Kick off the week with opening remarks by Keith Lockitch, ARI’s vice president of educational programs, and team-building activities led by STRIVE student leaders! All students are welcome to attend.

All student attendees are invited to our welcome reception. Speakers and Objectivist Academic Center alumni will be on hand to welcome you to OCON. A light fare and drinks will be available. Dress is casual. This event is free, with a cash bar. (Those 21+ receive one free alcoholic drink; nonalcoholic drinks are free.)

What is knowledge? What does it depend upon? What are the means of acquiring it? In answering these questions, this course covers the essentials of metaphysics and epistemology from an Objectivist perspective, drawing on the material in Dr. Binswanger’s recent book, How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation.

 

Knowledge and Reality [Today's Talk]

Ayn Rand’s definition of “knowledge”; the fundamentals of all fundamentals: the axioms of existence and consciousness; the primacy of existence; the irreducibility of consciousness; consciousness and life: a biological perspective on consciousness.

This course provides an orientation to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. Each session addresses an important aspect or application of her philosophy. Beginning with a session on Rand as both novelist and philosopher, the course will explore the relation between Objectivism and religion, the implications of selfishness for our relations with others, the proper role of government and the nature of a rational foreign policy. The course is sure to provoke a variety of questions, which is why the final session of the course will be a general question-and-answer period, hosted by Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri.

 

Ayn Rand: Novelist-Philosopher [Today's talk]

 

Rand was often asked whether she regarded herself primarily as a novelist or a philosopher. In response to one such questioner, Rand answered: “I am primarily both.” What did she mean by that? And why do you have to pay attention to both Rand’s fiction and nonfiction to learn Objectivism? In this session, Onkar Ghate explores the relationship between Rand’s philosophy and her literary goals.

Ayn Rand viewed art as indispensable to human life—as a form of spiritual fuel that offers a vision of what life “might be and ought to be.” But different artistic forms provide that fuel in different ways, and it takes a special effort to learn how to appreciate the value in, say, a piece of music versus a work of literature.

 

This course will help you find value in art—offering guidance on how to savor a variety of artistic media. The course begins with an overview of Rand’s theory of art and its role in human life, and then each session will focus on a particular artistic form and be taught by speakers with professional expertise in that form.

 

Start each day at OCON with this unique esthetic experience and get your daily dose of spiritual fuel!

 

What Is Art and Why Does It Matter? [Today's talk]

 

What is art? What explains the deeply personal reaction we have to art? Why does Rand think that art is so important to human life? In this session Aaron Smith will provide an overview of Rand’s view of the nature of art and its role in human life.

Has the time come for the Objectivist movement to enter a new phase of development—one that places greater emphasis on Objectivist communities? Join Onkar Ghate, senior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute, as he explores Objectivist Movement 2.0, the Ayn Rand Institute’s proposed vision for the future of the Objectivist movement.

At this special lunch for students, each table will include one or two speakers from the conference, affording students the opportunity to ask questions and interact informally with some of the experts at the conference. This event is exclusively for students and free for those with a Student Week Pass. ($20 for students on a Day Pass.)

The culture of Silicon Valley is the 21st-century embodiment of a spirit that’s been alive in America since its founding: ambitious, forward-looking, entrepreneurial, constantly seeking better ways to work, trade and live. This series of 20-minute talks by tech startup founders will address the personal meaning to each of them of the spirit of Silicon Valley and how it relates to their interest in Objectivism.

Understanding the Silicon Valley Worldview[Jason Crawford]

The leaders of Silicon Valley exhibit the virtues of independence and productiveness; they champion innovation and progress. But at the same time, many are in favor of environmentalism, regulation, and welfare. What to make of them? In this talk, Jason Crawford explains the Silicon Valley worldview—both its conflicts with Objectivism, and its sympathies—and how to appreciate these heroes for what they are: not real-life Galts or Reardens, but modern-day Edisons and Rockefellers.

Big Deal: What’s So Special About Silicon Valley, Anyway?[Carter Laren]

The culture in Silicon Valley s far from perfect. Nevertheless, there is something tangible about it that produces an unparalleled stream of innovation. Why? In this talk, serial entrepreneur and angel investor Carter Laren discusses his hypothesis regarding the one defining value that differentiates Silicon Valley from anywhere else in the world, and what you can do to build your own local microcosm of it.

