When I studied Dr. Peikoff’s courses almost 40 years ago, I was thrilled by the knowledge and delighted with the clarity, certitude, and wit of his delivery. I had taken hundreds of courses during my life, but none that compared to his. It is through them that I became an Objectivist. They changed my life.
At the time, I thought how wonderful it would be if others could have access to his vital knowledge; that was the reason I started ARI Campus (now ARU/Ayn Rand University), and it’s my reason now for wanting to professionally publicize and disseminate Dr. Peikoff’s valuable courses worldwide.
That is why I am pleased to announce that Dr. Peikoff has given me (Prometheus Foundation – see below) permission to publicize and deliver worldwide his courses and lectures.
Since 1976, Dr. Peikoff has delivered dozens of brilliant multi-unit courses and inspiring public lectures on Ayn Rand’s philosophy, as well as on his unique integrations and applications of it. Other than Rand herself, no one, past or present, knows Objectivism better than Dr. Peikoff. No one has taught it better. Most of his lectures and courses have been preserved in video and audio form, but have not as yet been broadly and professionally distributed and promoted.
My Prometheus Foundation was established to advance Objectivism: “Advancing Objectivism includes promoting Ayn Rand’s novels and nonfiction works, promoting Leonard Peikoff’s books and courses, creating courses on Objectivism, and creating organizations or undertaking projects that explicitly advance the philosophy” – see Prometheus Foundation’s Founder/Donor’s Intent. My focus is to get Ayn Rand’s books read and Leonard Peikoff’s courses studied.
Long-time, well-versed Objectivists have been profoundly influenced by Dr. Peikoff’s courses, which are indispensable to understanding philosophy broadly, and Objectivism in particular; they also provide an antidote to misrepresentations of Objectivism.
Dr. Peikoff created more than 20 full-length courses (some with the personal involvement of Ayn Rand), and over 20 stand-alone lectures (including the Ford Hall Forum series in Boston). Among his most popular courses are:
- Foundations of Western Philosophy: Thales to Hume
- Modern Philosophy: Kant to the Present
- Introduction to Logic
- Judging, Feeling, and Not Being Moralistic
- Objective Communication
- The Philosophy of Objectivism
- Understanding Objectivism
- Objectivism Through Induction
- Philosophy of Education
… and many more.
Some of his most unforgettable lectures include:
- Why One Should Act on Principle
- A Picture Is Not an Argument
- A Rational Curriculum
- Why Johnny Can’t Think
- Assault from the Ivory Tower
- Religion versus America
- Medicine: The Death of a Profession
- Certainty and Happiness: Achieving Success in Thought and Action
- My Thirty Years with Ayn Rand
- America vs. Americans
… and many others.
Dr. Peikoff’s most popular course is Foundations of Western Philosophy: Thales to Hume. Spanning over a dozen fascinating classes, this course delivers a clear, logical, step-by-step progression of the essentials of major philosophers’ positions in philosophy’s key branches—metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and politics—and each is contrasted with the philosophy of Objectivism. The course is a tour de force. You gain not only a deeper understanding of philosophy itself, but also a broad understanding of Objectivism and how it solves various problems that have stumped philosophers for ages. Further, you gain a better understanding of the history of Western civilization, including those who have defended it and those who have attacked it, and thus better understand the world in which we live. The ideas are timeless and govern our world to this day.
For these reasons, I am excited and honored to receive Dr. Peikoff’s permission to proceed with this project. He has also granted me permission to use his trademark, “Ayn Rand,” as well as excerpts from his and Ayn Rand’s works, which will aid me in marketing. With these assets and my considerable resources, I am eager and ready to ensure that Dr. Peikoff’s courses and lectures reach and continue to reach minds throughout the world. To the extent they are consulted, studied, and recommended to others, the world will be a better place for people to live.
I do not intend to start another ARI or to compete with ARI. I don’t intend to establish a new organization of any kind. I intend only to support and fund other organizations and individuals who promote Ayn Rand and advance Objectivism.
Please join me in spreading this exciting news, and feel free to send me comments or suggestions you may have. I welcome your feedback.