Objectivism Today 1994

The all-day conference "Objectivism Today 1994" was held on May 14 at Parker Meridien hotel in mid-town Manhattan and drew over 130 people.

Program:

David Kelley: The Politics of Virtue

From William Bennetts Book of Virtues to Hillary Clinton's "politics of meaning," conservatives on the right and communitarians on the left have been rushing in to fill what they see as a moral vacuum in American life. David Kelley will explain why the ideological battle is shifting from economics and politics to ethics and culture, and why this creates a tremendous opportunity for Objectivism. Drawing on recent work by Institute scholars, Dr. Kelley will discuss the challenges of communicating the Objectivist ethic to a public that is hungry for values.

Dr. Kelley is the Institute's executive director. He has taught philosophy and written widely on political and cultural issues.

Kirsti Minsaas: Structure and Meaning in Ayn Rand's Novels

A distinctive feature of Ayn Rand's novels is their structural complexity. Kirsti Minsaas, a doctoral candidate in English literature at the University of Oslo, will discuss how a closer analysis of this complexity enhances our aesthetic appreciation of the novels and illuminates their philosophical meaning.

A former actress on the Norwegian stage, Ms. Minsaas has lectured on Ayn Rand's fiction at conferences in Europe.

Stephen Moses: Rolling Back the Welfare State—A Success Story

Today's welfare state is a derelict structure wobbling on the shaky foundation of altruism. Stephen Moses will explain how the Objectivist ethics gives us the knowledge and tools to dismantle it and rebuild on solid ground, replacing welfare programs with private insurance. A nationally recognized expert on Medicaid and long-term care who was instrumental in slowing the growth of Medicaid, Mr. Moses frequently consults with state governments on how to encourage private insurance as an alternative to public assistance for the middle class. Drawing on his experience, he will discuss concrete strategies for successful political change.

Mr. Moses is currently Director of Research at LTC, Inc., a firm specializing in long-term care financing and insurance.

Kenneth Livingston: Raising Good Kids

How can we help children develop the traits of character which Objectivism says are required for happiness and success? Drawing on the available literature in psychology, Kenneth Livingston will discuss what parents and teachers can do to encourage the growth of virtue in children, even before children have acquired explicit moral concepts. His discussion will focus on the virtues of honesty and pride.

Dr. Livingston teaches psychology at Vassar College. A specialist in development, he has published research on the development of concepts in preschool and school-aged children.

James Hill: The Fountainhead—A report from Hollywood

James Hill is producing the remake of The Fountainhead, planned for release by Warner Brothers in the Spring of 1995. With the script complete and filming scheduled to begin this summer, Mr. Hill will report on the project: how he steered it through the "Hollywood jungle," and what his plans for the movie are.