The Power of Philosophy in Everyday Business[Danielle Morrill]

Must entrepreneurs and professionals compromise their values to achieve success in today’s business world? Setting and upholding a company’s mission, vision and values provides a unique opportunity to create a microcosm of the world as it ought to be. Silicon Valley startup co-founder and CEO Danielle Morrill explores the power of leadership from first principles and shares her own experience bringing Objectivism to life in the workplace.

The Valley of the Prime Mover[Dakin Sloss]

Imagine a world in which creators are celebrated for their accomplishment and looked to as moral exemplars. Fortunately, we do not have to imagine, because in a nutshell, this is the ethos of today’s Silicon Valley, the valley of the prime mover.This talk focuses on the parallels between Silicon Valley and Galt’s Gulch, emphasizing the features that empower Prime Movers to thrive and create world-changing businesses.

Most accounts of the Fed’s origins treat it as having been the best option for preventing financial crises. But there was a better one: removing misguided regulations that were the root cause of instability. Unfortunately, Wall Street’s most powerful banks benefitted from those same regulations. It was owing to their success at hijacking the currency reform movement that we ended up with the Fed—and with more severe financial crises than ever before!

Prior to the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain during the late 18th century, abysmal poverty was prevalent the world over, including in Britain. With the Industrial Revolution, conditions began to dramatically improve, first in Britain, then in Western Europe, then in North America, then, most recently, in the Asian Tigers. Who were the towering heroes in both Great Britain and the United States responsible for so markedly improving human living conditions? This is the question answered in this talk.

Many goals involve and require the cooperation of others, such as co-workers, family members and friends. But joint endeavors are often sabotaged by misunderstandings (and sometimes by bad behavior). To succeed with joint action, you need something rarely understood today: objectivity—objectivity both about yourself and about the other person. This talk explains how to be objective about each individual’s knowledge, values and actions, and how such objectivity gives your joint effort its best chance for success, even if your partner is not a hero of rationality.

Salsa is a popular form of social dance that originated in several Latin countries, particularly Puerto Rico, Cuba and Colombia. The movements of salsa have origins in Cuban Son, Cha-cha-cha, Mambo and other dance forms, and the dance, along with the salsa music, comes from the mid-1970s New York.

Students will meet in small groups to ask questions of OCON conference speakers who are experts in various topics.

These guided discussions of the day’s general sessions are exclusively for students, and are led by Objectivist Academic Center alumni.

Intellectual activism in any community can be as varied as communities themselves. In this discussion, each panelist comes to us with his or her unique values and experiences in advancing awareness and understanding of Ayn Rand’s ideas in a variety of communities. Join us to discover how one person can make a difference.

Meet and mingle with fellow attendees at the official opening of OCON! The event is casual. “Substantial appetizers” or “light dinner” describes the delicacies found at food stations around the room, which are specially arranged for mingling with new conferees and visiting with friends. The cost includes one drink and a cash bar will be available. Cost to attend: $100. Registration deadline is Tuesday, June 28, 2016.

My express-movement class is forty-five minutes of fun, muscle-revving, beat-pumping dance moves for individuals at all levels. The program includes a warm-up, moderate to high intensity curve, a cool-down, strength moves and stretch. It is a great way to re-energize yourself: muscles and mind. Low impact modifications will be demonstrated. Required: cross-trainers or studio shoes. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring a bottle of water. Please join us early if you have any questions.

What is knowledge? What does it depend upon? What are the means of acquiring it? In answering these questions, this course covers the essentials of metaphysics and epistemology from an Objectivist perspective, drawing on the material in Dr. Binswanger’s recent book, How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation.

 

Perception as the Base and Standard of Knowledge [Today's Talk]

 

Perception as axiomatic; perception, not sensations, as the given; J. J. Gibson’s direct realism; perception as an ongoing achievement.

This course provides an orientation to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. Each session addresses an important aspect or application of her philosophy. Beginning with a session on Rand as both novelist and philosopher, the course will explore the relation between Objectivism and religion, the implications of selfishness for our relations with others, the proper role of government and the nature of a rational foreign policy. The course is sure to provoke a variety of questions, which is why the final session of the course will be a general question-and-answer period, hosted by Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri.

 

Objectivism and Religion [Today's Talk]

 

What is the Objectivist position with regard to the concept of God? Is Objectivism compatible with religion? Why is Objectivism opposed to faith? In this session Aaron Smith addresses these questions from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s view of the nature of reason and the means by which we acquire knowledge about reality.

Ayn Rand viewed art as indispensable to human life—as a form of spiritual fuel that offers a vision of what life “might be and ought to be.” But different artistic forms provide that fuel in different ways, and it takes a special effort to learn how to appreciate the value in, say, a piece of music versus a work of literature.

