An Editors Note
from Robert C. Nasir
In the Q&A session of Leonard Peikoff's excellent presentation, ``Certainty and Happiness: Achieving Success in Thought and Action,'' given at The Ford Hall Forum in April 1989, a questioner asked Dr. Peikoff about Peter Schwartz's article for The Intellectual Activist, ``On Sanctioning The Sanctioners.'' He refers to Peter Schwartz having refused to deal with ``Objectivist intellectuals who speak before Libertarian social groups, or who autograph their books for Laissez Faire Book Service.'' He asks for Leonard Peikoff's views on the subject, ending his question, ``Are you ostracizing David Kelley?''
I am impressed that Dr. Peikoff answered the man by stating that an answer could not properly be given in a question and answer period, owing the the complexity of the reasons behind his answer, and his desire to avoid ``giving an answer devoid of reasons.'' He then promised to give a full answer by co-writing with Mr. Schwartz an article in the next issue of TIA which would make the issue clear. As many now know, the answer turned out to e his excellent essay, authored by himself, ``Fact and Value,'' as eloquent an answer on this subject as I can imagine.
I'm impressed, because, having seen the latest copy of the Laissez Faire Books catalog, I would have been compelled, asked the same question, to have answered, ``yes, of course.''
The February 1994 Laissez Faire Books catalog is simply disgusting, and any professional intellectual who thinks that (a) Ayn Rand was right, and (b) that dealing with this organization can forward the cause of reason, and consequent freedom, I cannot credit with an honest mistake. On some level, such a person has given up on more than just the low state of our political and intellectual culture. Whatever level of despair one reaches at the current state of our world and country, no one who has retained full focus can believe that Laissez Faire Books can have a positive impact, nor that he can retain his credibility as an advocate of reason while associating with such an organization.
The cover of the February catalog features a grinning photograph of Dr. Nathaniel Branden, advertising his latest book. The catalog features at the beginning a range of his books on self-esteem. There are many other items by Branden, but they appear later in the catalog. My guess as to why, I'll come to shortly.
The catalog features countless books advocating political anarchy, including one of the apparent causes of Detroit talk-radio host and self-proclaimed ``Objectivist'' Mark Scott's recent switch to anarchist: The Market For Liberty by Morris and Linda Tannehill, with a quote from its introduction by Douglas Casey ... ``What Rand's books did for philosophy, what Mise's did for economics, this book does for politics ...'' It would seem Mr. Casey has no idea what Rand's books did for philosophy, since what she did for philosophy includes an objective analysis of the need for and proper role of government in a civilized society.
There are many other uses (and I do mean this in the worst sense of the word ``use'') of Rand's name and philosophy in the catalog, including an offering of what is described as, ``A comic inspired by Ayn Rand, Elvis Shrugged,'' and another comic which is ``explicitly anarchist'' described as ``Galtian in theme . . .''
Presumably to squeeze out the maximum marketing value, these comics are offered on the same facing pages as Ayn Rand's novels.
Moving on through the catalog, one is struck by the number of authors' names formerly associated with Objectivism: Nathaniel Branden, David Kelley, Barbara Branden, Kay Nolte Smith, Allan Blumenthal, Joan Mitchell Blumenthal, George Walsh. In describing the motives of some of Objectivism's less sincere followers, Dr. Peikoff once stated that some of them simply wanted to cash in on her fame (and, I would add, her ideas). It appears they have, though unfortunately with little grace. For example, Kay Nolte Smith's ``Romanticism, Rand and Reservations'' is described: ``Smith talks about her agreements and disagreements with Rand's philosophy of literature and issues a counter-manifesto to Rand's own doctrine.''
But the ugliest part, which cannot even be called a cashing-in, since it's motive cannot be so noble even as seeking blood money, appears on pages 28-29.
The first facing page features a photograph of Ayn Rand, and a list of most of her non-fiction books, offered for sale. The bottom 1/3 of the page features David Kelley, and offers, among other things, his book Truth and Toleration, and a tape, ``Objectivism: The Philosophy And The Movement,'' described as ``[A] withering analysis of the current Objectivist movement . . .''.
The facing page offers both of Leonard Peikoff's non-fiction books, The Ayn Rand Lexicon, AND ...
``The Legacy of Ayn Rand,'' a tape in which ``you hear the joy and pain firsthand.''
The Ideas Of Ayn Rand by Ronald E. Merrill, which the catalog states as "including a fully-documented discussion of `The Nietschean Period' of her thought.'' The catalog quotes David Kelley on the book, ``Very Impressive! ...''
The Passion of Ayn Rand, Barbara Branden's psycho-babble hatchet job. Those unfamiliar with this alleged biography but knowledgeable about Ayn Rand will find a simple browsing at a bookstore enough to turn their stomach. I unfortunately read it all the way through before I knew better.
And then, of course, six inclusions by Nathaniel Branden, ``Branden on Rand, The Objectivist Movement, Life, Love, and Death,'' his book/horror novel, Judgment Day, and if that's not enough, a tape, ``The Passages Cut From Judgment Day,'' another tape, ``The Benefits and Hazards of The Philosophy Of Ayn Rand,'' and more.
Now my guess as to why these items weren't offered earlier in the catalog, with Branden's books on self-esteem. Aside from the nihilistic bliss the catalog presenters must have felt in placing the inestimably valuable offerings by Miss Rand and Dr. Peikoff amongst this sludge, they had to have known that anyone seeking help with regards to their self-esteem, anyone seeking a positive, healthful psychological state, would not expect to find it from a man who could spew such venom.
In April of 1981, at The Ford Hall Forum, Ayn Rand was asked, ``Why do you not speak of, or to, Libertarian groups...?'' She answered, ``Because I do not speak to, or of, cranks, unless I have to, and because Libertarians are a monstrous, disgusting group of people ... [here she was interrupted by applause] ... let me give you my reasons ... who plagiarize my ideas without giving me credit when it feeds their purpose, and denounce me, in a worse, more vicious manner, than any Communist publication, when it feeds their purpose ...'' To those Libertarians and other free market advocates who've asked me for the evidence of this, the Laissez Faire Books catalog has provided several examples, both from the books and tapes offered, and from the catalog itself.
Ayn Rand did more than champion against compromise - she proved that such compromises must lead to the loss of whatever values one sought to achieve by the compromise. She has said, ``I don't approve of mixtures,'' in issues of moral grayness, referring to mixed black and white, good and evil. The fact that there are many items of value offered by the Laissez Faire Books catalog is far superseded by two facts: first, that the rest of the the material offered spits and drools on the rest, trying its best to cover it up completely (though not destroy it, since too much of the trash gets its only ``value'' parasitically from the good), and second, that such an vicious mixture cannot be offered with full intellectual, moral honestly.
There may be people on Laissez-Faire's mailing list who are not blameworthy. But anyone with a knowledge and understanding of philosophy, of Ayn Rand, anyone familiar with the history of her and Objectivism's deluders and defrauders, as well the moral and intellectual stature of the sundry Libertarians and Anarchists, cannot with integrity choose to support such an organization. ¹
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