Objectivism is a true and absolute reality, that facts are facts A is A. So in each of our lives, we have chosen to succeed with these facts as a means of survival. For each of us, that has to be our own choices, what we feel success is in our own mind, what skills we have built and what feels natural to us. Knowing that fair trade is our goal, but learning in this society that most others don't feel that way. Personally, I don't care how others live, unless they are taking from my efforts, which is the goal for a looter and most (at least 51%) are now looters and feel that what I have earned should somehow belong to them. Spreading the wealth is not fair trade, nor Capitalism, but an, "I don't want to put the effort out, but I want what you have...," attitude and that I have to condemn, because it IS stealing.... I am assuming that Gulch people have the same philosophy, just apply it differently to their own lives. If there is condemning going on in here, it is because the philosophy isn't the same, not for the application of it.

I looked up "essential of philosopy" to be certain I had not missed anything and do not understand your meaning in this context. Essentials of philosophy are it's basic tenants. The appliction could be anything from using moral tenants to resolve disputes between people of good will to basic metaphysical study. I'll try to answer your question with reason and within the Philosophy of Objectivism. I'm new to this forum, but not Objectivism. To take this discussion forward, I'll have to ask a lot of questions, if you want a complete answer. Would you like to take it forward? The first answer by kathywiso has some statements correct. To be more precise, Objectivism is a philosopy that begins with man can know reality, A is A.

An application of Objectivism is "I swear by my life and my love of it, that I will not initiate the use of force against another human being, nor its substitue, which is fraud." This application is far removed from the basic tenants of Objectivism and flows from a long coarse of rational thought.

can you give an example of what you mean by "personal applications are treated as essentials?"

No, I didn't say that, or didn't mean that anyway. Facts are facts....My idea of fair trade, meaning bartering for an equal value, is my goal. I don't intend to get more of a value for my efforts than I have earned. We all make our own choices to apply the philosophy, which definitely means we all have our own goals.. What is success for one person is never the same for another. I did say, I am assuming that Gulch people have the same philosophy, objectivism .......