 

This course will help you find value in art—offering guidance on how to savor a variety of artistic media. The course begins with an overview of Rand’s theory of art and its role in human life, and then each session will focus on a particular artistic form and be taught by speakers with professional expertise in that form.

 

Start each day at OCON with this unique esthetic experience and get your daily dose of spiritual fuel!

 

The value of the visual arts: How to Appreciate Sculpture and Still Life Painting [Today's talk]

 

Sculpture chiefly dramatizes the human figure in three-dimensional form for us to contemplate. As with all art, what we look for in sculpture affects what we gain from it. This talk will explain how sculpture embodies ideas that enhance our lives. Key aspects of sculpture will be highlighted in a vivid slide presentation. The nature of sculpture, and the esthetic value that is unique to it, will be demonstrated with sample artworks from the past and present.

 

What is the value of still life painting? A good still life presents us with an intimate, intentional, largely man-made world to contemplate. Free of the randomness of nature seen in landscape painting and the emphasis on man’s character in figurative painting, the viewer can focus on composition and how objects are portrayed. Linda Mann will demonstrate how these aspects of still life can emphasize the crucial ideas that the external world exists, is beautiful and that man is capable of the delight of seeing it.

Objectivists have long been critical of Libertarianism. What are the reasons for those criticisms and to what extent are they still relevant? How should we think about libertarian thinkers and libertarian organizations as they exist today?

Gift & Estate Planning Manager Kathy Cross presents an introduction to planned giving and ARI’s Atlantis Legacy. Topics include minimizing taxes through charitable giving and providing future support for the Institute while achieving one’s estate planning objectives. Strategies and techniques will be illustrated with real-life examples of legacy gifts arranged by Atlantis Legacy donors, with the donors themselves in attendance at the session. A lunch buffet will be served, compliments of ARI. No RSVP is necessary, and attendance implies no obligation.

In this talk, part of a celebration of the 2400th anniversary of Aristotle’s birth, Dr. Mayhew will highlight why Ayn Rand held Aristotle in such high esteem—she considered him the greatest philosopher in history and the only one to whom she owed a debt—and then guide the interested layman to the gems in Aristotle’s corpus, which can often be quite difficult to find. (This is a revised and updated version of a talk given by Dr. Mayhew in 1999.)

Despite what Federal Reserve authorities and many other economists claim, the Federal Reserve’s extraordinary policy actions of 2008, far from saving us from a still-worse economic downturn, actually made the downturn that did occur far deeper and more persistent than it might otherwise have been. Instead of being aimed at preventing a general contraction in the supply of money and credit, the Fed directed its efforts toward rescuing particular financial firms.

One of the most neglected but important aspects of childhood and adolescent education is the role of error and failure. High-stakes testing and politicized curricula have made success and the avoidance of error the sole aim of many educators. Using real life examples, this lecture explores why it is not only acceptable, but is actually imperative to nourish errors, mistakes and failure as a crucial step in cultivating student growth academically, socially and morally.

Instead of being proof of the inherent instability of capitalism, as is often claimed, the Great Depression was largely the result of mistaken government policies, including misguided attempts to “economize” on gold, policies aimed at keeping wage rates from declining, and Treasury’s sterilization of gold inflows. The combined effects of these and other policies sufficed to account for the downturns of the early and later 1930s.

This is a Q&A panel following the general session talk on Objectivism and Libertarianism on July 3.

In the past year, STRIVE started eight campus clubs, co-hosted a fall student conference with a record 120 students attending, launched an online mentoring program led by inspiring Objectivist professionals and ran a successful campus letter-to-the-editor campaign: #CapitalistAndProud.

 

Students: Want to help shape this exciting movement? Join us and learn how YOU can become a STRIVE leader.

 

Adults: Join us and learn how STRIVE inspires students to learn about Rand’s ideas and the value of applying them to their own lives.

The Objectivist Venture Fund was launched two years ago and has received more than fifty proposals for funds; about half have been funded. If you are a grant recipient, plan to make a proposal for a grant or are generally interested, you are invited to this informal session. The founder of the fund, Carl Barney, will describe the fund and its purpose. Grant recipients who attend will report on their experiences with the fund.

The foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuously flowing movements across the dance floor. It is danced to big band (usually vocal) music. The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in 4/4 time signature instead of 3/4. Developed in the 1910s, the foxtrot reached its height of popularity in the 1930s, and remains practiced today.

These guided discussions of the day’s general sessions are exclusively for students, and are led by Objectivist Academic Center alumni.

