Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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 [courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/evil/] and Sanction of the Victim [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 [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 [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 [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 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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******
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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 [courses.aynrand.org/lexicon/evil/] and Sanction of the Victim [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 [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 [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 [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
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
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
