Test Your Knowledge of Objectivism
The Culture of Reason Center (http://thecultureofreasoncenter.com) offers a broad range of products. Among them are the original Basic Principles of Objectivism lectures from the Nathaniel Branden Institute, Leonard Peikoff's The DIM Hypothesis, Barbara Branden's Efficient Thinking, and, of course, many books by and about Ayn Rand. They also sell books on science, history, and psychology, as well as Romantic Realist fiction from Victor Hugo to Ian Fleming.
They offer a series of self tests on Objectivism.
1. OBJECTIVISM: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TEST (01)
2. OBJECTIVISM: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TEST (02)
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3. INTRODUCTION TO OBJECTIVIST EPISTEMOLOGY TEST (INTRODUCTION, CHAPTERS 1-8, SUMMARY)
4. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 01
5. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 02
6. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 03
7. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 04
8. UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVISM TEST (01)
9. UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVISM TEST (02)
10. UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVISM TEST (03)
The tests are meant to be taken "cold" (from memory, not open book). They are intended to facilitate the study of Objectivism. The tests are the work of Donovan Albanesi, a second-generation Objectivist. He launched the first versions in 2012 and invited participants from "Objectivish" discussion boards to validate them. He made a few changes, as a result of inputs and responses. In addition to his own website, the tests and the Culture of Reason Center in general are a special topic "Corner" in the "Den" on Objectivist Living. They also were discussed under "Objectivism Q&A" on Rebirth of Reason.
Find the tests here: http://thecultureofreasoncenter.com/t...
They offer a series of self tests on Objectivism.
1. OBJECTIVISM: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TEST (01)
2. OBJECTIVISM: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TEST (02)
.
3. INTRODUCTION TO OBJECTIVIST EPISTEMOLOGY TEST (INTRODUCTION, CHAPTERS 1-8, SUMMARY)
4. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 01
5. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 02
6. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 03
7. THE VIRTUE OF SELFISHNESS TEST 04
8. UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVISM TEST (01)
9. UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVISM TEST (02)
10. UNDERSTANDING OBJECTIVISM TEST (03)
The tests are meant to be taken "cold" (from memory, not open book). They are intended to facilitate the study of Objectivism. The tests are the work of Donovan Albanesi, a second-generation Objectivist. He launched the first versions in 2012 and invited participants from "Objectivish" discussion boards to validate them. He made a few changes, as a result of inputs and responses. In addition to his own website, the tests and the Culture of Reason Center in general are a special topic "Corner" in the "Den" on Objectivist Living. They also were discussed under "Objectivism Q&A" on Rebirth of Reason.
Find the tests here: http://thecultureofreasoncenter.com/t...
I am not familiar with Leonard Peikoff's works in the first place. Moreover, he actually pushed forward some new ideas that catch some long-time Objectivists by surprise.
I did well on Ominous Parallels because I followed the tongue-in-cheek advice, "When in doubt, blame it on Immanuel Kant."
Though I was an AR disciple in the early '60s, there comes a point where those with a reductionist aptitude continued and I backed off. I'll not bother with any more tests because all I know and all I need to know is: " Never initiate force or fraud and never use emotion as a tool of cognizance."
Realize, of course, that this is only your understanding of canonical Objectivism, not a measure your worth as a human being. Some people (who also cannot pass the test) confuse the two. Ayn Rand was and remained a close personal friend of Bennett Cerf who was lightyears away from canonical Objectivism. He was a benevolent and intelligent person. (That is how I perceive you.) Sometimes, that is all that life requires.
Peikoff's Understanding Objectivism Test 1 64
Ominous Parallels Test 1 85
Virtue of Selfishness Test 1 80%
Virtue of Selfishness Test 2 92%
Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology 77%
Objectivism General Knowledge: 86%
Test Score Range:
0-60: Minimal understanding (Low) – Basic study needed
61-69: Moderate understanding (Low-Mid) – Basic study needed
70-80: Good understanding (Intermediate) – Basic study review needed
81-90: Competent (High-Mid) – Proceed to more technical studies
91-100: Advanced (High) - Proceed to more technical studies
I am not clear on what you meant by "schooled." Usually, when we say "Sally schooled Bill in geometry" we mean that she taught him a thing or two that he did not know. Thus, you seem to be saying that the testing taught Dr. Leonard Peikoff what he did not know about Objectivism, rather than teaching Ayn Rand what she did not know.
In the context, however, of what I perceive to be your misuse of the word "schooled" you seem to intend a synonym for "actively taught". Thus, to you, the test seems to be teaching Objectivism as presented by Peikoff, as differentiated from the teachings of Ayn Rand, though not necessarily opposed to the expostions of Ayn Rand. Exactly what did you mean?
The creator of the tests is a second-generation Objectivist. His family business is supplying educational materials to private schools. He wrote the test, and then proofed it against over 50 - as I recall the first 58 - volunteers, all of them self-identified as Objectivists before the release of the movies. He made some changes, but largely, the tests stood validation as presented.
Some people have objected that their low test scores were unfair. My freshman year of college was 1967. After five colleges and universities, I completed an associate's, a bachelor's, and a master's from 2005 to 2010. Believe me, that is a complaint that I have heard often