's Articles
Economics, Politics & Rights
Building a New Hong Kong: An Interview with Ivan Ko
Thomas Walker-Werth March 29, 2024
Ivan Ko fled Hong Kong following China’s imposition of the national security law. Now he's working to create a new city with the goal of preserving and developing Hong Kong’s freedom-loving culture away from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Announcements, LevelUp News
Religion, Secularism, and the Future of Liberalism
Jackson Upmann March 12, 2024
If we can’t support and defend the ideals of classical liberalism, we will lose them, one and all. Hence this vital discussion at LevelUp 2024 (Atlanta, GA, June 19–22).
Arts & Culture, Philosophy
The Triumph of Defeat: Lust, Wine, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Jon Hersey March 7, 2024
The success of many of today's popular musical artists evinces a broad cultural trend: the triumph of defeat—that is, the near-universal acceptance that we are but confused and helpless creatures.
Announcements, LevelUp News
Who is Carl Barney?
Jackson Upmann March 7, 2024
Carl Barney’s book-in-progress, “The Happiness Experiment,” explains his general approach to achieving success and happiness. And his talk at LevelUp 2024 (Atlanta, GA, June 19–22) will present a strategy he calls “Happiness Planning.”
Announcements
From the Editor, Spring 2024
Jon Hersey February 22, 2024
Welcome to the Spring 2024 issue of The Objective Standard. This begins the journal’s nineteenth year in publication, and I’d like to thank everyone who subscribes and supports our work. It’s because of you that all of us at TOS get to do what we love doing, supporting reason, egoism, and capitalism.
Economics, Politics & Rights
Capitalism in One Lesson: Capitalism Is the Only Practical System Because It Is the Only Moral System
Andrew Bernstein February 22, 2024
Whatever supports and furthers human life is morally good. Capitalism is the system that, from every standpoint and perspective, preeminently supports human life.
Politics & Rights
Davos 2024: Special Address
Javier Milei February 22, 2024
When I heard Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, address the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January, I shed tears of joy. I was blown away by his powerful defense of capitalism, his celebration of entrepreneurs as heroes, his incisive criticisms of collectivism and altruism, and his novel ideas on redefining socialism.
History, Politics & Rights, Reviews
America’s Rise and Fall among Nations: Lessons in Statecraft from John Quincy Adams by Angelo Codevilla
Bill Sanders February 22, 2024
America’s Rise and Fall among Nations provides a broad perspective of the course of American statecraft over the centuries, showing its arc from humble, inward-looking beginnings to grandiose ambitions after the 19th century.
History, Politics & Rights, Reviews
Freedom’s Furies: How Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand Found Liberty in an Age of Darkness by Timothy Sandefur
Molly Sechrest February 22, 2024
Timothy Sandefur’s Freedom’s Furies: How Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand Found Liberty in an Age of Darkness describes how the three "Furies" radically opposed prevailing trends, became friends, and gave birth to the modern American liberty movement.
Announcements, LevelUp News
Early-bird savings for LevelUp extended to March 15
Jackson Upmann February 15, 2024
Because we’re still developing the (amazing!) program for LevelUp 2024 (Atlanta, June 19–22), we’ve extended early-bird savings to March 15.
Announcements, LevelUp News
The LevelUp 2024 Program Is Announced!
Jackson Upmann February 12, 2024
The program for LevelUp 2024 (Atlanta, June 19–22) has been posted—and it’s all about living fully and advancing liberty.
Good Living, Philosophy, Reviews
Why It’s OK to Mind Your Own Business by Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke
Timothy Sandefur February 8, 2024
The task of justifying a life aimed at self-improvement, flourishing, or ataraxia is a substantial one for writers on ethics. Unfortunately, Tosi and Warmke barely try.
Announcements
A Note about Plagiarism in a TOS Review
Craig Biddle January 19, 2024
I recently discovered that the review of the Barbie movie published in TOS in September 2023 was largely plagiarized from a video by YouTuber Will Jordan (aka "The Critical Drinker").
Arts & Culture, Reviews
My Effin' Life by Geddy Lee
Thomas Walker-Werth January 15, 2024
My Effin’ Life’s positive sense of life, inspirational stories, and amusing anecdotes make it a rewarding read. Geddy Lee leaves readers with a strong sense that no matter how bad things get, it’s always worth staying positive and producing beautiful art.
Arts & Culture, Philosophy
Individualism in Anthem, Jane Eyre, and The Giver
Angelica Walker-Werth January 12, 2024
Many literary works depict individualist heroes struggling against collectivist societies, but three brilliant examples are Charlotte Brönte’s classic Jane Eyre, Lois Lowry’s award-winning young-adult novel The Giver, and Ayn Rand’s dystopian novella Anthem.