Charles asked:

I recently started looking at some works by Ayn Rand and at the "official" website of the Ayn Rand
Institute ( http://www.aynrand.org). I am wondering if someone could put her philosophy in
perspective for me. This is a big question and I am not asking for a complete analysis of all her
thought. Rather, I find that her approach is different from most other philosophy I have read. It seems
more paternalistic or chauvinistic or perhaps even condescending (especially the website). However,
I can't seem to put my finger on it. Here are my questions:

*Am I right about my feeling toward her philosophy or have I missed something. If no, please explain
what I have missed. If yes, could you help clarify my thoughts so that I can express them better when
describing her philosophy to others.

*Why are her philosophy/ novels not studied in mainstream university philosophy departments or
programs? Is it because she is a woman philosopher?

I think your intuitions about Rand's work are right. She is, to say the least, a bad philosopher. She is
confused, and she is an advocate rather than an investigator. That is why she is not taught in
reputable academic institutions. It has nothing to do with her being a woman. There are a number of
philosophers who are women whose writings are taught and discussed. Her writings are just not
worth teaching. And, by the way, I have managed to struggle (almost) through two of her novels. As
someone said of another book, they are books you cannot put down: you have to throw them down!

If you are interested in philosophy, then read real philosophers.

Kenneth Stern