Sydney Ayn Rand Meetup

27/04/2025

For the record: Ayn Rand was not a Libertarian, she made her disdain for those 'libertarian hippies' very clear. Her philosophy known as Objectivism is a distinctly different thing to the political philosophy of Libertarianism.

https://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/libertarians.html

29/11/2024

Ayn Rand viewed capitalism as the only moral system because it aligns with individual rights. Key to her understanding of capitalism are these principles:

• Individual Rights: The primary moral principle is the individual's right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.
• Laissez-Faire: Minimal government intervention in the economy. The government's role is limited to protecting individual rights and enforcing contracts.
• Rational Self-Interest: Individuals should pursue their own rational self-interest.
• Free Markets: Unrestricted markets allow for voluntary exchange and competition, leading to innovation and prosperity.

Rand believed that capitalism is the only system that rewards productivity, creativity, and innovation. It is a system where individuals are free to pursue their dreams and reap the rewards of their efforts.

Join us for a panelist discussion around Ayn Rand’s perception of capitalism. The panelist discussion will feature these leading thinkers:

• Yaron Brook: A leading voice in Objectivism and free-market philosophy.
• Brett Hall: A philosopher and podcaster exploring the frontiers of human thought.
• Dr. Nikos Sotirakopoulos: A political sociologist and author with a keen eye on contemporary issues.

Don't miss this opportunity to engage in stimulating conversation and expand your intellectual horizons.

10 th December 2024 6pm-7:30pm at the Glebe Town Hall
Address: 160 Saint Johns Road, Glebe, NSW 2037

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Book your tickets today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-is-capitalism-tickets-1075329672999?aff=oddtdtcreator

28/11/2024

Ayn Rand viewed capitalism as the only moral system because it aligns with individual rights. Key to her understanding of capitalism are these principles:
• Individual Rights: The primary moral principle is the individual's right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.
• Laissez-faire: Minimal government intervention in the economy. The government's role is limited to protecting individual rights and enforcing contracts.
• Rational Self-Interest: Individuals should pursue their own rational self-interest, as this benefits society as a whole.
• Free Markets: Unrestricted markets allow for voluntary exchange and competition, leading to innovation and prosperity.
Rand believed that capitalism is the only system that rewards productivity, creativity, and innovation. It is a system where individuals are free to pursue their dreams and reap the rewards of their efforts.
Join us for a panelist discussion around Ayn Rand’s perception of capitalism. The panelist discussion will feature these leading thinkers:
• Yaron Brook: A leading voice in Objectivism and free-market philosophy.
• Brett Hall: A philosopher and podcaster exploring the frontiers of human thought.
• Dr. Nikos Sotirakopoulos: A political sociologist and author with a keen eye on contemporary issues.
Don't miss this opportunity to engage in stimulating conversation and expand your intellectual horizons.
10th December 2024 6pm-7:30pm at theGlebe Town Hall
Address: 160 Saint Johns Road, Glebe, NSW 2037

BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-is-capitalism-tickets-1075329672999?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join Yaron Brook, Brett Hall, and Nikos Sotirakopoulos for a panel discussion about Capitalism, Philosophy, and other related topics.

22/11/2024

https://www.meetup.com/ayn-rand-sydney/events/304705924/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=rsvp-confirmation

Please join us Saturday 30 November for the fourteenth Sydney Meetup!

24/07/2024

SUMMARY - JULY 2024 MEETUP: PSYCHOLOGY AND OBJECTIVISM

1. All attendees fairly agree that our psychological makeup does have an impact on our philosophical beliefs, varying in the how and to what degree.

2. A point was made by one of the participants that the question of nature vs nurture ignores the existence of choice and free will. The exertion of choice cannot lead us to completely go beyond our psychological makeup, but it allows us to overcome some aspects of it, for instance some phobias / trauma or one choosing a career that is somewhat contrary to their personality. A rational person has free will and can exert it to live a life partly unbounded by his psychological makeup.

3. An attendee briefly mentioned reconditioning and the Stockholm syndrome as further evidence of the previous point.

4. An attendee mentioned that an abnormal psychology will likely distort both the perceptual information taken in by an individual, and the method they make use of perceptual information in forming concepts. which would certainly affect their personal philosophy.

5. In response to the question of whether philosophy can impact psychology, an attendee summarised their answer to this as Garbage-in Garbage-out. An individual attempting to apply defective philosophy will train to behave in ways supportive of their personal philosophy. An example of this is Dr Peikoff’s recount of how when he was learning Objectivism from Ayn Rand, he knew for a fact that his previous philosophy of pragmatism was incorrect, yet his mind continued to feel that pragmatism was correct. It took some time and conscious effort to unlearn his old incorrect habits and behaviours, before they were replaced with the correct new ones.

6. An attendee posited that a philosophy would not be able to impact one’s psychological makeup, instead it would allow them the foundational means to address certain traits they have that might be hindrances to their being able to live a life that was true to their chosen philosophy - extreme mental health issues exempted.

7. In response to the question of What role does psychology play in our day-to-day and our potential to create and / or build? An attendee responded: an individual’s psychology plays a significant role in their ambition.

8. To the same question, the point of qualifying a creation was raised. Is this a moral creation or an immoral one? Are we discussing any small piece of work or a multi-national business empire. The point was raised in order to specify the contexts under which the question above might be asked i.e. what is likely possible to an introvert vs an extrovert.

9. Religion was brought up as a learned philosophical phenomenon that affects a person’s psychology. James Valliant’s book Creating Christ was shared as a good read on the topic - Creating Christ: How Roman Emperors Invented Christianity https://amzn.asia/d/00tICK65

10. Most attendees spoke about our upbringing in relation to their philosophical beliefs - how they developed as we grew older and what challenges we had along the way. For some this led to talking about objectivism in their lives.

