Is Objectivism Open or Closed? LiquidZulu Debates Liam Stayton

In this episode of The Rational Egoist, host Michael Liebowitz welcomes philosopher and novelist Andrew Bernstein to discuss the movie, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon."Bernstein, well-known for his works on Objectivist philosophy and his powerful fiction, joins Michael to explore the moral and romantic themes that drive the story.About Michael Liebowitz :Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defense of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit...View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjAbout Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational EgoistXenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, overseeing the publishing and promotion of each episode to reflect a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual integrity.As a CEO, property manager, entrepreneur, and lifelong advocate for capitalism and individual rights, Xenia ensures the podcast stays true to its core values of reason, freedom, and personal responsibility.Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, where passionate thinkers gather to discuss Ayn Rand’s ideas and their application to life, politics, and culture.Join us at: https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-ayn-r...(Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup)Because freedom is worth thinking about—and talking about.Follow Life on Purpose, Xenia's thought-provoking essays at her Substack:https://substack.com/@xeniaioannou?ut...#AndrewBernstein #johnwayne #Objectivism #AynRand #Philosophy #Reason #literature #Individualism #MoralCourage #CapitalismAndCoffee

#objectivism#debate

Gene Epstein served as economics editor of Barron's from 1993 to 2018, where his long-running Economic Beat column became required reading for anyone serious about understanding macroeconomics beyond slogans and political talking points. Throughout his career, Epstein challenged the assumptions behind monetary manipulation, deficit spending, regulation, and state “management” of markets, insisting that economic outcomes must be understood as the result of individual choice, incentives, and real-world constraints—not good intentions or bureaucratic planning.The conversation also explores Epstein’s role as founder and director of The Soho Forum, a debate platform that has become one of the few remaining venues for rigorous, civil, high-level disagreement on economics, liberty, and social policy. Epstein discusses why open debate matters, why bad ideas survive when they are not challenged, and how intellectual honesty—not consensus—is the engine of progress.This episode is a clear-eyed discussion about why markets work, why government intervention repeatedly fails, and why economic freedom is not merely efficient, but necessary for human flourishing.About Gene EpsteinGene Epstein (born 1944) is an American economist, writer, and public intellectual. He served as economics editor of Barron’s for 25 years and authored the influential Economic Beat column, where he analysed macroeconomic trends and exposed the unintended consequences of government intervention. He is the founder and director of The Soho Forum, a New York–based debate series dedicated to serious discussion of libertarian ideas in economics and social policy.Link to our interview about Adam Smithhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/21QPTA325zJhFsvlqQOuZn?si=TAg--NKoR6-8WLxPRU6eHgAbout Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational Egoist Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two books examining the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit...View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjAbout Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational EgoistXenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, responsible for overseeing the publishing, presentation, and promotion of each episode to ensure a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual rigour.She is the CEO of Alexa Real Estate, a property manager and entrepreneur, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Centre Australia, where she contributes to strategic direction and public engagement with ideas centred on reason, individual rights, and human freedom. Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee in Adelaide, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion on philosophy and its application to everyday life.Join Capitalism and Coffee here:https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-ayn-r...Follow Xenia’s essays at her Substack:https://substack.com/@xeniaioannou?ut...Because freedom is worth thinking about — and talking about.#GeneEpstein #TheRationalEgoist #FreeMarkets #EconomicFreedom #Liberty #SohoForum #Barrons #IndividualRights #Capitalism #IdeasMatterExplore the podcast

n this episode Michael has a rigorous debate concerning the Objectivist ethics with Professor Michael Huemer.Michael Huemer is a professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado. He is the author of more than eighty academic articles in epistemology, ethics, metaethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy, as well as ten amazing books that you should immediately buy: https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Huemer....About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational Egoist Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible. His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defense of individual rights and intellectual clarity. He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction: Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crime https://www.amazon.com... View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Liberty https://books2read.com... About Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational Egoist Xenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, responsible for overseeing the publishing, presentation, and promotion of each episode to ensure a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual rigour. She is the CEO of Alexa Real Estate, a property manager and entrepreneur, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Centre Australia, where she contributes to the organization’s strategic direction and public engagement with ideas centered on reason, individual rights, and human freedom. Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion on philosophy and its application to everyday life, culture, and current issues. Join Capitalism and Coffee here: https://www.meetup.com... Follow Xenia’s essays on reason, independence, and purposeful living at her Substack: https://substack.com/#ethics#objectivism#intuitionism#debate

The Rational Egoist is back with another installment in the self-improvement series built around Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR).This week, host Michael Liebowitz is joined again by James Valliant to focus on the virtue of honesty.A practical takeaway: how to translate abstract principles into day-to-day clarity and momentum.Expect a direct, grounded discussion aimed at one thing: helping you think more clearly about what you are—and what that makes possible.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational EgoistMichael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit...View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjAbout Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational EgoistXenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, responsible for overseeing the publishing, presentation, and promotion of each episode to ensure a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual rigour.She is the CEO of Alexa Real Estate, a property manager and entrepreneur, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Centre Australia, where she contributes to the organisation’s strategic direction and public engagement with ideas centred on reason, individual rights, and human freedom.Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion on Ayn Rand’s philosophy and its application to everyday life, culture, and current issues.Join Capitalism and Coffee here:https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-ayn-r...(Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup)Follow Xenia’s essays on reason, independence, and purposeful living at her Substack:https://substack.com/@xeniaioannou?ut...Because freedom is worth thinking about — and talking about. #LeonardPeikoff #AynRand #SelfImprovement #Virtue #honesty

