8:30 – 9:30 am

(Advanced Morning Course in Philosophy)

Shawn Klein, M.A. – Empiricism, Hold the Skepticism: Locke, Hume, and Rand, Part 1 of 3.

John Locke and David Hume are probably the two most influential English philosophers of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Both were ardent empiricists, arguing for the senses as the only foundation and source of knowledge. (Notably, they were also important influences in classical liberalism/libertarianism.) Unfortunately, their efforts to base knowledge on the senses fell short and the skepticism that resulted from their systems led to the revival of idealism and rationalism (most infamously, Kant’s Transcendental Idealism). Objectivism, similarly, takes perception as the foundation of knowledge, but avoids the pitfalls of skepticism. These three advanced lectures will look at some of the important and influential epistemological ideas of Locke and Hume, and then offer an analysis of how Objectivism achieves a skepticism-free empiricism.

Shawn E. Klein is completing his Ph.D. in philosophy at Arizona State University, where, in 2001, he earned his masters in philosophy. He is an adjunct instructor in philosophy at Mesa Community College and Arizona State University. He contributed to and co-edited Harry Potter and Philosophy: If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts (Open Court: 2004). He has studied Objectivism for more than a decade and has lectured at past TOC conferences and local Objectivist discussion groups. Most recently, Klein taught the Summer Seminar’s “Basics of Objectivism” course.

Ayn Rand's magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged, is a literary achievement. But it is also a philosophical tour-de-force. In this week-long course, Kelley and Thomas will tour the novel's intellectual landscape, highlighting the key ideas of Objectivism and the distinctive way Ayn Rand integrates her philosophical system with a tight, developing plot. The course will show how the novel clarifies what is really essential in the philosophy of Objectivism. The lectures will also discuss specific philosophical insights embedded in the novel's characters, events, and conflicts, drawing special attention to insights that are not highlighted in standard expositions of the philosophy.

David Kelley , founder and senior fellow of The Objectivist Center, has written numerous articles and books about Objectivism, including The Contested Legacy of Ayn Rand: Truth and Toleration in Objectivism. He lectures frequently at colleges and other organizations, and is currently an advisor on a film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged.

William Thomas is Director of Programs at the Center. He is the editor of The Literary Art of Ayn Rand and author of the audio course The Essence of Objectivism.

9:45 – 11:00 am

Edward Hudgins, Ph.D. – The State of the Culture 

Continuing a tradition at the Summer Seminar, Edward Hudgins, the ObjectivistCenter’s executive director, will open the conference with his assessment of the current state of Objectivist ideas in politics and in the culture.

Edward Hudgins is executive director of The Objectivist Center. He has a doctorate in Political Philosophy from Catholic University. His opinion writing has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Houston Chronicle,USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Journal of Commerce, and Aviation Week & Space Technology. He is the author of Freedom to Trade: Refuting the New Protectionism and Space: The Free Market Frontier. He has appeared on NBC's "Dateline NBC," National Public Radio, PBS, Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC and Voice of America, among other media outlets.

11:30 –12:45 

Marty Lewinter, Ph.D., M.F.A. – The Beauty and Cleverness of Mathematics

This talk presents elegant mathematical gems in number theory and geometry from Ancient Greece and modern times, and discusses their practical application. We conclude with issues relevant to Objectivism: What is the metaphysical and epistemological status of mathematical truths? From where does the certainty of mathematics derive and does it have a 'higher' status than other disciplines?

Marty Lewinter has a Ph.D. in mathematics and an M.F.A. in music. He is a math professor at Purchase College (SUNY). He is co-author of The Saga of Mathematics: A brief history and A Friendly Introduction to Graph Theory, and has published over 65 journal articles, mostly in combinatorics and graph theory.

Michael Keith Montagna and Don Hauptman – Collecting Rare Ayn Rand Books and Documents for Pleasure and Profit; Plus: Ayn Rand’s Playboy Interview: The Unpublished Papers

Ayn Rand collectibles have a large and growing market. First editions of Rand’s novels sell for $5,000 to $15,000. But bargains can be discovered. Montagna will explain how to find these treasures, determine their value, confirm their authenticity, buy low and sell high. Hauptman owns the original manuscript material of Ayn Rand’s landmark and influential 1964 Playboy interview. He will disclose the unpublished content and Rand’s notes and corrections, reveal fascinating background details, and discuss how he acquired these important documents.

Michael Keith Montagna owns Pen Ultimate Rare Books, which specializes in the work of Ayn Rand and literary materials she recommended. He teaches composition and speech at a New York area college.

Don Hauptman is a writer. A longtime Objectivist, he was an investor in the restored version of the Italian film of We The Living.

2:15 – 3:30 pm

Timothy M. Sandefur, J.D. – Eminent Domain Abuse: Its Philosophical Roots

 Eminent domain is deeply rooted in political philosophy. This presentation explains the development of the concept, from seventeenth century lawyers who considered it part of royal sovereignty, to twentieth century Progressives who saw it as government’s power to manipulate individual rights for society’s purposes. Although discussing recent court decisions including Kelo v. New London, the presentation is not a legal, but a philosophical explanation of the cases. It concludes with a discussion of recent reform efforts.

Timothy Sandefur is a staff attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, where he works on eminent domain reform.  He lives in Rescue, California.

Marsha Enright, M.A. – Children and the Embodiment of Objectivism, Part 1 of 2

How do we nurture independence and respect individuality in our children?  How do we help them become objective, knowledgeable and logical?  What should we tell them about Objectivism?  How should religion be handled?  Discipline?  What resources can we use? This first session of two will discuss the total education of our children, at home and in school and how we, as parents, can nurture the best in them, help them learn how to think well in all aspects of life, and develop the epistemological and psychological tools for living on earth.

Marsha Enright is an educator, psycho-therapist and writer. She founded and ran Council Oak Montessori school for many years. Currently, she is working to establish a new college informed by Ayn Rand's ideas, Classical Liberalism and the Montessori Method.

New time: William Thomas, M.A. – Who is an “Objectivist”?

From time to time the Objectivist movement has faced the question of who is in it and who is out. One cause of ongoing controversy and confusion is a lack of agreement about what defines an Objectivist as such. Is an Objectivist someone who was deemed so by Ayn Rand? Is an Objectivist anyone who calls himself such? This brings us to the question of what defines Objectivism as a philosophical system, and of who is to be judge of whether a person or an argument is, or is not, essentially Objectivist. William Thomas will provide answers to these questions, and relate his discussion to the founding principles of TOC.

            William Thomas is director of programs at The Objectivist Center, and, when not organizing seminars or writing the odd article, lecture, or book, answers questions about Objectivism for the Center’s website.

8:00 pm

Vox Americana:  More of The Best of Berton Braley” – Performed by Linda Tania Abrams

(Evening Arts Series)

If you think poetry is stuffy or obscure, you're in for a surprise! TOC audiences gave standing ovations to the first Braley show, “Virtues in Verse.” Here’s a whole new collection of lively verse by this “Machine Age poet" and “Bard of Business” from the early 20th Century, in the plain, clear language of ordinary folks.  His feeling for the lyric possibilities in men, machines and industry has endeared him to TOC audiences.

Linda Abrams founded an acclaimed "living history" performing troupe, and also created 6 one-woman shows. She has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad.