Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand
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Cover of the first edition, showing photograph of Rand in her New York office, 1974
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| Author | Leonard Peikoff |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Ayn Rand Library |
| Subject | Objectivism |
| Publisher | Dutton |
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Publication date
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1991 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 493 (first edition) |
| ISBN | (hardcover) (paperback) |
| OCLC | 23647748 |
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand is a 1991 book by philosopher Leonard Peikoff, in which Peikoff discusses the ideas of his mentor, Ayn Rand. Peikoff describes it as "the first comprehensive statement" of Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. The book is based on a series of lecture courses that Peikoff first gave in 1976 and that Rand publicly endorsed. Peikoff states that only Rand was qualified to write the definitive statement of her philosophic system, and that the book should be seen as an interpretation "by her best student and chosen heir." The book is volume six of the "Ayn Rand Library" series edited by Peikoff.
Peikoff discusses Rand's views on metaphysics and epistemology, which she considered the fundamental branches of philosophy. He also covers Rand's views on ethics, politics and esthetics, which she considered to be derived from those fundamentals. In an epilogue titled "The Duel between Plato and Aristotle", Peikoff discusses Objectivism's philosophy of history.
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand was praised by many of Peikoff's fellow Objectivist thinkers as a comprehensive presentation of Rand's philosophy. In a review for the Objectivist magazine The Intellectual Activist, Harry Binswanger said the book provided the first "full, systematic, non-fiction expression" of Objectivism, and said it was filled with "many electrifying ideas, elegant formulations, and majestic overviews." In a treatise defending Rand's ethics, philosopher Tara Smith took Peikoff's book as "an authoritative source of [Rand's] views". Edward W. Younkins said Rand's ideas were "authoritatively described and systematically explained" by Peikoff. According to non-Objectivist Rand scholar Mimi Reisel Gladstein, "The reader who wants a comprehensive view of orthodox Objectivism as it has evolved since Rand's death should start with Peikoff's book."
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