Leonard Peikoff and The Greeks

    On a ship in 1997, Dr. Leonard Peikoff delivered a very personal speech in front of a group of Objectivist entitled, "Why Ancient Greece Is My Favorite Civilization". What sets this lecture apart from others given by Objectivist (such as Gary Hull's "The Brilliance of Ancient Greece") is how personal the lecture is.  At one point, Peikoff states (note: I transcribed this from the video.  Any error should be directed towards myself):

". this ship's journey is the closest I can ever get now to the spirit that I saw for three decades in the person of Ayn Rand.  And I wanted to experience that feeling one more time as fuel: the feeling I had known with her, and is possible outside of her and the world she created, only in contact with Ancient Greece."

    During the question and answer period, Gary Hull (the same man who gave the lecture, "The Brilliance of Ancient Greece" after the trip) asked Dr. Peikoff if he would prefer living in Ancient Greece instead of modern times.  He used plumbing as an example of the modern amenities our society has.  Dr. Peikoff said in response (once again, transcribed):

"Oh absolutely, are you kidding?
[...]
I'm not putting down technology.  But I'm saying that if I had a choice of living in a culture that is utterly barren and void but technologically still the way it is today, or completely backward, non-technological culture such as Ancient Greece -- I would, without hesitation, go back to Ancient Greece. Now I'm sure I would miss the plumbing there, and that it would be a big problem on this ship [laughter from the audience], [...] but that still does not mean that my choice of life would be made on that grounds.

I would much rather the intellectual life of that kind of society and the potentialities of the future, rather than live in a society which... Remember, you're free to take a different opinion; this is, in my opinion, an optional issue. I'm not here trying to prove that anybody who is happy in the world today has something wrong with them. [laughter from the audience] It's an optional issue.

Look, I've been fighting the trend in the world for 45 years, and it's gotten worse for 45 years. I've become very bitter in my old age, and I've found a lot of solace in the fact that people used to be a lot better than they were, in reading literature from the past and considering past civilizations.  That's one of the things that keeps me... sane."

    Not only is this lecture highly enlightening, it is a unique glimpse at the personal values of Dr. Peikoff.  And at $19.95, it's a steal.

---Jason Roberts

Comments

[Apollo]

Of all the ARI lecturers, Peikoff is my favorite,I love listening to him speak.

THANKS FOR THIS SUGGESTION!!

[Jason Roberts]

Apollo,

You are very welcome :). This lecture is amazing, and I would suggest it to ANYONE.

[Blair]

Certainly the lecture is excellent. That is what to expect from Dr. Peikoff, but his comment that he'd rather live in the past is, to me, sad.
After all, the last 100 years brought us Ayn Rand and her philosophy. It surely is a long, dark road ahead, but if Objectivism gets a hearing and is accepted, the future is unlimited. If each of us, to the best of our abilities, do all we can--daily--to spread the word, then we will have made a difference in the culture.

[Jason Roberts]

Blair,

Why is it sad? While Ayn Rand certainly is a wonderful person who has brought forth an amazingly benevolent philosophy that works, the Greeks and Romans had an entire culture similar to Ayn Rand's philosophy. Can you imagine an entire culture that worships reason, individualism, freedom, hard work, etc.? I admire Peikoff...and quite frankly agree with him.

Of course it is important to note that he said this is optional. You can be just as happy now...or during the Founding Father's times...etc.

[Apollo]

Hey, you havent posted in a while, I cant wait to hear from you again.

Anyways, I found something that you WILL definetly find interesting(the attachment called"Homer's Leadership Portraits"is fascinating)

ACHILLES, ODYSSEUS, AGAMEMNON: HOMER ON MILITARY LEADERSHIP

http://www.belisarius.com/modern_business_strategy/shay/secnav.htm

[Carrie Walker aka: free spirit]

Hi Jason!
I'm Carrie from THE FORUM. I was looking at your profile and linked to this website. Very interesting!
I got that video lecture as a gift and love it as well. I also love the Ancient Greeks and agree wholehearltedly to his comment about preferring to live in an intellectually rich time. It's very unfortunate that Dr. Peikoff is "bitter". Although, I can see both sides to the argument. Anyways, I just wanted to say that I love that lecture too!
~Carrie~

[Jason Roberts]

Apollo,

Thank you for that essay. It was indeed very interesting! I might take a dive into it and post sometime in the near future.

Carrie,

I know who you are :). I'm glad that my site interests you.

You are very right. The lecture by Dr. Peikoff is one of my personal favorites (and for that reason too...because it is so personal). I hope you find some of my future posts just as interesting!

[Apollo]

"Thank you for that essay. It was indeed very interesting! I might take a dive into it and post sometime in the near future."

Wow,happy to see you're back . . . And im glad you enjoyed that essay.Can't wait to read your thoughts on it.

Good luck, and Happy Posting.

[Mark]

One thing about the Ancient Greeks that made them civilized is that, unlike what they called the "barbarians" -- a word which to them literally meant "the unthinking" -- their city-states did not engage in torture.

Contrast this with statements by Leonard Peikoff, or Yaron Brook (head of Peikoff's "Ayn Rand Institute"). They are outspoken in advocating government institutionalized torture.