Students will meet in small groups to ask questions of OCON conference speakers who are experts in various topics.

ARI will host a reception for Prime Movers Club members and other donors who contribute at an annual level of $5,000. This special event is by invitation only.

Join us for an intimate acoustic performance by the band Nigh Horizon. The show will feature original songs as well as cover interpretations of songs by many pop/rock artists you know. There will be a cash bar.

• www.snapchat.com/add/NighHorizon
• www.instagram.com/NighHorizon
• www.twitter.com/NighHorizon
• www.facebook.com/NighHorizon

What is knowledge? What does it depend upon? What are the means of acquiring it? In answering these questions, this course covers the essentials of metaphysics and epistemology from an Objectivist perspective, drawing on the material in Dr. Binswanger’s recent book, How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation.

 

Perception Defended [Today's Talk]

 

The three basic attacks on perception, and the answer to each; Representationalism: public enemy #1; the proper understanding of appearance vs. reality.

Ayn Rand viewed art as indispensable to human life—as a form of spiritual fuel that offers a vision of what life “might be and ought to be.” But different artistic forms provide that fuel in different ways, and it takes a special effort to learn how to appreciate the value in, say, a piece of music versus a work of literature.

 

This course will help you find value in art—offering guidance on how to savor a variety of artistic media. The course begins with an overview of Rand’s theory of art and its role in human life, and then each session will focus on a particular artistic form and be taught by speakers with professional expertise in that form.

 

Start each day at OCON with this unique esthetic experience and get your daily dose of spiritual fuel!

 

Listening to Music: An Ear Training Approach (Part 1) [Today's talk]

 

Music is a subject that many people are very passionate about, yet also a subject that many people find very difficult to describe. These two courses will present the basic principles of music and examine the various elements that make it up. With the help of many live and recorded examples, attendees will gain a better appreciation of how musical materials are integrated and will also be given strategies for further studies that will deepen their understanding of this most elusive of art forms.

This course provides an orientation to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. Each session addresses an important aspect or application of her philosophy. Beginning with a session on Rand as both novelist and philosopher, the course will explore the relation between Objectivism and religion, the implications of selfishness for our relations with others, the proper role of government and the nature of a rational foreign policy. The course is sure to provoke a variety of questions, which is why the final session of the course will be a general question-and-answer period, hosted by Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri.

 

Selfishness and Other People [Today's Talk]

It is common to associate benevolence and goodwill toward others with unselfishness and morality, while associating selfishness with immorality and a lack of concern for other people. Rand rejects this approach. In this session Aaron Smith discusses how a truly selfish person should view other people.

Philosophy is a demanding discipline that requires intellectual rigor and scrupulous honesty, and Objectivism is an especially demanding philosophy. It takes years of disciplined thought to understand and evaluate its principles and to incorporate them into one’s life. And the work continues across a lifetime as one uses the philosophy to keep integrated an ever growing body of knowledge (checking one’s premises as necessary). Join Gregory Salmieri as he discusses how to be objective about Objectivism, including the need to be mindful of which philosophical principles you know to be true, how you know this, and what questions remain for you to answer. He pays special attention to common mistakes enthusiastic students make when approaching the philosophy, and he emphasizes the need for the members of an Objectivist group or movement to respect one another’s cognitive needs and context of knowledge.

Join the celebration of our nation’s Independence Day. Two experts on the legal foundations of freedom will discuss the role of independence in American history up to today, interspersed with uplifting musical numbers and an audience sing-along.
Registration deadline is Tuesday, June 28, 2016.

Board Games available.

Price per person: $45 (includes tour ticket and bus transportation; each adult and child needs his or her own ticket)

 

We have obtained 49 tickets for the Boeing Factory Tour on July 4, 2016 at 3:30 PM. A bus will pick us up from the hotel at 2 PM, deliver us to the factory in Everett, and return us to the hotel at about 7 PM. There will be some time after the tour to browse the museum gift shop and have a snack at the cafeteria.

 

From Boeing’s website www.futureofflight.org/:

This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to view 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner jets being assembled on the Everett production line before they take to the sky. Each tour is approximately 90 minutes long and includes fascinating facts about Boeing and the planes that bear its name.

 

Please note:
Children must be at least 4 feet tall (122 cm) to take the tour, and all tours are conducted in English. Cameras and electronic devices, including cell phones, are allowed only in the Future of Flight Aviation Center and may not be taken to the factory. Free lockers are available at the Future of Flight.

