Ideas in Action, Vol. 1, No. 1

Dr. Leonard Peikoff, a follower of philosopher/novelist Ayn Rand, is interviewed by James Valliant in this interesting talking-heads defense of Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. Peikoff, an entertaining and intelligent speaker addresses the virtues of selfishness (i.e., enlightened self-interest), rejects out-of-hand any mystical or religious system, and espouses fears that America is fast becoming a welfare state ripe for the totalitarian picking. Although Valliant mentions token objections (that are really quite solid), his laid-back style allows Peikoff to blow them off rather easily. Peikoff's insistence that unrestricted laissez-faire capitalism would not result in any exploitation of the working class seems remarkably naive in light of the previous millennia in which the strong have regularly preyed on the weak. Too, his ideas about art (and what subjects are not suitable for art) are as restricted and censorious in their way as Hitler's insistence on "purity" in art was in his day. But don't get me wrong: Peikoff is neither insidiously recruiting nor engaging in simple rabble-rousing--he states his case in eloquent terms and underscores some of the admittedly appealing aspects of Rand's philosophy (while downplaying the other parts). A good workout for the cerebral cortex, this is recommended for larger general collections and university libraries. (R. Pitman)