by Robert Tracinski (Author)
The most urgent question of our era is: What went right?
While most of our political and social commentary tends to focus on gloom and doom and predictions of imminent collapse, the actual record of mankind, both in the widest sweep of history and in recent decades, is one of progress: the spread of scientific and technological education, the increase in global commerce and the ongoing conquest of extreme poverty, the adoption of representative government and political freedom as global norms. It is vitally important to understand what makes this possible.
Recognizing the reality of progress requires new theories about the role of ideas in history. Based on controversial essays first published by Robert Tracinski in 2006, this book seeks to make new contributions to the theory on the causes of historical change usually championed by Objectivists, adherents of the philosophy that originated with Ayn Rand.
It also provides some commentary on the organization of the Objectivist movement itself, its role in history, and how it can absorb new ideas and philosophical innovations.