Professor Ryrie joins Michael to discuss the history of atheism, the different meanings of the term, and some famous atheists.Alexander Gray Ryrie is a British historian of Protestant Christianity, specializing in the history of England and Scotland in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.[ He was Professor of Divinity at Gresham College from 2018 to 2022. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2019.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational Egoist Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible. His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defense of individual rights and intellectual clarity. He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction: Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crime https://www.amazon.com... View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Liberty https://books2read.com... About Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational Egoist Xenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, responsible for overseeing the publishing, presentation, and promotion of each episode to ensure a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual rigour. She is the CEO of Alexa Real Estate, a property manager and entrepreneur, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Centre Australia, where she contributes to the organization’s strategic direction and public engagement with ideas centered on reason, individual rights, and human freedom. Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion on philosophy and its application to everyday life, culture, and current issues. Join Capitalism and Coffee here: https://www.meetup.com... Follow Xenia’s essays on reason, independence, and purposeful living at her Substack: https://substack.com/https://a.co/d/0ipPoAPQ#atheism#history#god#ideas#philosophy

Liam Stayton is a philosopher, a student, and a Junior Fellow at The Objective Standard Institute. On this episode Michael has him on to discuss numerous topics of relevance to Objectivists and others who take a philosophical approach to politics.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational EgoistMichael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit...View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjFind Liam:https://www.tiktok.com/@prophetdivini...https://youtube.com/@prophetdivinityy...Substack articles:https://open.substack.com/pub/liamsta...https://open.substack.com/pub/liamsta...

Dr. Sotirakopoulos teaches about Marx, the communist movement, and the New Left—drawing on both his academic expertise and personal experience to expose the errors of collectivist ideology.He formerly worked at ARI, and prior to that Nikos spent more than a decade in academia in the UK, teaching at the University of Kent, Loughborough University, and York St John University. He is the author of Identity Politics and Tribalism: The New Culture Wars (Societas, 2021), and is a frequent commentator on UK media.Tune in for an insightful conversation about the different uses of the term manosphere, its origins, and why it came about.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational EgoistMichael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit...View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjFind Nikos : / @nikos_1717 https://x.com/nikos_17?s=21&t=oMnLMm4...

Sheldon Richman is a lifelong advocate of liberty, reason, and justice. A father and grandfather, he brings both moral seriousness and lived experience to political philosophy. In this discussion, Michael and Sheldon explore the necessary role an ethic of egoism must have if we are to ever establish a capitalist system. Sheldon Richman is a freelance editor, author, and long-time writer on liberty and political philosophy. He is the author of What Social Animals Owe to Each Other and Coming to Palestine, and a consistent voice for individual rights, peace, and voluntary social order. He is also, by his own description, a lover of liberty, justice, reason—and pipe tobacco. About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational Egoist Michael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible. His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defense of individual rights and intellectual clarity. He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction: Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crime https://www.amazon.com... View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Liberty https://books2read.com... About Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational Egoist Xenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, responsible for overseeing the publishing, presentation, and promotion of each episode to ensure a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual rigour. She is the CEO of Alexa Real Estate, a property manager and entrepreneur, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Centre Australia, where she contributes to the organization’s strategic direction and public engagement with ideas centered on reason, individual rights, and human freedom. Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion on philosophy and its application to everyday life, culture, and current issues. Join Capitalism and Coffee here: https://www.meetup.com... Follow Xenia’s essays on reason, independence, and purposeful living at her Substack: https://substack.com/@... Because freedom is worth thinking about — and talking about.https://open.substack.com/pub/sheldon...#capitalism#aynrand#egoism#rationalselfinterest

The Rational Egoist is back with another installment in the self-improvement series built around Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand (OPAR).This week, host Michael Liebowitz is joined again by James Valliant to focus on the virtue of integrityA practical takeaway: how to translate abstract principles into day-to-day clarity and momentumExpect a direct, grounded discussion aimed at one thing: helping you think more clearly about what you are—and what that makes possible.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational EgoistMichael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit...View from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjAbout Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational EgoistXenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, responsible for overseeing the publishing, presentation, and promotion of each episode to ensure a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual rigour.She is the CEO of Alexa Real Estate, a property manager and entrepreneur, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Centre Australia, where she contributes to the organisation’s strategic direction and public engagement with ideas centred on reason, individual rights, and human freedom.Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, creating a forum for thoughtful discussion on Ayn Rand’s philosophy and its application to everyday life, culture, and current issues.Join Capitalism and Coffee here:https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-ayn-r...(Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup)Follow Xenia’s essays on reason, independence, and purposeful living at her Substack:https://substack.com/@xeniaioannou?ut...Because freedom is worth thinking about — and talking about. #LeonardPeikoff #AynRand #SelfImprovement #Virtue #integrity