Logical Structure of Objectivism by Leonard Peikoff

Understanding Objectivism by Leonard Peikoff - Lesson 6 of 12

To understand and to be able to validate an idea, one needs to know what other ideas it depends on — what, if anything, must be grasped before one can understand the idea; this is the issue of logical hierarchy. In this lesson, Leonard Peikoff discusses the importance of logical hierarchy and takes the audience through the homework assignment on understanding the logical structure of Objectivism given in Lesson 4 of this course.

Recorded in New York, NY in 1983.

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[jacebastian]

I'd like to be able to try to figure out the hierarchy of these 20 things myself 'before' hearing Mr. Peikoff say what they are... is there any way to find out what these things are (again, 'without' having the order given)?

[YashArya]

00:00 Understanding Logical Hierarchy
- Philosophical knowledge is hierarchical but there are options at all levels.
- Don't confuse this logical hierarchy with the chronological order of development over your lifetime

16:00 Metaphysics and Epistemology
1. Existence exists
2. Consciousness is a means of perceiving existential
3. Identity: A is A
4. Reason vs Mysticism: Reason as Man's Only Means of Knowledge
5. Senses as Valid
6. Nature of Concepts
7. Knowledge as Objective
8. Law of Causality (this could come after 3, but when possible Dr. Peikoff takes the epistemological points before the metaphysical points)

41:25 Human Nature, Ethics, Politics, Art
(Human Nature refers to the Metaphysical/Essential Nature of Man)
9. Reason as Man's Basic Means of Survival
10. Mind/Body Integration (In the sense of Theory/Practice or Theory/Application integration)
11. Life as the Standard of Value
12. Rationality as the Primary Virtue
13, 14. Independence & Honesty (Same level)
15. Evil of Force
16. Validation of Individual Rights
17. Proper Function of Governments
18. Capitalism is the Only Moral System
19. (At the same level as 16; Aesthetics doesn't depend on Politics) Nature of Art
20. Romanticism

54:38 More ideas: Where do they fit in in the hierarchy above?
1. Emotions as consequences of premises (10a)
2. Primacy of Existence (3a)
3. Rational Egoism (12a)
4. Free Will (3b) 1:04:05 Shout out to Harry Binswanger!
5. Atheism (Several options depending on what you mean by God. 3a, 4a, 8a)
6. Man as a Being of Self-Made Soul (10b)
7. Knowledge as Hierarchical (6a or 7a)

1:11:10 Hierarchy and the Spiral Theory of Knowledge
Hierarchy: You have to know the earlier before you know the later concepts
Spiral: Yes, but you don't know *everything* about the earlier before going to the later. You know some of the earlier, then some of the later, then more details of the earlier, the more details of the later, and so on, for your whole life.
The earlier points pave the way for the later points. The later points help enrich and concretize the earlier points further (i.e help in chewing the earlier concept).

1:14:03 An example on how a later point helps retroactively understand the earlier point even better.
Example 1: Later Point (Cause and Effect) and earlier point (Primacy of Existence)
Example 2: Later Point (Virtue of Honesty) and earlier point (Emotions come from premises)
Example 3: Later Point (Romantic Art) and earlier point (Existence Exists)
Other examples mentioned as well

[RogerFusselman]

Here is the list of concepts to put in hierarchical order. Here they are in alphabetical order. Some options of order will apply. For best results in your own understanding, make your own list before hearing the answer in the video or reading answers online.
A. Capitalism is the only moral social system.
B. Consciousness as a means of perceiving existence
C. Evil of force
D. Existence exists.
E. Honesty
F. Identity: A is A.
G. Independence
H. Knowledge as objective
I. Law of causality
J. Life as the standard of value
K. Mind/body integration (e.g., theory/practice or theory/application integration)
L. Nature of art
M. Nature of concepts
N. Proper function of government
O. Rationality
P. Reason as man's basic means of survival
Q. Reason vs. mysticism: reason as man's only means of knowledge.
R. Romanticism
S. Senses as valid
T. Validation of individual rights