Neo-Objectivism
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Neo-Objectivism covers a large family of philosophical viewpoints and cultural values derivative from but not necessarily in agreement with Objectivist philosophy. Different and even logically incompatible viewpoints have been sometimes described as "Neo-Objectivist", provided that these viewpoints are substantially similar to – though not exactly the same as – the viewpoints endorsed by Objectivist philosophy. However, thinkers who agree with and adhere to Ayn Rand's Objectivism strongly disagree and disavow any connection with deviations from her philosophy's principles and do not consider the term "Neo-Objectivist" to be accurate nor a proper description of a philosophic system.
Neo-Objectivists typically agree with Objectivists on certain core values. They typically emphasize the importance of reason and the acceptance of reality, and they support individualism, egoism, enlightened self-interest, and capitalism. However, Neo-Objectivists also depart from orthodox Objectivists (even including Ayn Rand) on some issues.
Some Neo-Objectivists stick relatively close to Objectivism, merely rejecting (for example) Rand’s "life-to-value" argument in ethics, Leonard Peikoff’s analyses of cognitive error and the nature of moral evil, Rand’s views about human psychology, or Rand’s views on the philosophy of art. For example, Tibor R. Machan, the author of Ayn Rand (Peter Lang, 2001) and Objectivity (Ashgate, 2004), remains very close to Objectivism. Some don’t even reject Objectivist doctrine per se, but merely reject the way that orthodox Objectivists apply doctrine to real life situations. Other Neo-Objectivists depart much further from Rand’s philosophy.
Some think that accepting the possibility of the spiritual or the supernatural is compatible with Objectivism. Consequently, some Neo-Objectivists are agnostic rather than atheistic, while others embrace modified forms of Buddhism and Paganism (as these have components which are seen as compatible with Objectivist ideals). Anton LeVay has described his Satanism as "just Ayn Rand's philosophy with ceremony and ritual added" [1]. However, Objectivism by its very nature denies and condemns mysticism as evil. Thus, claiming to espouse such beliefs would be a philosophical contradiction. (See Objectivism or John Galt's speech in Atlas Shrugged.)
Some Neo-Objectivists emphasize the values of being open-minded, tolerant, and flexible, and consequently consider themselves to be more pragmatic than orthodox Objectivists. Some Neo-Objectivists are anarcho-capitalists rather than minarchists.
There is no self-identified Neo-Objectivist movement. Nonetheless, many people refer to themselves as "Neo-Objectivists", without being very specific about what this entails. Some refer to David Kelley as the first Neo-Objectivist, because he argued that Objectivism is an "open system". Kelley, though, has never used this label to describe himself: he merely says that he is an Objectivist, an advocate of "reason, individualism, achievement, and capitalism". If Kelley's "open system" Objectivism qualifies as Neo-Objectivism, then Ayn Rand's former lover and collaborator Nathaniel Branden would also count as a Neo-Objectivist, based on an article he wrote, Who Owns Objectivism?.
In answer to whether Objectivism is a philosophic system open to change, interpretation and alteration, Ayn Rand herself said the following, "There is nothing wrong in using ideas, anybody's ideas. Provided that you give appropriate credit, you can make any mixture of ideas that you want; the contradiction will be yours. But why do you need the name of someone (or their philosophy) with whom you do not agree in order to spread your misunderstandings -- or worse, your nonsense and falsehoods? (From "The Moratorium on Brains," Question and Answer Period.)
[edit] See also
- Neo-Tech philosophy considers itself a “dynamic” objectivism rather than a “static” Randian objectivism.
- The Fellowship of Reason puts objectivist insights into ethics and spirituality to use in the framework of a philosophical moral community.
[edit] References
- A Short Introduction to Objective Thinking – refers to Neo-Objectivism as “Objective Thinking”
- Rethinking the Essence of Objectivism – a Neo-Objectivist essay
- Objectivism: Who Needs It? – warns young readers that Ayn Rand’s philosophy “can easily become part of one’s identity during a crucial time when one hungers for a sense of who [one] is.”
- The Daily Objectivist – a Neo-Objectivist Newsletter
- The Objectivist Center – considered by some to be a Neo-Objectivist organization
- POP Culture: Premises of Post-Objectivism – Ayn Rand’s Objectivist philosophy considered as a starting point to build and develop further upon
- Objectivist Living – an Objectivist Community dedicated to Ayn Rand and the Art of Living Consciously
- NickOtani’s Neo-Objectivism Forum – a self-declared Neo-Objectivism forum
- Liberating Objectivism: The Liberation Manifesto by Frank R. Wallace - Argues that Objectivism has "an obstructionist leadership" that "prevents Objectivism from spreading worldwide"
