Before I jump into the substance of my talk, let me say a few words about myself. I have studied Objectivism for about four years. Two other fields have greatly contributed to the foundation of this talk-Buddhism and psychoanalysis-which I have been studying only for the last year or two. My study of both Buddhism and psychoanalysis-in addition to Branden's article and my own experience-have led me to question the role of moralism in Objectivism and to therefore deliver this lecture.

Before I say anything about moralism, I should say a few words about the Buddhist and psychoanalytic foundation of my talk. As you may know, Rand had positive things to say about neither Buddhism nor the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. The intention of this talk is not to defend either Buddhism or psychoanalysis. I will save that endeavor for another day. Of course, there are flaws in both Buddhism and psychoanalysis, and I swallow neither of these systems whole. Both are plagued with problems, such as mysticism in the former and a dearth of rigorous science in the latter. Without getting into a defense of either Buddhism or psychoanalysis, I want to at least point out that there are more and less rational approaches to both systems. Many people identify Buddhism with detachment from and passivity towards the world. While this may be an accurate representation of how some people understand Buddhism, it is not an accurate representation of how I or millions of other Buddhists in America understand it. On the contrary, the form of Buddhism that I study and practice-Vipassana Buddhism-involves the immersion into, activity towards, and appreciation of the world. And, believe it or not, it is possible to obtain great value from Buddhism while rejecting its mystical components, such as reincarnation and a cosmic sort of karma. The same applies to psychoanalysis. Many people don't realize that psychoanalysis has matured immensely since it was originated by Sigmund Freud a century ago. For example, there is no longer an emphasis on sexual urges or unconscious drives. Moreover, the field is becoming increasingly scientific, though it has a long way to go. That said, I invite you to put aside any preconceptions you might have about either field and to listen open-mindedly to my discussion of what value they both can bring to your own life, the Objectivist movement, and your understanding of moralism.