Objectivism

The philosophical system developed by the Russian-American novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand in the mid-20th century, combining metaphysical realism, epistemological rationalism, ethical egoism, and a full-throated defense of laissez-faire capitalism into a comprehensive worldview. Objectivism treats rational self-interest as the foundation of morality, individual rights as absolute, and capitalism as the only moral economic system because it is the only system that respects individual rights. The tradition has been largely dismissed by academic philosophers but has had substantial influence on American libertarian and conservative political thought through Rand's novels (Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead) and through institutional organizations including the Ayn Rand Institute. Objectivism remains a distinctive contemporary intellectual tradition with a devoted following and a continuing influence on American political debate.