Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The future belongs to those willing to examine the world independently and argue persuasively for the ideas they believe are true. The Atlas Prize was created to recognize and reward the kind of thinking that drives progress: rigorous reasoning, philosophical curiosity, and intellectual ambition.
atlasprize.org
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Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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The future belongs to those willing to examine the world independently and argue persuasively for the ideas they believe are true. The Atlas Prize was created to recognize and reward the kind of thinking that drives progress: rigorous reasoning, philosophical curiosity, and intellectual ambition.
atlasprize.org
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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![Does Forgiveness Heal — or Whitewash Evil?
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège discuss why the traditional conception of forgiveness is evil and indicate how to think of it from an Objectivist perspective.
Among the topics covered:
● How forgiveness is conventionally understood;
● Why the idea of “forgive and forget” enables injustice;
● Why forgiving a murderous dictator like Putin would be horrific;
● Why a rational view of forgiveness must be rooted in justice;
● The story of Mosab Hassan Yousef as an example of earning forgiveness;
● How healing from injustice comes from maintaining a positive value context, not forgiveness;
● Whether there is need for a separate concept of forgiveness.
Recommended in this podcast are the Ayn Rand Lexicon entries on “Mercy,” [https://courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/mercy/] “Justice,” [https://courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/justice/] and “Moral Judgment” [https://courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/moral-judgment/].
The podcast was recorded on February 14, 2025 and posted on February 19, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:10 Conventional view of forgiveness
0:10:01 “Forgive and forget” as enabling injustice
0:18:33 Forgiving a murderous dictator would be horrific
0:23:54 A rational view of forgiveness rooted in justice
0:35:57 Mosab Hassan Yousef and earning forgiveness
0:42:09 Positive value context and healing rom injustice
0:49:34 Do we need a separate concept of “forgiveness”
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– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
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![Marc Andreessen Fails to Recognize the Importance of Introspection
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège analyze Marc Andreesen’s recent controversial comments rejecting introspection.
● [0:00] Introduction
● [4:00] What introspection really is
● [12:01] Introspection and success
● [13:48] Introspection and moral responsibility
● [35:28] Earned and unearned guilt
Resources:
● The Ayn Rand Lexicon entry on Introspection [https://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/introspection.html]
This episode was recorded on May 13, 2026.
Image Credit: Michael Kovac / Stringer / via Getty Images
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
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Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
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![Rubio’s Mystical and Racist View of the West is Anti-Civilization
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Don Watkins and Sam Weaver discuss Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent speech at the Munich Security Conference and the tribal conception of Western civilization that he advocates.
● [0:00] Introduction
● [4:36] Civilization as a project
● [6:40] Rubio’s superficial view
● [18:44] Christianity vs. civilization
● [30:52] Racist undertones
● [41:22] Nationalist false alternative
Resources:
▪ Ayn Rand, “Man’s Rights” [https://courses.aynrand.org/works/mans-rights/]
▪ Ayn Rand, “Racism” [https://courses.aynrand.org/works/racism/]
▪ Elan Journo, “The Virulent Pull of Tribalism” [https://newideal.aynrand.org/the-virulent-pull-of-tribalism/]
▪ Onkar Ghate, “Finding Morality and Happiness Without God” [https://newideal.aynrand.org/finding-morality-and-happiness-without-god/]
This episode was recorded on March 12, 2026.
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
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Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
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![Art Subsidies Are Unjust and a Violation of Free Speech
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Tristan de Liège discuss Zohran Mamdani’s record $323 million culture budget for NYC aimed at supporting the arts, and why government attempts to fund artistic endeavors are unjust and ineffective in creating thriving conditions for artists.
● [0:00] Introduction
● [11:21] The Culture Budget’s Purpose
● [20:43] The “Affordability Crisis”
● [34:08] The Disdain for the Market
● [43:23] The Effects of Subsidizing Art
● [59:01] The Alternative to Subsidies
Resources:
• Ayn Rand, “What is Capitalism” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
[https://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Ideal-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451147952]
• Ayn Rand, “To Dream the Non-Commercial Dream” in The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought
[https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Reason-Objectivist-Thought-Library/dp/0452010462]
This episode was recorded on August 5, 2026.
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Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
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![What People Get Wrong About Evil and the Iran War
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss Ayn Rand’s view of evil as fundamentally impotent, and what it reveals about Soviet Russia, Iran, and the failures of American foreign policy.
● [0:00] Introduction
● [2:37] The standard view of evil
● [6:12] Evil as impotent
● [13:03] Paradox of Soviet danger
● [18:41] Illusion of Soviet technology
● [23:29] Overstating Iran’s power
● [29:29] Altruism empowering evil
Resources:
● Ayn Rand, Lexicon entry on Evil [https://courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/evil/] and Sanction of the Victim [https://courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/sanction-of-the-victim/]
● Ayn Rand, “Galt’s Speech” in For the New Intellectual
● Ayn Rand, “Altruism as Appeasement” in The Voice of Reason [https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Reason-Objectivist-Thought-Library/dp/0452010462?tag=aynrandorgcampus-20]
● Ayn Rand, “The Anatomy of Compromise” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal
● Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo’s, Failing to Confront Islamic Totalitarianism: What Went Wrong After 9/11 [https://www.amazon.com/Failing-Confront-Islamic-Totalitarianism-George/dp/0996010106/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0]
● Elan Journo, Winning the Unwinnable War: America’s Self-Crippled Response to Islamic Totalitarianism [https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Unwinnable-War-Self-Crippled-Totalitarianism/dp/0739135414]
This episode was recorded on 04/10/2026.
Image Credits: Hitler: Bettmann / via Getty Images; Khamenei: Handout of Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran / via Getty Images; Stalin: Bettmann / via Getty Images; Red background: Ekaterina Goncharova / via Getty Images
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Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
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![Was Ayn Rand Anti-Family?
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Samantha Watkins and Ben Bayer tackle the common criticism that Ayn Rand is anti-family and analyze its philosophical roots. They examine claims that Rands novels omit discussions of having children and explore what her actual views on parenting reveal about living a rational, selfish life.
Among the topics covered:
0:00 Introduction;
01:34 Debunking the notion that Rand ignores children and parenting ;
13:36 Rand’s Actual View on Children and Parenting ;
25:57 How choosing to be a parent can be a rational value;
34:25 Understanding investment versus genuine sacrifice in parenting;
39:18 Why fertility crisis concerns dont justify treating individuals as means to societal ends;
Recommended in this podcast are Gregory Salmieris lecture Reproduction and the Objectivist Ethics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v rBpGm-fME] and Ben Bayers article The Fountainhead and the Spirit of Youth. [https://newideal.aynrand.org/the-fountainhead-and-the-spirit-of-youth/]
This podcast was recorded July 30, 2025 and posted on August 14, 2025
Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here: https://newideal.aynrand.org/podcasts/
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
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Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
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Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: https://ari.aynrand.org/ Was Ayn Rand Anti-Family?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zwT-unSQu_8/mqdefault.jpg)