Download or read book Quicklet on Ayn Rand's Philosophy: Who Needs It written by Mia Claudia Wood and published by Hyperink Inc. This book was released on 2012-03-14 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ABOUT THE BOOK Ayn Rand studied philosophy at university, and devoted much of her life to developing her own philosophy, known as Objectivism. In Rand's view, no one who does not have either an implicit or explicit worldview can adequately deal with life's problems. Hence, the titular essay of her book, Philosophy: Who Needs It? The original essay was delivered as an address to the graduating class of the United States Military Academy at West Point, in 1974. A recording of this talk, along with the subsequent Q&A, is also available. MEET THE AUTHOR Mia has two intersecting careers: She is a philosophy professor in the Philosophy/Sociology Department at Pierce College, and a freelance writer. Her combined skills, experience, and broad range of interests make me a thorough and efficient researcher, concept analyst and developer, and writer across a wide array of topics and subjects.Whether she writes fiction or non-fiction, her main interests involve societal issues and culture, primarily from a philosophical standpoint. What that means is that she not only attempts to investigate and inquire into the ideas that underpin or permeate certain issues and topics, but also to remain open to changing my her views. It is often the case that inquiry forces one to re-evaluate and amend one's beliefs. It can be a rather uncomfortable experience, but worthwhile nonetheless. Such is the case with Mia. She attempts to see where the topic at hand leads her, and questions what sort of method she uses in her investigation, and then draws a conclusion.Mia's philosophical interests range across metaphysical and epistemological subjects such as free will and moral responsibility, causation, conditionals, consciousness, personal identity, punishment, and metaphor, to contemporary issues such as same-sex marriage. She greatly enjoys conducting introductory courses in the history of philosophy, logic, and ethics. Perhaps her greatest satisfaction comes through connecting philosophical topics with the details of daily life we take for granted. Looking, for example, at the purpose of marriage yields interesting discussions about what it means to be human. Mia's Ph.D. is in Philosophy, and she teaches a broad range of subject areas in her discipline. Her freelance writing experience includes articles, essays, and ghostwriting (fiction and non-fiction). Please visit her Web site to learn more about her: www.girlzillawrites.com.Cheers! EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK Philosophy: Who Needs It? is a collection of conceptually connected essays by the writer, Ayn Rand. The majority of the essays build upon each other, with the titular piece introducing the reader, in some of the broadest strokes possible, to the general outlines of Objectivism, Rand's somewhat systematic theory of reality, knowledge, morality, politics, and education. Because Rand often utilizes terms in fairly specific ways, it is helpful to consult The Ayn Rand Lexicon. Another reason to peruse the lexicon is because, although Rand uses terms in specific ways, she rarely distinguishes the same terminology used differently by the philosophers she references. As a result, her references may be misleading, if you do not have a working knowledge of her definitions. CHAPTER OUTLINE Quicklet on Ayn Rand: Philosophy: Who Needs It? + About the Book + About the Author + Synopsis + Key Terms and Definitions + ...and much more Quicklet on Ayn Rand's Philosophy: Who Needs It