Ayn Rand Center Europe (ARCE), in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, recently hosted the second New Intellectuals Conference, this time themed around love! ARCE brought together renowned Objectivist and classical liberal speakers, including Craig Biddle, Leopold Ajami, and Matt and Terry Kibbe. The event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to discuss love from an Objectivist point of view, to engage in advanced philosophical discussions, and to network with other Rand fans from around the world.
The theme of the conference, was well chosen, and I must congratulate the ARCE team for their creativity! Many Objectivist conferences center on the virtues, individualism, and/or liberty, but ARCE reminded us that Objectivism has a vital perspective on love, too.
Craig Biddle, executive director of Prometheus Foundation and director Objective Standard Institute, spoke about the Objectivist view of love. According to Biddle, love is not merely an emotion or a feeling, but also a verb—an action of intense valuing—and that this aspect of love applies to all instances, whether love of career, friends, a romantic partner, or life itself.
Tom Palmer, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, discussed the role of love in classical liberalism. He presented examples of liberty and love around the world, and argued that love is an absolutely key component of a peaceful and harmonious society.
Leopold Ajami, a practical philosopher and creative writer, spoke about love in the context of values. He arguedasserted that love is a fundamental aspect of human flourishing, as it is essential to various provides individuals with the opportunity to form mutually beneficial relationships. Leopold showed us his “loveshake,” and it was an incredibly touching moment for everyone in the audience. (You had to be there.)
Matt and Terry Kibbe, the hosts of the Free the People podcast, spoke about love in the context of activism. The Kibbes argued that love for freedom and individual rights should be the driving force behind political activism. They emphasized the importance of engaging with people who hold different political views, in order to build bridges and find common ground.
The conference provided us with a unique opportunity to engage with Objectivist ideas and related perspectives on love. We had the chance to ask questions, engage in discussions, and share a week of our lives with other Objectivists and fans of Ayn Rand. NICON was attended by a diverse range of people, from students to professionals, from all over the world.
The conference was a testament to the growing popularity of Objectivism, and the demand for a rational, individualistic philosophy in today’s world.