 

The Boeing Factory Tour involves walking down and up two steep flights of stairs at each end of the factory, walking through two large tunnels, the first .3 miles (.5 km) round trip, the second shorter, and riding two freight elevators to balconies overlooking the Boeing factory floor. With advance notice, special accommodations can be made for wheelchairs or physically challenged guests.

My express-movement class is forty-five minutes of fun, muscle-revving, beat-pumping dance moves for individuals at all levels. The program includes a warm-up, moderate to high intensity curve, a cool-down, strength moves and stretch. It is a great way to re-energize yourself: muscles and mind. Low impact modifications will be demonstrated. Required: cross-trainers or studio shoes. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring a bottle of water. Please join us early if you have any questions.

What is knowledge? What does it depend upon? What are the means of acquiring it? In answering these questions, this course covers the essentials of metaphysics and epistemology from an Objectivist perspective, drawing on the material in Dr. Binswanger’s recent book, How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation.

 

Concept-formation (Part I) [Today's Talk]

 

What concepts are; the historical problem of “universals” and Ayn Rand’s solution to it; Realism vs. Nominalism: the false alternative dominating the history of philosophy; Ayn Rand’s new theory of abstraction; similarity and its metaphysical base: quantitative variation; “measurement-omission” explained; the “Conceptual Common Denominator” and its crucial role in concept-formation.

Ayn Rand viewed art as indispensable to human life—as a form of spiritual fuel that offers a vision of what life “might be and ought to be.” But different artistic forms provide that fuel in different ways, and it takes a special effort to learn how to appreciate the value in, say, a piece of music versus a work of literature.

 

This course will help you find value in art—offering guidance on how to savor a variety of artistic media. The course begins with an overview of Rand’s theory of art and its role in human life, and then each session will focus on a particular artistic form and be taught by speakers with professional expertise in that form.

 

Start each day at OCON with this unique esthetic experience and get your daily dose of spiritual fuel!

 

Listening to Music: An Ear Training Approach (Part 2) [Today's talk]

 

Music is a subject that many people are very passionate about, yet also a subject that many people find very difficult to describe. These two courses will present the basic principles of music and examine the various elements that make it up. With the help of many live and recorded examples, attendees will gain a better appreciation of how musical materials are integrated and will also be given strategies for further studies that will deepen their understanding of this most elusive of art forms.

This course provides an orientation to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. Each session addresses an important aspect or application of her philosophy. Beginning with a session on Rand as both novelist and philosopher, the course will explore the relation between Objectivism and religion, the implications of selfishness for our relations with others, the proper role of government and the nature of a rational foreign policy. The course is sure to provoke a variety of questions, which is why the final session of the course will be a general question-and-answer period, hosted by Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri.

 

Why Laissez-Faire? [Today's Talk]

Ayn Rand was a champion of capitalism—not of today’s mixture of freedom and government controls, but of “full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism.” Why does Rand think that it’s so important to uphold such a radical position (a position that even many libertarians do not take)? In this session Steve Simpson situates Rand’s view of a proper political-economic system within the broader context of her moral philosophy, explaining the fundamental principles that account for Rand’s uncompromising position.

Real-world success relies on an effectively functioning subconscious, one which constantly supplies your conscious mind with pertinent information and unconflicted motivation. Only Objectivism recognizes that the subconscious is programmed by your conscious mind—and therefore can be reprogrammed. In this talk, you will learn the essential process for understanding your own subconscious and remedying key problems, including repression, a flat value-hierarchy, and difficulty essentializing. Includes introspective exercises.

Over lunch, we will celebrate and discuss two new scholarly works related to Objectivism: Tara Smith’s Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System and the multi-author volume A Companion to Ayn Rand, edited by Allan Gotthelf and Gregory Salmieri. The program will begin with Robert Mayhew interviewing Smith and Salmieri about their respective books. Then other contributors to A Companion to Ayn Rand will join Salmieri and Smith to answer questions from conference attendees.(This lunch is free for those with a Student Week Pass and discounted to $20 for students on a Day Pass.) Registration deadline is Wednesday, June 29, 2016.

Ayn Rand’s screenplay about the development of the bomb was, she said, “the most difficult writing task I have ever attempted.” Her suspenseful, heroic, inspirational movie would have dramatized and concretized the link between science and freedom. Learn why she accepted the challenge to write the script, how she planned and prepared and what happened to the project when it was taken out of her hands.

This talk describes various means by which people can enhance their ability to think and act long range. The core requirement is to integrate the future with the present. Useful techniques include: tying short-term goals to longer-term goals, prioritizing, using role models, tracking progress, writing down goals and plans, evaluating your pleasures, tying goals to your self-concept, building skill at introspection and holding context.

