Leonard Peikoff
Leonard Peikoff is an American philosopher and author, Ayn Rand’s intellectual heir, and founder of the Ayn Rand Institute.
Ayn Rand: Ayn Rand was a Russian-born American novelist and philosopher who developed Objectivism. Peikoff studied with Rand for decades and became the principal interpreter of her philosophy.
Objectivism: Objectivism is a philosophical system developed by Ayn Rand, centered on reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Peikoff presents his work as an exposition and defense of Rand’s philosophical system.
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand: Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand is Leonard Peikoff’s systematic exposition of Ayn Rand’s philosophy. The 1991 book is Peikoff’s fullest account of the system he inherited from Rand.
Objectivism after Ayn Rand: Objectivism after Ayn Rand is the development and organization of her philosophy following her death in 1982. Peikoff’s declared intellectual heirship made him a central figure in this period.
Nathaniel Branden: Nathaniel Branden was a Canadian-American psychologist and Objectivist writer who helped promote Rand’s philosophy. Branden and Peikoff were prominent members of Rand’s circle before Branden’s 1968 break with her.
Epistemology: Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge, its sources, and its limits. Peikoff’s central philosophical work develops Objectivism’s theory of knowledge.
The Ominous Parallels: The Ominous Parallels is Leonard Peikoff’s 1982 book comparing intellectual trends in America with those preceding Nazi Germany. It applies Peikoff’s philosophical approach to political history and the rise of totalitarianism.
Ayn Rand’s estate: Ayn Rand’s estate administers her literary works, papers, and related intellectual property. Rand designated Peikoff to control her estate, giving him authority over her unpublished materials.
Harry Binswanger: Harry Binswanger is an American philosopher and Objectivist writer associated with Ayn Rand’s intellectual circle. Binswanger, like Peikoff, became a prominent interpreter and defender of Rand’s philosophy.
Ayn Rand’s Objectivist epistemology: Ayn Rand’s Objectivist epistemology is her account of perception, concepts, and the validation of knowledge. Peikoff systematized this account in his book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand.