Objectivism Q&A with Ben Bayer and Tristan de Liège

New Ideal, from the Ayn Rand Institute

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Tristan De Liège and Sam Weaver answer questions about Objectivism submitted by the podcast’s audience. Among the topics covered: Is atheism a necessary part of the philosophy of Objectivism?Why atheism is not a positive belief system;Objectivism’s commitment to reason as an absolute vs. theism;The arbitrariness of the belief in God;Why theism contradicts major principles of Objectivism in every branch of philosophy.How can we guard against “parroting” others when we rely on expertise?The difference between blind faith and rational reliance on testimony;How expert testimony yields at least probable belief sufficient for action;Dishonest motivations for rejecting expert testimony.Why does Objectivism emphasize the spiritual aspect of sex, as opposed to its biological function?Why rational moral values are based on biological facts;The role of selectivity in the spiritual value of work and sex;The role of pleasure in human values;What a “spiritual value” means in Objectivism. Mentioned in the discussion are the Ayn Rand Lexicon entries on “God,” “Religion” and “Sex”; Leonard Peikoff’s book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand and his course “Introduction to Logic,” and Greg Salmieri’s course “Objective Thinking.” This podcast was recorded on October 13, 2021. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here. If you’d like to ask a question to be answered on a future episode, please send an email with “Podcast question” in the subject header to [e-mail]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwDjJ3V6VJU Podcast audio: