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| − | [[Objectivism]] ([[Latin]] ''ob-'' out of and ''iacio'' I am throwing, and [[Greek]] '''-ισμος''' or ''-ismos'' the doing of a thing) is a school of [[philosophy]] that holds that things in the natural world exist independently of anyone's perception of them or efforts (or lack of effort) to understand them. Objectivism ''also'' holds that ''nothing'' is provably real that one cannot ''demonstrate'' independently of one person's percept of it. | + | [[Objectivism]] (Latin ''ob-'' out of and ''iacio'' I am throwing, and Greek '''-ισμος''' or ''-ismos'' the doing of a thing) is a school of philosophy developed by [[Ayn Rand]] that holds that things in the natural world exist independently of anyone's perception of them or efforts (or lack of effort) to understand them. Objectivism also holds that ''nothing'' is provably real that one cannot ''demonstrate'' independently of one person's percept of it. |
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| | == History of Objectivism == | | == History of Objectivism == |
| − | Objectivism as a formal discipline began with [[Ayn Rand]], a [[Russia|Russian]]-born émigrée to the [[United States]]. Ayn Rand attended The University of Petrograd where she studied philosophy and history. She graduated in 1924. In her work, showed more than a passing familiarity with the great philosophers of ancient Western civilization. The ancient philosopher she respected the most was [[Aristotle]]. | + | Objectivism as a formal discipline began with [[Ayn Rand]], a Russian-born émigrée to the United States. Ayn Rand attended The University of Petrograd where she studied philosophy and history. She graduated in 1924. In her work, showed more than a passing familiarity with the great philosophers of ancient Western civilization. The ancient philosopher she respected the most was [[Aristotle]]. |
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| | By far the most complete expression of Objectivism in a single volume is in her novel, ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]''<ref name=Atlas>[[Ayn Rand|Rand, Ayn]]. ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]''. New York: Random House Publishers, 1957, 1168 pages, cloth. ISBN 0394415760</ref>. However, her philosophy found expression in innumerable essays, which she published in a number of newsletters and magazines that she edited from time to time: ''The Objectivist Newsletter'', ''The Objectivist'', and ''The Ayn Rand Letter.'' | | By far the most complete expression of Objectivism in a single volume is in her novel, ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]''<ref name=Atlas>[[Ayn Rand|Rand, Ayn]]. ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]''. New York: Random House Publishers, 1957, 1168 pages, cloth. ISBN 0394415760</ref>. However, her philosophy found expression in innumerable essays, which she published in a number of newsletters and magazines that she edited from time to time: ''The Objectivist Newsletter'', ''The Objectivist'', and ''The Ayn Rand Letter.'' |
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| | == The Fundamental Tenets of Objectivism == | | == The Fundamental Tenets of Objectivism == |
| − | Objectivism attempts to be a "unified theory of everything worth thinking about." As such it addresses prominent issues in [[metaphysics]], [[epistemology]], [[ethics]], [[Political philosophy|politics]], and [[aesthetics]]. | + | Objectivism attempts to be a "unified theory of everything worth thinking about." As such it addresses prominent issues in [[metaphysics]], [[epistemology]], [[ethics]], [[Political philosophy]], and [[aesthetics]]. |
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| | === The Central Axiom and its Corollaries === | | === The Central Axiom and its Corollaries === |