book of about 150 pages.
ON PONDERING Dr. DAVID KELLEY
A few things struck me about Dr. Kelley, after having met and talked with him at the conference.
1) He cares about improving the lives of individuals.
2) He is an individualist.
3) He is a rational libertarian (perhaps not an official card-carrying one, but no matter).
4) He has worldwide connections since being a member of TAS' Executive Committee (along with Mr. Ashwin K. Vasan, Mr. James M. Lapeyre, Jr., and Mr. Frank W. Bubb, J.D. )
MY NAME AND BRAND SUGGESTIONS FOR RE-MISSIONING TAS
My suggestions coincide with what I think a proper mission for TAS to be, namely to spread rational individualism and rational libertarianism. As a by-product of that mission (because it serves as the philosophical foundation for everyone in the center), Objectivism will spread. And this, I submit, is everyone's goal, not only at TAS, but also at ARI, as well as for the millions of (current and prior) Ayn Rand admirers that are not paying members of the two intellectual centers that both do justice by Miss Rand's name and philosophy, and continue to fight in her name for her life-long cause of rational individualism.
New Name : The Individualist Libertarian Society
Brand: The Center for Rational Egoism and Liberty
With my Best Regards to the TAS intellectuals and executives,
Nick Flint
26 July 2008
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Nick Flint only and do not represent
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Posted By: No Name Supplied
Date: 2008-07-27 12:50:54
A Respectful Suggestion to Nick Flint: TAS is a pseudo-Objectivist group, which cashes in on Ayn Rand’s name. You will discover this for yourself when you attend OCON 2009 in Boston. Until then, here’s a source of information that will bring you up to speed rapidly:
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2004/02/public-statement.html.
And:
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/07/ayn-rand-on-david-kelley.html
Follow the numerous links.
Nick Flint offers his suggestion as to the new possible names (and brands) under which The Atlas Society, which currently brands itself as being "The Center for Objectivism", might carry on the late Ayn Rand\'s fight for Individual Liberty into the 21st Century and beyond, distinguish itself from ARI, and grow Objectivism in both the American and world culture.
First off, please be aware of the irony that David Kelley ostensibly carries on the late Ayn Rand\'s fight for individual liberty, when in fact, Ayn Rand never fought for liberty of the individual. (Whatever rhetorical smokescreen she produced to suggest otherwise.)
In fact, if you read about the early history of the Objectivist movement, you would see that it was practiced as a Scientology-like cult, at least under the leadership of Rand herself. Please read The Ayn Rand Cult for more information.
"As a by-product of that mission (because it serves as the philosophical foundation for everyone in the center), Objectivism will spread."
No, hopefully, the pseudo-philosophy of "Objectivism" will not spread. In fact "Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand" is at odds with genuine individualism or rationality. In fact, Ayn Rand personally repudiated libertarianism.
"And this, I submit, is everyone\'s goal, not only at TAS, but also at ARI..."
I do not think so. The libertarian-leaning "reformed objectivists" at TAS are quite at odds with the rabid neoconservatives at the Ayn Rand Institute.
MY respectful suggestion to Nick Flint: please quit wasting your time with dead "philosophies" and getting hung up on such pointless naming issues as a result. Your time would be better spent promoting political libertarianism. I always thought that Objectivism is a dangerous ideology. It used to be because I figured that if it was ever implemented, it would do more damage than Marxism. I now figure that it is an internal, not an external danger because its victims get distracted by banalities. Objectivism did nothing to help but much to harm libertarianism.
Posted By: No Name Supplied
Date: 2008-07-29 19:52:35
A Respectful Suggestion to Nick Flint: TAS is a pseudo-Objectivist group, which cashes in on Ayn Rand’s name. You will discover this for yourself when you attend OCON 2009 in Boston. Until then, here’s a source of information that will bring you up to speed rapidly:
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2004/02/public-statement.html.
And:
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/07/ayn-rand-on-david-kelley.html
Follow the numerous links.
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