All student attendees are invited to kick off the conference at our welcome reception. Speakers and Objectivist Academic Center alumni will be on hand to welcome you to the conference, and there will be opening remarks by Keith Lockitch, ARI vice president of Educational Programs. 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.) Please register to ensure we have an accurate head count. Registration deadline is Monday, June 5, 2017.

After a brief review of Ayn Rand’s basic theory of concept-formation, Dr. Binswanger presents his own understanding of advanced topics at the heart of epistemology, drawing on material from his book How We Know.

 

Class 1. How concept-formation gets started: conceptualizing perceptual concretes; the crucial role of the Conceptual Common Denominator; why this first level of conceptualization is only the preparation for forming higher-level concepts—the concepts required for civilization, science and progress.

The 20th century experienced radical challenges to musical thinking, with many composers choosing to break completely with the past, producing works that appeal only to a small group of academic specialists. There were many other composers, however, who, while appreciating many of the innovations of 20th-century music, and incorporating elements of them into their compositions, also retained ties to the past, producing works that are intelligible to general audiences. These talks examine some notable examples of this phenomenon.

Most thinkers throughout history have held a negative or, at best, neutral view of productive work. If not scorned outright, production has usually been viewed as having no moral significance. But Ayn Rand had a unique view of the human potential, central to which is the importance she accords to the act of production. Productive achievement, in her philosophy, is man’s “noblest activity.” This talk explores what Objectivism means by the virtue of productiveness and discusses aspects of our culture’s positive and negative attitudes toward producers and productive activity.

At this special lunch for students, each table will include at least one speaker from the conference, giving students the opportunity to ask questions and get to know some of the experts at the conference. This event is exclusively for students and for Prime Movers (who have contributed $2,500 in support of student scholarships as part of their OCON registration). The lunch is included with the Student Week Pass, and costs $20 for students on the Day Pass. Registration deadline is Monday, June 5, 2017.

This talk tells the colorful stories of Pittsburgh business giants Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, Charles M. Schwab and Andrew Mellon. To say that the story of steel—the backbone of industrial civilization—is the story of Pittsburgh business heroes is only a slight exaggeration. These men struggled to produce steel, battled against unions and fought each other. Their flaws were real, their achievements were legendary, their life-giving productivity was vast, and their stories—told in this talk—were and remain fascinating.

The medical treatment of infectious diseases is one of the most fascinating aspects of modern medicine full of innovators, heroes and intellectual battles. In this talk, Dr. Adalja develops a historical understanding of this topic, highlighting the most important historical facts and illustrating how their discovery pushed the field and civilization forward.

Defensiveness on either side of a conversation kills the connection and dooms communication. In this talk, Jean Moroney will introduce a method for unilaterally eliminating defensiveness from both sides of a conversation. The method is an egoistic interpretation of the work of Marshall Rosenberg. This is an informal session. Half will consist of prepared comments; half will be demonstration plus Q&A.

with Brian Amerige and Jason Crawford

Calling all techies! We’re contemplating a post-OCON virtual hackathon to work on projects aimed at advancing Objectivism. If you eat code for breakfast and might want to participate, join us for a brainstorming session to discuss possible projects.

Come discuss spreading Ayn Rand’s ideas on a global scale. Learn how several activists around the world are spreading Objectivism in their countries and communities. Ask questions, offer advice and find out what you can apply to your own activism in this interactive session, hosted by Anu Seppala.

Meet and mingle with fellow attendees at the official opening of OCON! The event is casual. We serve substantial appetizers or a light dinner and your fee includes one drink. A cash bar will be available. Cost to attend: $100. Registration deadline is Monday, June 5, 2017.

Class 2. Introduction to higher-level concepts: two basic types of higher-level concepts and the Objectivist explanation of each; concepts that involve cross-classifications; the hierarchy of concepts that forming higher-level concepts generates; the difference between abstractness and generality; the richness of the full structure of concepts in an adult’s conceptual vocabulary.

The 20th century experienced radical challenges to musical thinking, with many composers choosing to break completely with the past, producing works that appeal only to a small group of academic specialists. There were many other composers, however, who, while appreciating many of the innovations of 20th-century music, and incorporating elements of them into their compositions, also retained ties to the past, producing works that are intelligible to general audiences. These talks examine some notable examples of this phenomenon.

Abraham Lincoln identified the American patent system as a great human achievement, stating that it “added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius.” His statement about the nature of patent rights captures the Founding Fathers’ moral achievement in securing patents and other intellectual property rights in U.S. law. As Ayn Rand recognized, the moral is the practical, and thus economists have long identified IP rights as an essential requirement of a growing free market and flourishing society.

