Discussion Groups > Intellectual Focus
An occasional question we get from people interested in the COS discussion groups is why we don't focus on politics. This question takes many different forms, such as: Why don't you focus more on actually changing the culture? Why don't you focus on bringing about freedom? etc.
Ayn Rand explains it best:
"Objectivism is a philosophical movement; since politics is a branch
of philosophy, Objectivism advocates certain political principles--
specifically, those of laissez-faire capitalism--as the consequence
and the ultimate practical application of its fundamental
philosophical principles. It does not regard politics as a separate or
primary goal, that is: as a goal that can be achieved without a wider
ideological context.
"Politics is based on three other philosophical disciplines:
metaphysics, epistemology and ethics--on a theory of man's nature
and of man's relationship to existence. It is only on such a base that
one can formulate a consistent political theory and achieve it in
practice. When, however, men attempt to rush into politics without
such a base, the result is that embarrassing conglomeration of
impotence, futility, inconsistency and superficiality which is loosely
designated today as 'conservatism.' Objectivists are not
'conservatives.' We are *radicals for capitalism*; we are fighting
for that philosophical base which capitalism did not have and
without which it was doomed to perish.
"A change in a country's political ideas has to be preceded by a
change in its cultural trends; a *cultural* movement is the necessary
precondition of a *political* movement. Today's culture is
dominated by the philosophy of mysticism (irrationalism)--altruism--
collectivism, the base from which only statism can be derived; the
statists (of any brand: communist, fascist or welfare) are merely
cashing in on it--while the 'conservatives' are scurrying to ride on
the enemy's premises and, somehow, to achieve political freedom
by stealth. It can't be done."