FROG: Objectivism Study Groups

FROG (Front Range Objectivist Group) consists of two separate Objectivism study groups: 1FROG and 2FROG. The primary goal of these groups is to help members to understand the principles of Objectivism more clearly and deeply, so that they can better apply them in their own lives.

Each FROG group meets once per month at a member's home, mostly in the Denver metro area. About 12 to 16 people attend each meeting. In the meeting, members discuss some Objectivist writing assigned the month before, usually two or three essays from an anthology by Ayn Rand. In recent years, 1FROG or 2FROG has read and discussed The Voice of Reason, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, Philosophy: Who Needs It, The Virtue of Selfishness, Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics, The Fountainhead, and more. The discussion for each essay is guided and managed by a rotating volunteer, also chosen at the prior meeting. Meetings run about three and a half hours, with a break for snacks and chat in the middle.

1FROG meets on a mutually-agreed-upon Saturday evening each month, from 6:30 to 10:00 pm. It was founded by Lin Zinser in 1988. 2FROG meets on the third Sunday each month, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm. 2FROG was founded by Lin Zinser in 2004.

New FROG groups may be founded in 2010 based on interest shown in the Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups now forming in Longmont and Colorado Springs, as well as in Denver via the Auraria Campus Objectivist Club.

Standards of Conduct

1FROG members at a 2008 meeting at Howard and Susan's cabin in Nighthawk

2FROG members at FRO's 20th Anniversary Picnic at the Pine Valley Ranch in 2008

FROG members differ in the depth of their understanding of Objectivism, but all are committed to understanding and applying the philosophy in their own lives. FROG meetings aim for constructive and friendly discussion -- not acrimonious debate. So the principles of Objectivism serve as the implicit and explicit background of the discussions at FROG meetings. Discussions might concern the proper applications of property rights or the fallacies of anarchism, but not whether property rights exist or whether government is necessary. Or FROGs might discuss the extent of animal consciousness, but not whether consciousness is a myth or whether animals have rights. Of course, many FROG members are happy to discuss such topics -- just not at FROG meetings.

In essence, FROG welcomes friendly people who agree with the main tenets of Objectivism and wish to study it further. FROG is not an appropriate forum for people unfamiliar with or opposed to its principles. People who prove disruptive to the aims of FROG will be removed from the group.

All FROG members are expected to contribute to the smooth running of the group and its meetings. To that end, everyone at the meeting, whether regular members or guests, should read (or re-read) the assigned reading in the month before the meeting. Everyone should help keep the discussion on-track, meaning focused on the assigned reading. Everyone should act in friendly -- or at least civil -- way toward others. Also, FROG members should periodically volunteer to act a discussion leaders, as well as volunteer to host meetings at their home, if possible.

To learn more about how to maximize the value of discussions, please see these three articles from the The Objectivist Club Network:

FROG Membership

To maintain the high value of FROG meetings, the FROG groups are selective about their members. To join, you must first speak to the group leader, then attend as a guest for a few meetings. After that, if approved by existing members, you will be invited to join. However, before you attempt to join FROG, you are strongly encouraged to attend a FROST Supper Talk and/or a FROLIC Sunday Dinner to meet current members thereof. Introduce yourself; tell people that you're interested in joining FROG and discuss your interest in studying Objectivism.

At present, however, 1FROG and 2FROG are nearly at capacity. If you are interested in studying Objectivism with other knowledgeable Objectivists, you should join one of the Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups now forming in Longmont and Colorado Springs, as well as in Denver via the Auraria Campus Objectivist Club. Those may be the basis for new FROG groups in 2010, if enough participants want that to happen.

Contact FROG

1FROG is managed by Betty Evans. Please contact her at betty@frontrangeobjectivism.com with any questions or comments about 1FROG.

2FROG is managed by Tom Hall. Please contact him at tom@frontrangeobjectivism.com with any questions or comments about 2FROG.

Front Range Objectivism is an independent organization not supported or sanctioned by any other organization.