In these lectures Dr. Lennox traces the history of two radically different philosophical approaches to teleology, one originating with Plato, the other with Aristotle. The first lecture, “From the Greeks to the Scientific Revolution,” identifies the essential features that define and differentiate the Platonic and Aristotelian approaches to teleology and shows how they are rooted in their distinctive metaphysics and epistemology. It concludes with a discussion of the debate that arises in the 17th century among defenders and detractors of teleology.

Critics of “cronyism” typically describe the problem as politicians and businesses conspiring to win government “favors” at the expense of taxpayers, or “the public” in general. While this view is not entirely wrong, it misses important aspects of the problem and does a grave injustice to businessmen who succeed through production rather than pull. This talk untangles the confusion about cronyism and explains why its biggest victims are businessmen.

Despite all the graduation speeches enjoining us to “be passionate” about something, the experience of deep, passionate emotion is not an easy one to achieve, much less sustain. This talk offers guidance for achieving that rarefied quality which Ayn Rand ascribed to one of Atlas Shrugged’s heroes—a “disciplined capacity to feel too deeply.” The talk integrates tools from cognitive-behavioral therapy with insights from Rand’s theory of values, without assuming prior knowledge of either.

Ayn Rand, during the 1940s, met several industrialists. One was Tom Girdler of Republic Steel, a brilliant innovator and a firm opponent of FDR’s New Deal. She read his Boot Straps, admired his “gallant fight,” and urged him to read The Fountainhead. They became allies! While writing Atlas Shrugged, which honored human ability, she interviewed many additional producers. They “seemed amazed,” she noted, “to find a writer who wanted to glorify industrialists.” Atlas celebrates and defends the heroes she admired.

This workshop builds on Dr. Gorlin’s earlier talk, though attendance of the talk is not a prerequisite for participating. Attendees learn strategies for non-defensively attending to their emotions; identifying and evaluating the associated beliefs and motives; and taking actions that help trigger or intensify value-based emotions. Through this approach, attendees can begin to develop a richer emotional palette that consistently flows from and helps motivate reality-based value-pursuit.

Most American business negotiations today are dominated by a “win-win” or “split the difference” attitude that sees individuals and companies making unwarranted and expensive compromises. This workshop with Mr. Flitton aims at establishing the moral and practical justifications for not ever meeting in the middle, or sacrificing money, just to get along. It explains the techniques used to convince others to make major changes in their prices, terms, positions and expectation levels, along with effective countermeasures.

STRIVE is a personal and leadership development organization, inspired by Objectivism. STRIVE is run by students, and primarily focuses on student programming. Join our information session to learn more about our programs and opportunities, such as writing for The Undercurrent, starting a campus club, joining our mentorship program, subscribing to our Objectivism Q&A’s, or applying to the STRIVE Venture Fund.

Come meet first-time OCON attendees. Everyone’s invited. Cash bar will be available.

Class 3. Special cases of higher-level concepts: concepts of characteristics, including concepts of action; concepts of consciousness; axiomatic concepts.

As we celebrate productive heroes and the heroism of productiveness, this talk offers an introduction to the background, spirit and craft of the novel Ayn Rand called her favorite. Calumet “K,” she wrote, features a “portrait of an efficacious man”; it reflects the sense of life of “a time when people were capable of admiring productive achievement.” (Although advance reading is not required, I encourage you to read or download the book, without charge: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30431.)

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is dizzyingly complicated. In this talk Elan Journo—author of a new book on the conflict and America’s stake in it—looks at how intellectuals conceptualize and debate the issue, and spotlights the distinctive value of an Objectivist perspective on it.

Learn about Ayn Rand’s increasing influence and ARI’s successes in Europe with panelists Carl Barney, Andrew Bernstein and Yaron Brook, moderated by Annie Vinther Sanz. Cost to attend: $45. Registration deadline is Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

In the 2016 election there was widespread concern about “fake news” and media bias. This talk explores the guidance Objectivist epistemology offers for being an objective consumer of the news. How do the requirements of integration and reduction help guide one’s acceptance of the reports of others? How do we avoid uncritical reliance on the media without becoming skeptics of journalism as such? How do we avoid bias without abandoning concern for our values?

In these lectures Dr. Lennox traces the history of two radically different philosophical approaches to teleology, one originating with Plato, the other with Aristotle. In the second lecture, “Darwin’s Teleology, and Teleology after Darwin,” Dr. Lennox traces the vicissitudes of teleology in the 18th century (with a focus on Kant) and then turns to the 19th century, where the central focus is on Charles Darwin. Much of this lecture is devoted to the fascinating history of Darwin grappling with the question of how natural selection and teleology are related, and to the legacy of that history in the 20th century.