In celebration of the 2400th anniversary of Aristotle’s birth, a panel of Objectivist Aristotle-scholars (James Lennox, Robert Mayhew, Gregory Salmieri and Aaron Smith) will discuss the essence and excellence of Aristotle’s philosophy, its relationship to Objectivism and its positive impact in recent decades on ethics, metaphysics and philosophy of science.

Learn about the Institute’s current projects and recent successes—as well as its future goals and other exciting news. This is your opportunity to see what’s happening in the movement to support and advance free markets and a pro-reason culture.

The presentation is followed by a reception and a cash bar will be available.

If you have a talent for remembering facts, you’ll excel at this event. Put your knowledge of Ayn Rand’s life, writing and ideas to the test with some friendly competition. Who knows—you might go home a champion! A cash bar will be available.

My express-movement class is forty-five minutes of fun, muscle-revving, beat-pumping dance moves for individuals at all levels. The program includes a warm-up, moderate to high intensity curve, a cool-down, strength moves and stretch. It is a great way to re-energize yourself: muscles and mind. Low impact modifications will be demonstrated. Required: cross-trainers or studio shoes. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing and bring a bottle of water. Please join us early if you have any questions.

What is knowledge? What does it depend upon? What are the means of acquiring it? In answering these questions, this course covers the essentials of metaphysics and epistemology from an Objectivist perspective, drawing on the material in Dr. Binswanger’s recent book, How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation.

 

Concept-formation (Part II) [Today's Talk]

 

The “some but any” principle and the fatal consequences of its denial; integration and the role of words; the principle of unit-economy (“the crow epistemology”) and its ramifications in every field of human endeavor. The biological perspective on concepts.

Ayn Rand viewed art as indispensable to human life—as a form of spiritual fuel that offers a vision of what life “might be and ought to be.” But different artistic forms provide that fuel in different ways, and it takes a special effort to learn how to appreciate the value in, say, a piece of music versus a work of literature.

 

This course will help you find value in art—offering guidance on how to savor a variety of artistic media. The course begins with an overview of Rand’s theory of art and its role in human life, and then each session will focus on a particular artistic form and be taught by speakers with professional expertise in that form.

 

Start each day at OCON with this unique esthetic experience and get your daily dose of spiritual fuel!

 

Finding Fuel in Short Fiction: Giving Full Conscious Value to the Writer’s Choices [Today's talk]

 

A man, after reflecting on his life and career, resolves to change course. How can his aspiration become our inspiration? As readers of a short story, published in 1912 by a writer who went on to win a Pulitzer Prize (and to defend The Fountainhead), we will explore how an artist chose to portray moral self-awakening. (No pre-conference reading required.)

This course provides an orientation to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. Each session addresses an important aspect or application of her philosophy. Beginning with a session on Rand as both novelist and philosopher, the course will explore the relation between Objectivism and religion, the implications of selfishness for our relations with others, the proper role of government and the nature of a rational foreign policy. The course is sure to provoke a variety of questions, which is why the final session of the course will be a general question-and-answer period, hosted by Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri.

 

The Virtue of Selfishness in Foreign Policy [Today's Talk]

In debates over US foreign policy, no side says that it plans to sacrifice America’s interests. Yet this is what our foreign policy continuously does, no matter who is in charge. Why? By reference to developments in the Middle East, Elan Journo contrasts a proper, Objectivist conceptualization of America’s self-interest from prominent views in the debate.

The idea that a person should be selfish is so alien in our culture that people struggle to understand what Ayn Rand could possibly mean. These talks explain crucial features of what rational egoism is, what it is not, and what it is for. They explore the way in which a man’s selfishness is his only means of achieving sustainable happiness.

 

Egoism’s principle is reason. Its point is personal flourishing. The question: What does this mean for you?

Registration deadline is Thursday, June 30, 2016.

Objectivism is radical not only in its moral and political ideals, but also, indeed especially, in how it guides thought. It offers a potent intellectual framework for conceptualizing—and impacting—cultural-political issues. Drawing on new and upcoming books, these diverse talks present distinctively Objectivist perspectives on economic inequality, freedom of speech, and foreign affairs.

 

Don Watkins: Equal Is Unfair: Writing the Right Book at the Right Time

 

When Equal Is Unfair was released in March 2016, it became the first major book challenging the inequality crusade—at a time when the Democrats were choosing between two presidential nominees who built their campaigns around fighting inequality. In this talk, Don Watkins discusses the strategy behind Equal Is Unfair, highlighting some of the considerations that go into producing books that maximize readership, influence and ARI’s overall mission.

