Dr. Andrew Bernstein on "How to Be an Impassioned Valuer"
Ayn Rand's fiction and non-fiction provide an answer to philosophy's central question: what is the meaning of life? Her answer: values are the meaning of life. Values--deeply cherished, indefatigably pursued, passionately celebrated--are what bring purpose and joy into human existence.
But some people have not yet identified those objects, activities or persons that can fill their lives with significance. Others, fascinated by numerous possibilities that life offers, have not prioritized their values into an effective hierarchy. How do I identify those things that will bring meaning into my life? How do I organize my personal pantheon of values into a hierarchy that maximizes my ability to achieve them? What is the rational principle of time management that optimizes value achievement?
These are the questions that this four-and-a-half seminar addresses and answers.
Andrew Bernstein has published on a wide variety of philosophical and literary issues. Dr. Bernstein lectures regularly at American universities, speaking on a broad range of intellectual topics. He has given addresses at: Harvard University, Stanford University, the United States Military Academy at West Point, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin, Carnegie-Mellon University, Columbia University, and many others.
A popular lecturer and guest, he appears frequently on the radio on shows in Boston, Northern California, St. Louis, and Detroit among others, and has been a talk—radio guest host in Los Angeles. Discussions include such topics as the role of values in human life, the need for heroes in our society, the nature of a proper curriculum for our schools, and the application of philosophical principles to a broad array of cultural/political topics.
Dr. Bernstein teaches Philosophy at Pace University, the State University of New York at Purchase and formerly at Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York—which presented him its 'Outstanding Teacher' award in 1995. He has taught at Hunter College, Long Island University, and many other New York-area colleges. He lectures frequently at philosophy conferences all over the United States; additionally in Canada, England, Belgium, Norway, Hong Kong and Bermuda.
His op-ed essays have been published in such newspapers as The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, The Atlanta Constitution, The Washington Times, The Los Angeles Daily News, The Houston Chronicle and many others.
Andrew Bernstein is the author of The Capitalist Manifesto and the novel Heart of a Pagan.