With Yaron Brook, Jim Brown, Keith Lockitch and ARI alumni panelists

Meet Jim Brown, ARI’s new CEO, as well as a panel of ARI program alumni, hosted by Keith Lockitch, ARI’s VP of educational programs. No registration is required for the event.

Come showcase your special talent at this fun event.

Class 4. Propositions (I): what propositions are; how propositions unleash the power of concepts; the two main types of proposition; the role of grammar in proposition-formation.

Atlas Shrugged as the Culmination of the Romantic Novel
Dr. Bernstein’s talk analyzes Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, Hugo’s Les Misérables and Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, showing these Romantic novelists as impassioned valuers who want to change the world in accord with their philosophies. But the Religious Humanism of Hugo and the Christianity of Dostoevsky are inadequate to ameliorate the worlds presented in their novels; at conclusion, their worlds suffer the same evils as at the start. Only Rand’s Objectivism is shown to positively change the universe portrayed in her novel.

Join us for a trip to learn about the Pittsburgh area’s industrial history. We’ll leave from the hotel at 10 AM after morning classes. You’ll get a lunch box that you can eat at your leisure. The first stop is at Carrie Furnace (https://www.riversofsteel.com/preservation/heritage-sites/carrie-furnaces/), a renovated blast iron furnace that was once owned by Carnegie Steel. We’ll tour the facility while learning about its history and the men who ran it. We’ll then continue to Frick Art and Historical Center (www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/), the home of Henry Clay Frick. There’s a tour of his house, a visit to the Carriage and Auto Museum, to the small Helen Frick art collection and time to enjoy the grounds or have your lunch at the community room. We’ll return to the hotel around 4:30 PM, with a stop at the Senator John Heinz History Center (www.heinzhistorycenter.org/) for those interested in the history of Pittsburgh (those going to the Heinz Center will find their own way back to the hotel).

 

Price includes entrance tickets, bus transportation and a lunchbox.

 

This tour is limited to 110 people.

Come celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the Oscar-nominated film Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life. This landmark feature documentary from producer/director/writer Michael Paxton is the first film to examine Ayn Rand as a person, writer and artist. After the screening, a panel and Q&A will focus on the historical context and cultural impact of Ayn Rand, the Ayn Rand Institute and the film throughout its twenty-year journey to the present.

The right to free speech is a bedrock principle throughout the Western world, but increasingly it is being challenged—on college campuses, among intellectuals, and in politics—in the name of preventing offense and “hate.” Why is this happening and what does it mean for the future of free speech?

Class 5. Propositions (II): negative propositions; the refutation of the analytic-synthetic dichotomy; the cognitive and psycho-epistemological function of propositions.

This session takes a critical look at how heroes of productive achievement have been portrayed on the motion picture screen. We will discuss the elements necessary to make characters realistic and the process of essentializing an entire life or career into a dramatic story. With clips and a Q&A following the talk.

What is the role of business in society? In business schools, mainstream views on corporate social responsibility represent profit as a necessary evil, even as business leaders are taught how to make money in finance and marketing. As a long-time Objectivist and professor in strategy and entrepreneurship, Professor Agarwal distills the lessons she shares with future business leaders where she busts false either-or dichotomies in profit and purpose, competition and collaboration, self-worth and monetary-worth, and individual vs. collective good.

The past 40 years has seen the growth of neo-Aristotelian movements in several branches of philosophy—most notably ethics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of science. Over lunch, James G. Lennox, Robert Mayhew, Gregory Salmieri and Darryl Wright will reflect on this development. They will also report on the latest (Anthem-funded) Allan Gotthelf Memorial Conference, which will have taken place two weeks before OCON. The conference will bring together representatives of several of these neo-Aristotelian movements.Cost to attend: $45. Registration deadline is Wednesday, June 7, 2017.

This lecture reviews the historical gold standard, assessing its merits and its shortcomings, and explains how it came to be dismantled. Arguments for and against a gold standard revival are examined, distinguishing unsound from sound reasons for doubting whether such a revival could prove successful.

Cognitive neuroscience—the study of biological processes underlying cognition—has a profound impact on politics and law, and on popular conceptions of psychology, free will and the origins of knowledge. Neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques allow neuroscientists to observe and manipulate the inner workings of the living human brain. This talk includes a basic overview of the brain and techniques used to study it, and why most neuroscientists view free will as an illusion—and knowledge, values and beliefs as innate.

Mr. Allison transformed BB&T from a small regional bank into one of the largest—and highest performing—financial services companies in the nation. Join Mr. Allison as he talks to Professor Rajshree Agarwal about the reasons underlying his entrepreneurial journey at BB&T, his discovery of Objectivism, and his sustained integration of principles and productivity for enduring success.

The ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism is enjoying a resurgence of interest today. Recent books, both scholarly and popular, bring the tenets of Stoic philosophy to bear on issues faced by military personnel, Silicon Valley CEOs and the man on the street. What is it about Stoic philosophy that is so appealing? Did the Stoics hit on something of universal importance and enduring value? This talk examines the appeal of Stoic philosophy and addresses important similarities between Stoicism and Objectivism.

With STRIVE

Enabled by the Industrial Revolution, the 20th century saw an explosion of esthetic innovation and theory, exploring new forms, modes and mediums of artistic expression. In this hands-on symposium, we examine some of these new concepts in theater. The session’s focus serves as an introduction to and an examination of the development of Epic Theater, which will be illustrated through its tight coupling with magic performance art.

With Annie Vinther Sanz and Anu Seppala

Find out where we’ll gather next year and register for OCON 2018 at a large discount. Everyone’s invited. Cash bar will be available.

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

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. MC Mikey Spicci.

Class 6. Course Q&A

From Fred and Ginger to La La Land, the film musical has polarized audiences since its creation. This session examines the art form, including major and combined genres and subgenres of the motion picture musical. From vaudeville to operettas to the backstage musicals across the decades, the components that are crucial to creating an effective musical film will be discussed. With clips and a Q&A following the talk.

What specific principles lead the heroes of Atlas Shrugged to go on strike? And what does it look like for an individual or a movement to implement these principles today in a world that resembles that of the novel in some ways but not in others? What decisions do we face that are analogous to those faced by the protagonists, and what can we learn from the novel about which course is right and which wrong?

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 2017 to all donors who have included the Institute in their estate plans and informed us that they have done so.

In most areas of technology, we have enjoyed continuous progress. But not in aviation. We had a Mach 2 airliner (Concorde) but shuttered it. Today’s airliners actually fly slower than 1960s designs. What caused a regression in air travel—and what hope do we have for a renaissance? Boom Supersonic founder/CEO Blake Scholl presents a moral and political history of aviation and shares his company’s ambitious plans to rekindle progress in aviation.

The second talk builds on the first by demonstrating how the tools of cognitive neuroscience are often misused, leading to the erroneous ideas disseminated in popular psychology and philosophy books and by the media, and influencing courts of law and public opinion. When used properly, however, this technology can debunk such fallacies. More important, it can provide incredible insight into the mind/brain relationship and the volitional, rational, objective conceptual cognitive capacities unique to humans.

Mr. Schacht is the CEO of Mystery Science. In college he began his career with a mix of excitement and guilt. After reading Atlas Shrugged, Schacht resolved to reconcile his conflicted ideas and eliminate all guilt. He relates how, as a college dropout, he started and sold three companies, joined Facebook and then quit to transform education through his current company, Mystery Science. He has spoken at a TED conference and been featured in WIRED, Fortune, Forbes and BusinessWeek.

One of the biggest threats America faces—we are told—is the assault on our workforce: the loss of American jobs to immigrants, to foreign competition fueled by free trade, and even to technology that will make all kinds of jobs obsolete. Join Yaron Brook as he argues that this fear is entirely misplaced—that a proper grasp of the virtue of productiveness shows that far from fearing and opposing free trade, immigration and robots, we should be eagerly embracing all three.

Come ready to dance the night away! The closing event of the conference will begin with a reception, followed by dinner and dance until midnight. 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 two drinks. Registration deadline is Thursday, June 8, 2017.

This tour will take us to Fallingwater (www.fallingwater.org/), the weekend house that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the Edgar J. Kaufmann family, owners of Kaufmann’s Department Store. Buses leave the hotel between 8:15 AM and 11:15 AM, and return between 4:30 PM and 8 PM. At Fallingwater, you’ll get a lunch box that you can enjoy at your leisure. We’ll tour the house in groups of fourteen people, listen to a lecture on Structural Repair of Fallingwater. There will be time to enjoy the grounds and visit the giftshop.

 

Price includes entrance tickets, lecture fee, bus transportation and a lunchbox. You will need to stay in the bus you came in, so pick up your departure time from the Sheraton accordingly. Fees are the same for adults, children and seniors.

 

Note that once in Fallingwater, all purses, backpacks, camera bags, tripods and other cumbersome items are not permitted on the tour. You can leave your items in complimentary lockers on-site. Other challenges include a half-mile walk to and from the house on uneven gravel paths, a one-hour walking tour, and over 100 steps. If the walk to and from the house is a challenge, please email info@objectivistconferences.com and we will help arrange a shuttle at the Visitor Center.