Neo-Objectivism

Neo-Objectivism covers a large family of philosophical viewpoints and cultural values descended from Objectivist philosophy. Different –– even logically incompatible –– viewpoints can correctly be described as "neo-Objectivist", provided that these viewpoints are substantially similar to –– though not exactly the same as –– the viewpoints endorsed by orthodox Objectivist philosophy.

Neo-Objectivists typically agree with Objectivists on certain core values. They typically emphasize the importance of reason and the acceptance of reality, and they support individualism, egoism, enlightened self-interest, and capitalism. However, Neo-Objectivists also then depart from orthodox Objectivists (even including Ayn Rand) on some issue(s).

Some Neo-Objectivists remain relatively close to Objectivism, merely rejecting (for example) Rand's "life-to-value" argument in ethics, Peikoff's analyses of cognitive error and the nature of moral evil, Rand's views about human psychology, or Rand's views on the philosophy of art. Some don't even reject Objectivist doctrine per se, but merely reject the way that orthodox Objectivists apply doctrine to real life situations. Other Neo-Objectivists depart much further from Rand's philosophy. Some think that it is compatible with Objectivism to accept the possibility of the spiritual or the supernatural. Consequently, some Neo-Objectivists are agnostic rather than atheistic, while others embrace modified forms of Buddhism and Paganism (as these have components which are seen as compatible with Objectivist ideals). Some Neo-Objectivists emphasize the values of being open-minded, tolerant, and flexible, and consequently consider themselves to be more pragmatic than orthodox Objectivists.

There is no self-identified Neo-Objectivist movement. Nonetheless, many people refer to themselves as "Neo-Objectivists," without being very specific about what this entails. Some refer to David Kelley as the first Neo-Objectivist, because he argued that Objectivism is an "open system." Kelley, though, has never used this label to describe himself: he merely says that he is an Objectivist, an advocate of "reason, individualism, achievement, and capitalism." If Neo-Objectivism is Kelley's "open system" Objectivism, then Ayn Rand's lover and collaborator Nathaniel Branden would also count as a Neo-Objectivist, based on an article he wrote, Who Owns Objectivism?.

References

• A Short Introduction to Objective Thinking – Refers to Neo-Objectivism as "Objective Thinking", and discusses
• Rethinking the Essence of Objectivism – Neo-Objectivist Essay
• NickOtani's Neo-Objectivism Forum – A self-declared Neo-Objectivism forum
• Objectivism: Who Needs It? – David Kelley quote
• The Daily Objectivist – A Neo-Objectivist Newsletter
• The Objectivist Center – Considered by some to be a Neo-Objectivist organization.
• Neo-Tech Neo-Tech Considers itself a "dynamic" objectivism rather than a "static" Randian objectivism
• POP Culture: Premises of Post-Objectivism – Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy considered as a starting point to build and develop further upon.