Discussing Ayn Rand on World Philosophy Day 2022

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Aaron Smith and Mike Mazza discuss World Philosophy Day to explore what is the nature and value of philosophy. They address how philosophy is commonly perceived (especially within academia) as a useless field and how Ayn Rand's distinctive conception offers a deeper and more practical perspective that matters for life.

Among the topics covered:
• What philosophy is and the kind of questions it addresses;
• How people operate philosophically even when lacking a systematic outlook;
• Ayn Rand’s take on philosophy as inescapable and life-impacting;
• How contrasting philosophical worldviews produce different ways of living;
• Ayn Rand’s view on the practical guidance that philosophy offers;
• The problems with Bertrand Russel’s influential view of philosophy;
• Why academic philosophy has failed to defend the value of its field;
• How religion makes people unaware of secular philosophical worldviews;
• Objectivism’s integration of method and content.

Recommended in the discussion are Ayn Rand’s book Philosophy: Who Needs It and Onkar Ghate’s article “Let’s Revive Philosophy.”

The podcast was recorded on November 16, 2022.

0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:45 What is philosophy
0:08:43 Operating philosophically
0:12:35 Philosophy as inescapable
0:16:10 Different ways of living
0:21:55 Rand on philosophy’s guidance
0:32:15 Russell’s view of philosophy
0:43:35 Academic philosophy
0:49:09 Religion’s impact
0:58:24 Integration of method and content

[FaithfulObjectivist]

Enjoyed much the work here gentleman. ARI recruitment and staffing efforts continue to bear fruit.

[SpacePatrollerLaser]

Philosophy is the Human Operating System. It is also the closest thing to "the Force" there is. Those who understand and use philosophy own those who do not. If I can access a person's active philosophy, I can predict what they will do with accuracy before they know it themselves. I've done it and that was before I came into full contact with Ayn Rand's work

[tomkoziol]

At least as far back as Descartes, philosophy is presented as the foundation of the sciences. For issues concerning life Descartes states that philosophy is not needed as a kind of commom sense is all that is needed to make your way in the world.

[dayslife]

asking yourself questions is a emotional state of mind, contrary to Mrs Rand's philosophy, factual reason of truth ...

[science]

Objectivism is the only rational philosophy.

[dapar]

The problem is philosophers not the subject in it self. Specialisation has disconnected thinking from individual duity. Delegating this existential nature has weakened the subject.