11. All attendees agree that clinical psychology is of importance for an objectivist / rational person. An attendee suggested that a clinical psychologist is a kind of consultant. Like any other kind of consultant, they are to be consulted (and paid for their service) when a complex question needs to be answered.

21/07/2024

REMINDER - COMING UP SOON

JULY 2024 MEETUP: PSYCHOLOGY AND OBJECTIVISM

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Tuesday, 23 July 6:00 pm The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire St.

Join us for the tenth meeting of the Free Markets, Ethics, Culture, and Ayn Rand Meetup Group.

This group is for those who take Ayn Rand's work seriously or who wish to do so.

This month's topic is the objectivist view of psychology. We will explore this topic using a Question & Answer game format. Please read the following recommended reading in preparation for the meeting.

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Recommended reading about the Objectivist view of Psychology:

Ayn Rand Lexicon - Psychology (http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/psychology.html)

The Psychology of Psychologizing - Ayn Rand (https://courses.aynrand.org/works/the-psychology-of-psychologizing/)

Taking Responsibility for Your Happiness: Insights from Contemporary Psychology - Gena Gorlin (https://ari.aynrand.org/taking-responsibility-for-your-happiness-insights-from-contemporary-psychology-video/)

Building the Builders - Gena Gorlin (https://builders.genagorlin.com/)

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Q&A
1. How does our psychological makeup impact our philosophical beliefs, if they ever do?

2. How does our philosophical beliefs impact our psychological makeup, if they ever do?

3. What role does psychology play in our day-to-day and our potential to create and / or build?

4. Is clinical psychology of importance for an objectivist / rational person?

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MEETING PROGRAM
6:00-6:30pm: Arrive, free conversation & eat

6:30-8:30pm: Q&A Objectivism and Psychology

8:30-9:00pm: Free conversation

02/07/2024

JULY 2024 MEETUP: PSYCHOLOGY AND OBJECTIVISM

---------------------------

Tuesday, 23 July 6:00 pm The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire St.

Join us for the tenth meeting of the Free Markets, Ethics, Culture, and Ayn Rand Meetup Group.

This group is for those who take Ayn Rand's work seriously or who wish to do so.

This month's topic is the objectivist view of psychology. We will explore this topic using a Question & Answer game format. Please read the following recommended reading in preparation for the meeting.

---------------------------

Recommended reading about the Objectivist view of Psychology:

Ayn Rand Lexicon - Psychology (http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/psychology.html)

The Psychology of Psychologizing - Ayn Rand (https://courses.aynrand.org/works/the-psychology-of-psychologizing/)

Taking Responsibility for Your Happiness: Insights from Contemporary Psychology - Gena Gorlin (https://ari.aynrand.org/taking-responsibility-for-your-happiness-insights-from-contemporary-psychology-video/)

Building the Builders - Gena Gorlin (https://builders.genagorlin.com/)

---------------------------

Q&A
1. How does our psychological makeup impact our philosophical beliefs, if they ever do?

2. How does our philosophical beliefs impact our psychological makeup, if they ever do?

3. What role does psychology play in our day-to-day and our potential to create and / or build?

4. Is clinical psychology of importance for an objectivist / rational person?

---------------------------

MEETING PROGRAM
6:00-6:30pm: Arrive, free conversation & eat

6:30-8:30pm: Q&A Objectivism and Psychology

8:30-9:00pm: Free conversation

20/06/2024

SUMMARY - JUNE 2024 MEETUP: GALT'S SPEECH

1. Everyone agreed that Galt’s speech is relevant today, and that its message can be applied to our time.

2. An attendee said that it is relevant because ‘good and bad is not affected by time or era’ that morality stands universal and timeless.

3. An attendee shared that they do revisit Atlas Shrugged once a year, and therefore would also read the speech once a year.

4. An attendee shared that Atlas Shrugged as a work of art explores the theme of thinking vs evasion. The Galt speech remains as relevant today as it was in Rand’s time because the philosophic and therefore cultural trend towards evasion has wholly gotten worse as time has progressed. The Galt speech outlines where the world is going, the kind of things we can expect to see happen, and the proper remedy for the problems of our time - reason.

5. An attendee shared that they do read the speech periodically and intently, not skipping any pages or parts of it but reading it in its entirety as it appeared in the book.

6. An attendee shared that the speech is great, but very long.

7. An attendee has read parts of the speech only on the way to the meetup, having travelled from hours away, but was impressed by its beauty and eloquence, not only literarily but also because they felt that they could directly apply the ideas in the speech to their own life.

8. Most attendees have read the speech more than once and have come back to it to read and re-connect or re-orient themselves with the exact words of Galt/Rand but not so much as a need to consult the speech about issues in their own life or in current events.

9. An attendee shared a life experience concerning conscription into the armed forces in the 60s/70s during the Vietnam war era, having questions in mind that seemed to contradict at the time—I agree it is good to fight communism, yet I don’t agree with conscription—and then having read Rand shortly after, figured out the answer to this contradiction.

10. A question was raised whether or not parents have a responsibility to their children and responses ranged from an outright No (in the sense that nobody has a responsibility to help anybody else) to an outright Yes (in the sense that the decision to have children is volitional).

11. This video (https://youtu.be/O3mfzI8aqj0?si=CLqKsR6CuKIgbRpu) was played for the room.

12. A discussion on divorce laws and family laws and parent’s rights followed this. The meetup ended shortly afterwards.