Companion Product: The Basic Principles of Objectivism by Nathaniel Branden

The Original NBI Lectures in print!

For ten years–from 1958 to 1968–Mr. Branden’s lectures on “Basic Principles of Objectivism” were given at Nathaniel Branden Institute in New York City and, via tape transcription, to groups in over eighty cities throughout the United States and abroad. More than 35,000 students have attended these lectures. Until now, this course has never been available in book form.

The Basic Principles of Objectivism is a detailed, systematic exposition of the philosophy defined by Ayn Rand and introduced in her novels, Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. The lectures are devoted to a presentation of Miss Rand’s philosophy—and to Mr. Branden’s application of Objectivism to his own field, psychology. Special emphasis is given to the concepts of human nature, mental health and personal development.

With the exception of Lecture Six, which is given by Barbara Branden (lecturer, writer and formerly Administrative Director of NBI), all of these lectures are delivered by Nathaniel Branden. These are the same lectures as originally presented by NBI under the supervision of Ms. Rand.

1. The Role of Philosophy. What is philosophy?—The historical role of reason—The bankruptcy of today’s culture—Objectivism—Objectivism vs. subjectivism.

2. What is Reason? The process of abstraction and concept-formation—The subconscious—Reason and emotions.

3. Logic and Mysticism. Identity and causality—The validity of the senses—Reason vs. mysticism.

4. The Concept of God. Is the concept meaningful? —Are the arguments for the existence of God logically defensible? —The destructiveness of the concept of God.

5. Free Will. The meaning and nature of volition—The fallacy of psychological determinism—Free will as the choice to think or not to think.

6. Efficient Thinking. The nature of clear thinking—Pseudo-thinking—The nature of definitions—Common thinking errors. Guest lecture by Barbara Branden

7. Self-Esteem. Why self-esteem is man’s deepest psychological need—The consequences of the failure to achieve self-esteem.

8. The Psychology of Dependence. The independent mind vs. the “socialized mind”—Social Metaphysics—The revolt against the responsibility of a volitional consciousness.

9. The Objectivist Ethics. Foundation of the Objectivist ethics—Man’s life as the standard of value—Rationality as the foremost virtue—Happiness as the moral goal of life.

10. Reason and Virtue. Independence, honesty, integrity, productiveness—Their relation to survival and mental health.

11. Justice vs. Mercy. The nature of justice—The importance of passing moral judgments—The virtue of pride.

12. The Evil of Self-Sacrifice. The ethics of altruism—Altruism as anti-man and anti-life.

13. Government and the Individual. The principles of a proper political system—Individual rights—Freedom vs. compulsion.

14. The Economics of a Free Society. Basic principles of exchange—Division of labor–The mechanism of a free market—Profits and wealth—”The pyramid of ability.”

15. Common Fallacies About Capitalism. Monopolies—depressions—labor unions—inherited wealth.

16. The Psychology of Sex. A person’s sexual choices as the expression of his deepest values—Sex and self-esteem.

17. Romanticism, Naturalism and the Novels of Ayn Rand, Part I. Naturalism and fatalism—Romanticism and free will—The literary method of Ayn Rand.

18. Romanticism, Naturalism and the Novels of Ayn Rand, Part II.

19. The Nature of Evil. Why evil is impotent—What makes the “victory” of evil possible—”The sanction of the victim.”

20. The Benevolent Sense of Life. Why many human beings repress and drive underground, not the worst within them, but the best—A benevolent vs. malevolent sense of life.