Leonard Peikoff
Full Name and Common Aliases
Leonard Peikoff is a philosopher and author known professionally as Leonard S. Peikoff.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on October 23, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York; currently active and still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American philosopher and Objectivist scholar, teacher, and author.
Early Life and Background
Leonard Peikoff was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York. His interest in philosophy began at an early age, influenced by his parents' emphasis on critical thinking and intellectual pursuits. He attended the Bronx High School of Science before enrolling at New York University (NYU) in 1951.
During his undergraduate studies at NYU, Peikoff became fascinated with Ayn Rand's philosophy, which he would later adopt as Objectivism. He took numerous courses and eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from NYU in 1954.
Major Accomplishments
Peikoff is one of the most prominent interpreters and defenders of Ayn Rand's philosophy, known as Objectivism. As her heir apparent, he was designated by Ayn Rand to preserve and disseminate her ideas after her death. This responsibility led Peikoff to establish the Ayn Rand Institute in 1985.
Some notable accomplishments include:
Developing and teaching a comprehensive course on Objectivism, which has been widely acclaimed for its clarity and thoroughness.
Serving as the primary exponent of Ayn Rand's philosophy, making him one of the most recognized figures associated with Objectivism.
Publishing numerous books, articles, and lectures that expand upon and explain Objectivist principles.Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works include:
The Philosophy of Objectivism (1990) - a comprehensive introduction to Ayn Rand's philosophy as interpreted by Peikoff.
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, a 36-lecture course taught by Peikoff, which was later adapted into a book and audiobook format.
In addition to his academic contributions, Peikoff has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, particularly through the Ayn Rand Institute. He has worked tirelessly to promote Objectivist principles and values through public lectures, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns.
Impact and Legacy
Leonard Peikoff's impact on philosophy, education, and culture cannot be overstated. His dedication to preserving and disseminating Ayn Rand's ideas has helped shape the intellectual landscape of contemporary society.
Peikoff's unwavering commitment to Objectivism has inspired countless individuals to explore and apply its principles in their personal and professional lives. As a result, his legacy extends far beyond academia, influencing fields such as politics, business, and social justice movements.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Leonard Peikoff is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His role as the primary exponent of Ayn Rand's philosophy has cemented his status as a leading authority on Objectivism.
His tireless efforts to promote Objectivist principles have made significant contributions to various fields, including education, politics, and social justice.
His commitment to preserving and disseminating Ayn Rand's ideas ensures that her legacy lives on through him.
In summary, Leonard Peikoff is a renowned philosopher and author who has dedicated his life to promoting and interpreting the philosophy of Objectivism. Through his extensive writings, teaching, and advocacy work, he has left an indelible mark on modern thought and culture.
Quotes by Leonard Peikoff
When you get up in front of a group of people, you make a contract with them; you promise them, “I am going to deliver value X.” Every once in a while, you have to say, “See, I remember; I am keeping my promise.
The goal of the Progressive indoctrinators was not to impose a specific system of ideas on the student, but to destroy his capacity to hold any firm ideas, on any subject.
By virtue of being able directly to discriminate one aspect of reality, a consciousness cannot discriminate some other aspect that would require a different kind of sense organs. Whatever facts the senses do register, however, are facts. And these facts are what lead a mind eventually to the rest of its knowledge.
Logic, order, truth, reason, we consign them all to the oblivion of death,” said one Surrealist manifesto. We must “cultivate the hatred of intelligence,” said the leader of the Futurists, Filippo Marinetti, an artist hailed by Mussolini as the John the Baptist of Fascism.17.
The sneer is expressed by philosophic movements which boastfully offer no message, by educators who deliberately teach no subject matter, by artists whose work eliminates recognizable content, by psychologists who hold that ideas are mere rationalizations, by novelists such as Thomas Mann, and by all the alleged valuers in all these groups, which purport to love Mankind as a whole, a love whose reality may be gauged by a single fact: the same groups extol Mankind, while vilifying men – and man.
A country with a philosophic base, freed of fundamental uncertainty and guilt, would not tolerate leaders who evade every choice, crawl down the middle of every road, and wait for the deluge. It would not tolerate any deluge by the waves of self-righteous, man-hating evil, foreign or domestic. It would not apologize for its greatness to the worshipers of weakness. It would not watch in despair while its youth turned in despair to cults, communes, and cocaine.
A philosophy of education, in short, is essential to being a proper parent; otherwise, you are merely turning your child over to blind chance.
Induction means really the process of coming to conclusions on the basis of observation. Deduction is the process of coming to conclusions on the basis of earlier abstractions.
The victim’s submission to utter senselessness becomes the defeat of sense. His obeisance to absurdity becomes the refutation of logic.
Evil, for Objectivism, means the willful ignorance or defiance of reality. This has to mean: that which cannot deal with reality, that which is whim-ridden, context-dropping, self-contradictory. Evil is consistent in only one regard: its essence is consistently at war with all the values and virtues human life requires.