Washington Metro Objectivism Discussion (WMOD) 
                 
             April 1996 Meeting
    
                Ayn Rand on Video 

The April 17 meeting of WMOD will center around the showing
of one or more videos of Ayn Rand.  This should be especially 
interesting to those of you who only know Rand from her written
work.  We have one video and we expect to locate others before
the meeting.  In this 1989 video, which is currently available from
Laissez Faire Books, James Day interviews Rand, and although
he is not an Objectivist, he is clearly fascinated with Rand
and her ideas and gives her a chance to shine. Please let WMOD 
know if you have other Rand videos that can be shown at the
April meeting.

              Last Month's Free Banking Debate      

On March 20, the debate on free money and banking was attended
by 20 folks who were still arguing outside the restaurant when it
closed at 10:30 pm.  Thanks again to banking expert Bert Ely who
and Austrian economics expert Mark Brady who put on a stimulating
debate.

              Next Month's Talk on Humanism       

In May, WMOD will feature a talk on the Humanist movement by
the president of the Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH)
Ken Marsalek.  The purpose of WASH is to promote scientific
literacy and critical thinking.  WASH is associated with the
Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (COSDESH), publisher of
"Free Enquiry" magazine.  After Ken's talk we will discuss the
relationship between Humanism and Objectivism.

     NEW ESSAY!  "Unrugged Individualism" by David Kelley 

What is the nature of benevolence toward other people? How does it
differ from altruism? Is it a major or a minor virtue? How does it
relate to the benevolent sense of life? David Kelley answers these
questions in a groundbreaking work. *Unrugged Individualism* is the
first philosophical analysis of benevolence from the Objectivist
point of view, a major addition to the Objectivist ethics, and a
convincing demonstration of the fertility of the system of ideas
originated by Ayn Rand.

The book is based on the lecture Dr. Kelley presented at the 1995
IOS Summer Seminar. Additional material has been incorporated since
the Summer Seminar, including an appendix on "Tolerance."

This 65-page, softcover book is available exclusively from the
Institute for Objectivist Studies. The price is $9.95 plus $2.00
shipping and handling and, if applicable, NY State sales tax.
Orders can only be accepted by mail, not e-mail or phone. Send your
check to IOS, 82 Washington St, Suite 207, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

             When and Where is the WMOD Meeting?

Join us on Wednesday 4/17.  You can either join us for dinner
at 7 pm and/or for the discussion at 8:15 pm at the Fortune 
Chinese Restaurant at Baileys  Xroads, VA on Route 7 between 
7 Corners and Columbia Pike (5900  Leesburg Pike 703/998-8888). 
You can take METRO to the West Falls  Church stop and then take 
METRO buses 29A or 29B East on Route 7 toward Baileys Xroads. 
The Fortune is on this route. After the meeting we can give you 
a ride back to a METRO station.  WMOD has  arranged for a $15 
fixed price dinner (including tax and tip).  Or you can order 
from the menu.  Please RSVP to WMOD (703) 820-7696 before noon 
Wednesday 4/17 so that we can tell the restaurant how many 
tables to set up. 

                                 CALENDAR

Future of Freedom Foundation "Vienna Coffee Club Talks" at
the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA. RSVP to  703/934-6101.
*April 4: Robert L. Bradley, Jr., president of the Institute for
Energy Research and adjunct scholar at Cato, on "Oil, Gas, and U.S.
Government Intervention".
* May 23:  Jacob G. Hornberger and Richard M. Ebeling, pres.
and vice president of FFF, on "The Failure of America's Foreign
Wars".
       
          May 4 in NYC: "Objectivism Today 1996"

The Institute for Objectivist Studies holds its annual spring
event on Saturday May 4 at Lowes NYC Hotel. Talks include:
 * David Kelley of IOS on the Welfare State
 * Bob Bidinotto of "Readers Digest" on Reasons for Cultural
   Optimism
 * Ed Crane of the Cato Institute on a Progress Report on the
    Market Liberal Movement
Contact IOS via http://ios.org,  (914) 471-6100, or ios@ios.org.

           Spring and Summer Conferences

IOS will hold its 1996 Summer Philosophy Seminar "Objectivism:
Theory and Practice" on July 6-13 at the University of Colorado
at Boulder. Contact http://ios.org,  (914) 471-6100, ios@ios.org.

Second Renaissance Conferences will hold its two-week-long
conference "Ideas for the Rational Mind", June 29 - July 14,
at Tysons Corner, VA. Call (203) 791-1755.

 +----------------------+-----------------------------+
 |Dave Saum             |Email  : DSaum at infiltec.com       |
 |WMOD                  |Tel    : 703/820-7696        |
 |PO Box 8007           |Fax    : 703/671-9350        | 
 |Falls Church, VA 22041|"Sapere aude" (dare to know) |
 +----------------------+-----------------------------+

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