 

Elan Journo: America’s Bewildering Mideast Policy

 

America’s foreign policy in the Middle East is bewilderingly haphazard, costly, self-contradictory, ineffectual. Why is that so? In this talk Elan Journo explores Washington’s policies in the region and points to key factors that make sense of the chaos.

 

Steve Simpson: The Value of Free Speech

 

Most Americans would claim to support freedom of speech in principle, yet many increasingly call for restrictions on the right in practice. What explains this ambivalence? This talk explores the flaws in mainstream views of the right and explains why its continued vitality depends on a proper moral defense of free speech.

This session consists of two talks, each 30 minutes long, followed by a Q&A panel with the speakers. First, Eric Daniels will discuss the place of the self-made man in American thought. According to him, the idea of the self-made man is a uniquely American creation, and he explores the origins, development and corruption of this concept in American culture and thought. The talk culminates in an explanation of why Ayn Rand’s individualist conception—the man of the self-made soul—is the only true conception of self-making, and that all other aspects—economic, physical and beyond—grow out of it.

 

Andrew Bernstein will present a talk titled “Giants of Contemporary Business.” The story of Steve Jobs is both well known and, because of the lessons it contains, worthy of continued study. But other great figures, although not as well-known, are equally deserving of admiration. Li Ka-shing, for example, left school before age fifteen, worked sixteen hours a day, eventually founded his own company, and today is the wealthiest man in Asia. Who are some of the other giants of contemporary business—and what are their achievements? This talk tells their stories.

This session consists of two talks, each 45 minutes long. First, Amesh Adalja will discuss the history of vaccination with special attention to the heroic figures that developed this technology. Particular consideration will be given the chain of reasoning leading to the first vaccine, as well as how the germ theory of disease led to a plethora of vaccines that allowed humans to experience a rapid improvement in lifespan and quality of life.

 

Then, Amanda Maxham will discuss the myth of organic superiority, how concern about the safety, value and production of food is prompting a growing number of shoppers to fill their grocery store carts with food labeled “organic.” But despite a reputation as the “Cadillac of foods,” organic foods aren’t actually healthier, safer or better than their conventional counterparts. The growing popularity of organic is rooted in consumers’ belief that when it comes to food, “natural is better.” But is this really the ideal?

Ayn Rand wrote, “If men identified introspectively their inner states one tenth as correctly as they identify objective reality, we would be a race of ideal giants.” This panel will discuss why introspection is important and offer advice for when and how to introspect in different areas, such as romantic love and goal-directed action. There will be about twenty-five minutes for Q and A.

From biotechnology and modern medicine to energy and information, science and technology have a tremendous impact on our lives. This panel will discuss science in the culture, including how ideas affect the way people interpret scientific findings, why pseudoscience abounds, the role of science in government policy decisions and how Objectivism can illuminate scientific issues and aid in decision-making.

What does it take to propel Objectivism as a philosophic movement? It’s essential to articulate the meaning of Objectivism and to exhibit its value in concrete form, by reference to the events, trends and developments of the times. To that end, books are crucial. In this panel, Elan Journo, Steve Simpson and Don Watkins will discuss ARI’s book-centric strategy and the thinking behind it, and they will take questions on the topics of their current book projects.

The swing dance is a descendant of the Lindy Hop and the jitterbug and dates back to the 1920s. The swing dance style follows the development of rag time and swing music. During World War II, Americans introduced the dance to Britain, together with the popular orchestras of the day, such as Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. The faster version of the swing, which is more popular in Europe, is known as the “jive.”

Students will meet in small groups to ask questions of OCON conference speakers who are experts in various topics.

These guided discussions of the day’s general sessions are exclusively for students, and are led by Objectivist Academic Center alumni.

Join us to remember and celebrate the life of Dina Schein Federman, who died on May 27 after an extended battle with cancer. Dr. Federman was a longtime Objectivist, a philosophy professor, an OCON faculty member, and the translator of the Russian letters in the Ayn Rand Archives. She is survived by her husband, veteran ARI staff member Simon Federman, and their young son, Gabriel. Close friends and colleagues will share remembrances of Dina. Everyone is welcome.

ARI will host a dinner to honor donors who contribute annually at the Benefactor level, or higher. This special event is by invitation only.

Come showcase your special talent at this fun event with MC Mike Dartt.

