Washington Metro Objectivism Discussion (WMOD)

            Wednesday, May 24, 2000   

       "What is the Objectivist Method?"

               By David Saum

Is there a general method behind the conclusions of
Objectivism, just as the scientific method lies 
behind the conclusions of science?  Objectivists have
tended to focus more on the system and less on the
method that holds the system together.  When method
has been discussed it has been identified with logic
or Rand's theory of concepts.  

If we could identify an objective method that gave rise
to the major ideas of Objectivism, then we might have
a tool to further analyze Ayn Rand's work, and we might
be able to extend Objectivism into new areas.  In 
addition, it might be easier to learn Objectivism
by focussing on method. 

This talk will make an attempt to discern an Objectivist
method and suggest some new applications for it. It will
survey Aristotle's principles of explanation (his 4 types
of causes), the development of the scientific method, and
Rand's comments on method.  A method will then be proposed
and evaluated against some of Rand's major conclusions.
Finally, some new applications outside of Objectivism will
be explored, and the implications for Objectivism will be
discussed.

David Saum is a physicist and entrepreneur working on 
problems related to building airtightness, ventilation and 
indoor air quality. He holds several patents and has
published many scientific papers. David is the founder of
WMOD and he has been studying Objectivism since the 1960s.
His primary interests related to Objectivism are objectivity,
objective method, and the intellectual history of the 17th
and 18th centuries. 

              PREVIOUS MEETING

Thanks again to Jerome Tuccille for his Sunday, April 30, 2000   
talk "Is Objectivism Compatible with Deism?" Approximately 30
people attended and questions lasted until the restaurant closed.

 
      WHEN AND WHERE IS THE WMOD MEETING?

Please join WMOD on Wednesday, May 24.  Anyone who is
interested in rational discussion of Ayn Rand's ideas is welcome.
Note that our meeting location is Metro accessible.  You can
either join us for drinks at 6:30 with dinner at 7 PM and/or for
the talk (free) at 8:15 PM at the Hunan Palace in Rosslyn, VA
just across the Key Bridge from Georgetown.  The street address is
1812 North Moore Street.  If you come by Metro, get off at the
Rosslyn Metro Exit and the Hunan Palace is only a few feet away.
Take the street exit on N. Moore Street (across street from Roy
Rogers/Burger King), go out of Metro and take a left, and the
Palace is a few feet down N. Moore Street.  If you drive, there is
a parking garage (Allstate) next door to the Palace that is free
after 6:00 PM.  Due to construction you may have to go down the
ramp to the underground level.  There will be a $15 fixed price
dinner (including tax and tip), or you can order from the menu. 
 
Please RSVP to WMOD at (703) 820-7696 before noon on Wednesday
5/24 so that we can tell the restaurant how many tables to set
up and how many to expect for dinner.  For more information,
call the Hunan Palace at (703) 528-8188, or call David Saum
at (703) 820-7696 (W) or (703) 671-5119 (H).  

                  FUTURE MEETINGS

WMOD meetings are generally held on the third Wednesday of each
month.  We are always looking for new stimulating meeting topics
related to Objectivism.  Please contact WMOD if you have
suggestions for meeting topics and locations, or if you can
volunteer some time to arrange meetings.

                   CALENDAR

        The Objectivist Center (formerly IOS) events
http://www.objectivistcenter.org 
REMINDER: The OC Summer Seminar is in Vancouver from 7/1-7/7 

        Cato Institute Events
http://www.cato.org/events/calendar.html

        Free-Market.Net Calendar
http://www.free-market.org/directory/events/

       Future of Freedom Foundation Events
http://www.fff.org/events/events.htm
         
       Institute for Humane Studies
http://www.theIHS.org/

       The Daily Objectivist
http://www.dailyobjectivist.com
   
(please let WMOD know about other events that we should list) 
                
               WMOD Contact Information

The WMOD newsletter is $10/yr, this email newsletter is free.
Contact:
  Dave Saum
  WMOD
  PO Box 8007
  Falls Church, VA 22041
    Email: DSaum at infiltec.com
    Phone: (703) 820-7696
    Fax: (703) 671-9350
    Web: http://www.infiltec.com/wmod.htm

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