Nathaniel Branden 1930-2014
"After the publication of Rand's magnum opus Atlas Shrugged, Branden created the Nathanial Branden Institute and presented lectures on Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. Branden systematized Rand's philosophy, something she had not done, and presented lectures on the ideas, published as The Vision of Ayn Rand."
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-pero...
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-pero...
My room mate in the semi private ward was an older gentleman named Joseph Blumenthal.
Call me Joe he said. We chatted and talked, and he told me about his son, Nathaniel.
Joe told me about a book, a novel, Atlas Shrugged, and the author, Ayn Rand.
And he told me his sons story. As they say, the rest is history. I am now 73 years of age, and been a fan of Ayn Rand ever since. 52 years. Read all her books. Did send a note to Nathaniel years ago, and he thanked me.
Greetings to all from Ontario, Canada.
A toast to you, Nathanial Branden. Thank you.
Jan
Jan
*(Or is just curious to see what their brains were 'programmed with' when they were too young to be able to screen info.)
Have you mellowed? ;-)
I remember thinking, "That is an Ayn Rand hero." Thanks Dr. B. You'll not be forgotten by many, many people you helped and touched.
Michael
PEN ULTIMATE RARE BOOKS
ARI does not disagree that Ayn Rand's philosophy stands on its own. The word "Objectivism" refers to Ayn Rand's philosophy as she formulated it. It is "closed" to those want to appropriate the term to mean something else. The philosophy did not close with the death of its creator; her own formulations of it and its applications necessarily did.
The Thomas polemic sounds desperate and paranoid: "What it is it they value more than the truth", etc. etc. There are many individuals who belong to or who have belonged to both organizations. ARI, however, is a scholarly organization dedicated specifically to Ayn Rand's philosophy and does not want affiliations or implied endorsements with those who re-write and misrepresent it, which it doesn't encourage and otherwise doesn't waste time arguing about every time it comes up, preferring to pursue its own organizational goals. Ayn Rand did the same. She took her ideas and their impact very seriously. (Ironically, it seems that it was Branden himself most responsible for the huffy, pompous attitude at NBI before it disbanded).
That there are those who wrap themselves in momentous crusades on behalf of Truth, Objectivity, and the defense of Philosophy Itself over personal infighting, different beliefs, and organizational political and operational disagreements seems to be more a symptom of any social movement and its politics in just about any realm. Be thankful that Ayn Rand's ideas are popular enough to make that possible, and maintain your own knowledge and objectivity in determining what is right.
Dave Harriman has subsequently been meeting with Dave Kelly and given talks at the Atlas Society. ARI still publicizes his lectures and book.
What serious scholarship of David Kelly should be mentioned? It's no surprise that he has been distanced following his philosophical "toleration" episode, which went far beyond treating people civilly in an academic setting instead of the embarrassing caricature of spinning away as if with a "cape waving behind them". (We used to call them "cape wavers".)
I don't know anything about the FB group you were on, what they wanted you to defer on, why you lost your membership, or who the particular people are you are referring to. There has always been the false alternative of those make snide taunting comments about Ayn Rand versus sycophantic followers maintaining a kind of "deference" that crosses the intellectual line -- and likewise for many other figures throughout time. I stay away from both, but don't assume people I don't know are either. Whatever the people on your ex-FB group are and whatever the details of your experience, it sounds like the result of your not being there anymore is mutually beneficial. So you continue on with those more amenable to you -- which is what you should do -- at no personal loss. Such is the nature of social movements and their factions. Just keep doing what you think is best.
What Harriman talk did you hear and what important issues were avoided? The McCaskey issue is very important for several reasons, both for the way it was mishandled and the kinds of historical points he raised. I found Harriman's book to be very good, but not in all the ways he thought of it himself.
on Harriman-it was a panel discussion. I tried looking it up on youtube and didn't find it easily. however found other talks that I need to watch including one on modern physics...I need more time :)
It's not an ad hominem if it is my evaluation of the individual. From everything that I've read, my evaluation is spot on.
I thought Ayn was pronounced Ann until I watched a special feature that came with The Fountainhead DVD just last month.
I recall someone criticizing me here as the least of the gulchers or something along those lines. Well, so what? I'm a newbie to the whole Ayn Rand thing.
And I define myself, thank you very much.
Dr. Branden was largely responsible for the spread of Objectivism in the early days (Rand was not interested in nonfiction yet. She only became interested after Branden showed that there was a market for her ideas.) For that reason alone, I recommend "The Vision of Ayn Rand", the recently published print edition of the NBI lectures, to anyone wanting an in-depth exposition of early Objectivism training. It is as clear and effective today as it was when only available on audiotape. Branden included an additional lecture on the "Benefits and Hazards" of the early Objectivist movement and essentially admitted partial culpability for the intransigence of early Objectivists. His criticism was for the behavior of himself, Rand and several others and not for the content of the philosophy. While Rand and Branden are now gone, Objectivism lives!
It was originally confusing in the period after the break for several reasons, especially for students just starting out and who didn't know what had happened, and I don't think that the people close to Ayn Rand properly took that into account. As time went on, there was at least less confusion over what happened, if not why, as Branden's ideas and writing changed dramatically -- right down to embracing New Age mysticism and personal sarcasm and dishonest attacks against Ayn Rand, which was staggering for those who had expected better. He had clearly messed himself up and was grasping at all kinds of nonsense along with his personal attacks on Ayn Rand. As for what happened around the time of the break and the misrepresentations of Ayn Rand regarding it, see James Valliant's The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics: The Case against the Brandens, 2005, based on Ayn Rand's private journals.
I am dino. Hear me roar!.
Retired guy thanks you for your support.
Branden was instrumental in the development and dissemination of Rand's ideas and deserves recognition. And he later attempted--in my opinion--to bring the principles of Objectivism into the psychology and mental health field, filling a void in the Objectivist canon. It was a valuable, if not comprehensive, attempt.
Years ago, I attended one of his lectures in New York City. I found him somewhat guarded or maybe just preoccupied. But Objectivism is much more than a cult of personality, so his personality (and that of Rand's) is but an interesting footnote to the brilliance of Rand's invention.
thank you for the article.
When Branden became a US citizen in 1975, I was privileged to attend a reception for the newest US citizen, hosted by the fledgling Libertarian Party of Los Angeles County, at which Dr. Branden also registered to vote as a Libertarian. The date was December 5, 1975, as inscribed by Branden on the flyleaf of his book, The Psychology of Self-Esteem. I also became a founding member of my local LP region that same year.
I still have my boxed set of those vinyl records.
I am not at all ashamed of saying that those lectures, back in 1972, literally saved my life.
Doctor Branden, I owe you an enormous debt of gratitude. Thank you immensely for having existed.
Eric Stoltz as Branden. TV movie based on a book by Barbara Branden.
At the funeral of Nathaniel's second wife, Patrecia, Branden had chosen not to speak, but changed his mind. He was in tears, leaned against the coffin, I'm sure in terrible anguish, he spoke about the "ecstatic possibilities of life..." - surely the act of a heroic soul. My condolences to all who appreciated him.
"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing." - Benjamin Franklin
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