objectivism
Reality exists independently
Objectivism is the philosophical system developed by Ayn Rand, holding that reality exists independent of consciousness, that reason is the only means of acquiring knowledge, and that rational self-interest is the proper moral guide.
Adherents advocate laissez-faire capitalism and reject altruism as a moral duty.
Atlas Shrugged remains the central text of objectivism.
In philosophy more broadly, objectivism is any view that moral or aesthetic truths exist independently of individual perception—the opposite of subjectivism.
Basis or justification
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- conceptsAbstract mental constructs
- axiomsAccepted starting principles
validation · certainty · knowledge · identity · non-contradiction · existence · consciousness · integration
Doctrine of self-motivation
- selfishnessExcessive concern for oneself
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- productivenessCapacity for output
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
honesty · independence · justice · pride · flourishing · self-esteem · rights · happiness
Accepting things as they are
- existenceState of being real
- identityWho someone is
- causalityCause-effect connection
- entityIndependent existing thing
attribute · nature · primacy · universe · determinism · materialism · atheism · this-worldly
Private profit-based economy
- laissez-faireNoninterference in commerce
- free-marketUnregulated private exchange
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
voluntarism · trader · privatization · deregulation · entrepreneurship · self-ownership · constitutionalism
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
- collectivismGroup primacy doctrine
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
- statismDoctrine of governmental dominance
socialism · Kant · Hegel · skepticism · nihilism · determinism · hedonism
reason
Basis or justification
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- perceptionMental interpretation of stimuli
- conceptsAbstract mental constructs
axioms · validation · certainty · knowledge · identity · non-contradiction · existence · consciousness · integration · abstraction
egoism
Doctrine of self-motivation
- selfishnessExcessive concern for oneself
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- productivenessCapacity for output
integrity · honesty · independence · justice · pride · flourishing · self-esteem · rights · happiness
realism
Accepting things as they are
entity · attribute · nature · primacy · universe · determinism · materialism · atheism · this-worldly
capitalism
Private profit-based economy
- laissez-faireNoninterference in commerce
- free-marketUnregulated private exchange
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
freedom · voluntarism · trader · privatization · deregulation · entrepreneurship · self-ownership · constitutionalism
Galt
Scottish surname, place name
altruism
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
- collectivismGroup primacy doctrine
- mysticismPursuit of divine union
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
statism · socialism · Kant · Hegel · skepticism · nihilism · determinism · hedonism
- probabilityprobability, chance, random, randomness, odds
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- philosophiesempiricism, stoicism, nihilism, idealism, materialism
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- -ismsatomism, postmodernism, feminism, Marxism, Darwinism
- belief systemsbushido, utilitarianism, transhumanism, solipsism, nihilism
objectivismsubjectivism
Belief truth is personal
relativism · constructivism · idealism · postmodernism · solipsism
objectivismcollectivism
Group primacy doctrine
altruism · communism · socialism · statism · communitarianism
- scientific objectivityImpartial pursuit of truth
- journalistic objectivityReporting without favoring sides