Objectivism
Reality exists objectively; reason, self-interest, and individual rights are moral absolutes.
Overview
Objectivism, developed by Ayn Rand, is a comprehensive philosophical system. It holds that reality exists independently of consciousness (metaphysics), that reason is the only means of knowledge (epistemology), that the purpose of life is the rational pursuit of one's own happiness (ethics), that individual rights are absolute (politics), and that laissez-faire capitalism is the only moral social system. Altruism — defined as the doctrine that self-sacrifice for others is the moral ideal — is rejected as destructive to both the individual and society.
Origins
Rand developed Objectivism after fleeing Soviet Russia and witnessing firsthand the consequences of collectivism. Her novels The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged (1957) dramatized her philosophy through heroic individuals battling conformity, mediocrity, and state power. While often dismissed by academic philosophers, Objectivism has had considerable popular influence and helped shape the modern libertarian movement.