What is knowledge? What does it depend upon? What are the means of acquiring it? In answering these questions, this course covers the essentials of metaphysics and epistemology from an Objectivist perspective, drawing on the material in Dr. Binswanger’s recent book, How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation.

 

Course Q&A [Today's Talk]

Ayn Rand viewed art as indispensable to human life—as a form of spiritual fuel that offers a vision of what life “might be and ought to be.” But different artistic forms provide that fuel in different ways, and it takes a special effort to learn how to appreciate the value in, say, a piece of music versus a work of literature.

 

This course will help you find value in art—offering guidance on how to savor a variety of artistic media. The course begins with an overview of Rand’s theory of art and its role in human life, and then each session will focus on a particular artistic form and be taught by speakers with professional expertise in that form.

 

Start each day at OCON with this unique esthetic experience and get your daily dose of spiritual fuel!

 

Cinema as Art—It’s Not Just Entertainment: How to Analyze, Judge and Discuss Movies [Today's talk]

 

From formulating a movie’s theme to isolating the various cinematic elements that make up a film, this session will present an objective template for analyzing and discussing movies. A quick conceptual and practical guide for lovers of the most complex art form, the session will also define the role of the director, cinematographer, screenwriter, editor and other key roles. This will help those who want to be able to discuss movies intelligently and objectively, and with the proper terminology.

This course provides an orientation to Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism. Each session addresses an important aspect or application of her philosophy. Beginning with a session on Rand as both novelist and philosopher, the course will explore the relation between Objectivism and religion, the implications of selfishness for our relations with others, the proper role of government and the nature of a rational foreign policy. The course is sure to provoke a variety of questions, which is why the final session of the course will be a general question-and-answer period, hosted by Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri.

 

Objectivism Q&A [Today's Talk]

Chances are, previous sessions of this course and your experience at OCON, in general, have sparked a lot of thinking and raised many questions. Now is your chance to ask away. In this final session of the course, Onkar Ghate and Gregory Salmieri answer audience questions about Ayn Rand and Objectivism.

The idea that a person should be selfish is so alien in our culture that people struggle to understand what Ayn Rand could possibly mean. These talks explain crucial features of what rational egoism is, what it is not, and what it is for. They explore the way in which a man’s selfishness is his only means of achieving sustainable happiness.

 

Egoism’s principle is reason. Its point is personal flourishing. The question: What does this mean for you?

ARI will host a lunch exclusively for participants in the Atlantis Legacy, the Institute’s planned giving program, with a special guest to be announced. Donors need not be registered for the conference in order to attend. Invitations will be sent in late spring 2016 to all donors who have included the Institute in their estate plans and informed us that they have done so.

 

The Objectivist Ethics Applied to Life and Business [Carl Barney]

Philosophy is fundamental to all of our activities, personal and business. When we discover and apply a new philosophy, our activities change; we begin making our lives anew. Ayn Rand wrote, “As man is a being of self-made wealth, so he is a being of self-made soul.” We make our own character; we make our own life. This presentation shows how I applied Objectivist ethics to creating my life anew and a prosperous business.

 

Trading Values: The “Why” of Enterprise [Rajshree Agarwal]

Superior performance in business stems from sustained effort at collaboration, not competition. In this talk, Dr. Rajshree Agarwal integrates insights from research, teaching and experience as an intellectual entrepreneur to illuminate how Objectivist principles form the foundation of excellence in business pursuits through the creation of meaningful and successful alliances. Come learn what it takes to be the CEO of Me, Inc.—in the form of Objectivism’s answers to four fundamental questions for your strategic roadmap.

 

Applying Objective Virtues for Competitive Advantage [John Allison]

This is a case study in using Objectivist virtues as the foundation for organizational success and personal self-esteem. Objectivism is not as an end in itself but is a means to increasing organizational and personal productivity.

 

Students of Objectivism can become lost in the details of the philosophy and fail to apply Objectivist principles and concepts when trying to improve the quality of their lives. Objectivist virtues, properly employed, are a major competitive advantage in business and life.

Ayn Rand’s article “What Can One Do?” addresses the question of what an individual can do to effect philosophical change in the culture. Join Yaron Brook for this closing talk as he revisits Rand’s question in the context of Objectivist Movement 2.0.

Come ready to dance the night away! The final evening of the conference will begin with a reception and dinner, followed by dancing until 11:30 PM. This event is dressy; coats and ties for gentlemen, evening wear for ladies, please. A plated dinner will be served with a cash bar available. Cost to attend: $150, which includes one drink. Registration deadline is Thursday, June 30, 2016.