Leonard Peikoff
| Leonard Peikoff | |
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Leonard Peikoff in 2010
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| Born |
October 15, 1933 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Occupation | Philosopher |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater |
University of Manitoba New York University (BA, MA, PhD) |
| Subject | Objectivism |
| Notable works | Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand |
| Children | Kira Peikoff |
| Website | |
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Leonard Sylvan Peikoff (/ˈpiːkɑːf/; born October 15, 1933) is a Canadian-American philosopher. A former professor of philosophy, he was designated by the philosopher Ayn Rand as heir to her estate. He is an author, a leading advocate of Objectivism, and the founder of the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI). For several years, he hosted a nationally syndicated radio talk show.
Peikoff was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Samuel Peikoff, MD, a surgeon, and his wife Bessie, a band leader. He attended the University of Manitoba from 1950 to 1953 as a pre-med student, but following his early discussions with Rand, he transferred to New York University to study philosophy, where he received his BA, MA and PhD degrees in philosophy in 1954, 1957 and 1964, respectively. His doctoral dissertation adviser was the noted American pragmatist philosopher Sidney Hook, and his dissertation dealt with the metaphysical status of the Law of Non-Contradiction. He taught philosophy for many years at various colleges.
Peikoff first met Ayn Rand through his cousin Barbara Branden (then Barbara Weidman) in California when he was 17. He reports that this meeting with Rand made him aware of the profound importance of philosophy. When Rand moved to New York City in 1951, Peikoff decided to study philosophy at New York University. While studying at NYU, he frequently discussed philosophy privately with Rand in depth across a range of issues.
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