Ibis SladeAynRandCon-USA 2024, held this year in Austin, Texas, emphasized the urgent need for what Rand called “New Intellectuals.” AynRandCon (ARC) is the Ayn Rand Institute’s conference for serious students of Ayn Rand’s ideas.
The conference opened with a workshop on Ayn Rand’s essay “For the New Intellectual” (FTNI). Led by ARI’s Ben Bayer, the workshop was a new kind of experience for ARC attendees. Bayer’s workshop modeled Ayn Rand University classes by asking students to complete readings and submit homework, review of which was integrated into the presentation. The session also played a pivotal role in shaping the conference’s direction, as FTNI’s themes guided the selection of topics discussed throughout the event.
Greg Salmieri delivered the conference’s keynote, which centered on the objectivity of valuing. Salmieri emphasized the rational creativity involved in forming and pursuing values and provided attendees advice on how to cultivate values and embody a benevolent culture. His address served to elaborate on an essential theme of FTNI: the crucial role of intellectuals in defending a rational code of morality.
The conference gave attendees the opportunity to participate in several workshops and panel discussions, such as “Reason as a Cultural Force,” “What Christianity Did and Did Not Contribute to Western Civilization,” and “Congenital Frailties of the European Enlightenment.” The sessions encouraged students to think about the role intellectuals play in shaping cultures.
During her session, “The State of Conceptual Thinking in Contemporary Culture,” Tara Smith delved into contemporary issues plaguing our intellectual culture. Smith examined the impact of declining reading habits, shortened attention spans, and the prevalence of superficial modes of communication on cognitive conditions today. She also stressed the fundamental role that a culture’s respect for reason plays in the direction of a culture. As she put it in her talk: “The state of reason in a society determines the kind of society we live in. How free we are, how rich we are, materially rich and spiritually rich. That’s what’s at stake.”
Gena Gorlin and Greg Salmieri also led a session, “The Producer’s Mindset.” Keeping with the theme, Gorlin and Salmieri highlighted Rand’s unique understanding (as expressed in FTNI) of the psychology of the producer. They examined manifestations of this mindset in the culture and offered advice for cultivating it within oneself. On the basis of her newsletter “Building the Builders”, which discusses the psychology of founders, Gorlin explained the love-oriented motivation of producers and the ongoing achievement involved in implementing it into one’s life.
“We were delighted to bring back our main North American student conference this year,” said Bayer. “Especially to Austin, which is rapidly becoming the intellectual headquarters for Objectivism. We hope to make this an annual event in Austin and attract even more bright young students with the potential to grow the ranks of the Ayn Rand University.”
The conference served as a call to action, inspiring individuals to embrace their role as agents of change and advocates for a culture of reason in an increasingly anti-intellectual world.
Image credit: f11photo/Shutterstock.com.
Ziemowit Gowin
