Objectivism Through Ayn Rand’s Fiction, Part II – Winter 2026

This course provides a powerful corrective to a tendency among students of Objectivism to neglect Rand’s fiction in their study of the philosophy.

Ayn Rand’s novels are self-consciously philosophical novels, containing abstract themes, characters driven by opposing moral principles, and conflicts rooted in clashing worldviews. And more than that, Rand’s fictional heroes discover and embody new philosophical ideas, original to Rand. To understand Rand’s philosophy one must give careful consideration to the content and meaning of her novels, which contain the richest treatment of a number of central principles of Objectivism.

Part two delves into the moral framework of Objectivism as expressed in Rand’s novels. Topics include selfishness vs. selflessness, objectivity in thought and action, the nature of love, moral judgment, and the path to happiness and self-esteem. We also explore Rand’s treatment of evil and the “sanction of the victim,” culminating in a reflection on the philosophical significance of her heroes.