The Peikoff-Kelley Debate

A summary of the exchange of writings that have come to be known as "The Peikoff-Kelley Debate". Some consider the "debate" to have created a "schism" within Objectivism though it is arguably more accurate to say that it was a clarification of what does, and what does not, constitute Objectivism.

NOTE: This is a re-release of the video of the same name. The original release mis-spelled "Kelley" as "Kelly" in places, and contained an edit on which the audio faded-out prematurely. This is the same video, with the exception of correcting those errors. The original has been left available, so that hits and comments can be viewed. It has been renamed "[OLD VERSION] The Peikoff-Kelley Debate".

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Ayn
• Rand
• Objectivism
• liberty
• libertarianism
• schism

[PaulMcKeever]

Sam: It's sometimes referred to as a debate, but it was not a debate per se. Rather, each of them wrote things that, collectively, are regarded as the debate.  Read Peikoff's "Fact and Value" as a good starting point.

[Sam26100]

I don't concider myself an "Objectivist Cultist", and don't think of Leonard Peikoff as some kind of infallible or unquestionable authority figure. To do this would be a betrayal of the very concept of objectivism

I think you're making a sweeping statement by calling Dr Peikoff a "Pope", or by calling those of us who happen to agree with him "Randroids" or worse, "cultists"

What evidence do you have to support such labels?

[87176246]

. I felt pity and would call him my friend, after all it wasn't his fault that he had to buy and use fake money, look where he came from. There are so many good people in the world, why spend a second of your time with a sketch ball. Judge others to save your life and don't use your good character to sanction his bad character. Don't encourage his rot. This has been a valuable less for a naive young man.

[greenghost2008]

@outsidemendham lol you do capture the rand cult mentality pretty well there.

[outsidemendham]

@greenghost2008

Kelley has been excommunicated. Follow him and follow evil.

[fab006]

And just one more point; ARI are such hypocrites on this issue. Kelley can't tell Libertarians that they're wrong AT AN EVENT SPECIFICALLY ORGANIZED FOR THAT PURPOSE, but Peikoff and Brook and so on can go on FOX, one of the most irrational news networks, and talk about how great each others' beliefs are and never mention a word of disagreement with mysticism and what-have-you, yet somehow that's less of a "sanction"? Lol.

[fab006]

I have a question concerning the "closed system" - if it can be rationally demonstrated that some of the conclusions drawn by Ayn Rand (or sanctioned by her) are logically false, would a rational person then have to renounce Objectivism? Would Objectivism then become self-defeating? Would, to be an "Objectivist", I have to take Ayn Rand's words on faith, in the face of better evidence

I may or may not agree with Kelley's specific objections, but I certainly do not agree with this orthodoxism.

[356pla]

I thik I'll be a McKeeverite. A McKeeverist.

I profess McKeeverism.

[Vocalallusive]

0:00 - 5:47 Thank you Paul McKeever, it's refreshing to come across a man who actually understand the depth of Ayn Rands Objectivism. Likewise it's sad that objectivism got so many bad friends it don't need any enemies. Thank you again.

[PureLiberalFire]

To even DISCUSS this issue is to give victory to the the normal-type, healthy-type Objectivists. The evil, stupid, silly, jerk, CULT "Objectivists" can NOT stand up to debate. Like cockroaches and vampires, the ARIans flee the light of day. The rational, philosophical DAVID KELLEY-style Objectivists are the future of the world while the loathsome, absurd LEONARD PEIKOFF-style pseudo-Objectivists are nothing but Randroids, religiosos, and cultists -- the ENEMIES of Ayn Rand and Objectivism.

[greenghost2008]

And this is why objectivism seems culty to people. I'm with kelley.

[ashlawngroup]

Thanks for your thoughtful explanation. Reading Rand's books during my college years formed a core of my values that have remained with me years later. It's great that the internet and to Youtube facilitate desimination of this information, but it is unfortunate it has occurred. I believe Ayn Rand would have welcomed and enjoyed the dialogue and differences of opinion between two thoughtful, well-meaning people, rather having it escalate into a a full schism as seems to have occurred.