The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

Ayn Rand famously held Aristotle in high regard, describing him as a “philosophical Atlas who carries the whole of Western civilization on his shoulders.” Given such a statement, it’s not surprising that there are rich connections to be found between Aristotle’s philosophical system and Rand’s, which she called Objectivism. Scholars of Aristotle and Rand have found deep connections between the two in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics. In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute po

Recently, author and ARI’s VP of Fundraising and Marketing Don Watkins was interviewed on the Texas Talks podcast, where he discussed Ayn Rand’s unique moral admiration for productive work, her new conception of self-interest, and ARI’s work to preserve and spread her philosophy today. Topics include: Why Ayn Rand has an enduring appeal The morality and spirituality of wealth creation Working, marketing, and fundraising at ARI News about the Ayn Rand Center in Austin Why we need a new conc

Recently, ARI Senior Fellow Ben Bayer was interviewed on the Texas Talks podcast, where he discussed Ayn Rand’s unique approach to philosophy as a practical means for living, the life-promoting philosophy she developed as a result, and how her idealist-realist heroes dramatize it. Bayer contrasted Rand’s approach and views with the dominant ones in today’s culture, focusing specifically on Stoicism and altruism. Bradley Swail is the host of the Texas Talks podcast, not an employee of the Ayn Ra

In her recent book The Mattering Instinct, philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein argues that much of what human beings do is driven by a universal need to matter — to prove to ourselves that we are worthy of consideration. She argues that efforts to fulfill this need are responsible for a wide range of human projects, from the greatest achievements of scientific discovery and artistic creation, to the worst atrocities of murder and genocide. On this episode of ARI Bookshelf, Greg Salmieri, Be

Recently, Professor Greg Salmieri, an Objectivist philosopher, was interviewed on the Texas Talks podcast, where he discussed Ayn Rand’s ideas and their relation to the ideas of other thinkers, including Aristotle, Marx, and “libertarians.” He also discussed Rand’s influence on his own work and interest in philosophy. Salmieri is a senior fellow at the Civitas Institute and teaches in the philosophy department at the University of Texas at Austin. He often speaks at ARI conferences and teaches c

For over 40 years, ARI has preserved Rand’s legacy through archival and educational activities. Two years ago, ARI announced it would cement that legacy in actual concrete by building the Ayn Rand Center in Austin, Texas. Earlier this month, the Institute broke ground on the building. The Center will house the Ayn Rand Archives, classrooms, event spaces, studios, public gathering areas, a state-of-the-art immersive educational experience, and the home campus of ARI’s education program, ARU. It w