Itamar FeldmanLess than a century ago, the organizers of a conference advocating individualism and freedom in Berlin would have paid a price in blood. But in March, AynRandCon proudly stood where Nazi and communist flags had flown and raised the flag of reason instead.
Students from more than twenty countries flew to the German capital to deepen their understanding of Objectivism and meet like-minded people. They participated in two-and-a-half days of intense, value-packed lectures, discussion groups, and social activities.
Onkar Ghate opened the conference with the provocative statement that to understand “what the hell is going on in the world,” we must look at it “through the lens of altruism.” Equipped with this lens, he shed light on the motivations and actions of the Trump administration.
The talks by Tara Smith and Nikos Sotirakopoulos that followed dealt with questions about how to properly conceptualize selfishness, how our society treats successful capitalists, and how egoism and altruism are based on reason and faith, respectively.
The students had an opportunity to ask experts a wide range of questions. There were question periods, ARU-like workshops, official Q&As, and long breaks between talks, designed for attendees to further discuss ideas. The discussions went well into the evening at official and unofficial social events.
This year’s conference also featured a special guest, TIKhistory, a YouTuber with more than 400,000 subscribers, who creates detailed and accurate historical documentaries, specializing in WWII. TIK has recently developed a serious interest in Objectivism and was invited to join a panel discussion with Nikos Sotirakopoulos on Nazism and Communism.
After the conference, TIK published a video in which he said: “I’ve been to university, and I’ve been to conferences and conventions before, but never once have I been in a room with so many incredibly intelligent people. I never experienced anything like it. Not only were they intelligent, but they had a passion for life — and living life.”
Throughout the weekend, a steady stream of curiosity and excitement flowed in the air. It was a memorable gathering of young, energetic, and enthusiastic individuals, connecting with one another and engaging with knowledgeable experts always prepared to address their inquiries.
Brandon Lisi
Ibis Slade
