The Ayn Rand Forum is delighted to announce that Dr. Yaron Brook will be speaking in January 2010 at the UK Parliament on the subject of rights. The event is free and all are welcome, but space is limited, so if you would like to attend, please email us as soon as possible on the above address to avoid disappointment on the night.

The popularity of the concept of rights in modern politics has led to a cacophony of conflicting rights claims from every corner of society. The task of politicians is said to be somehow “finding an appropriate balance” between such contradictory demands. The result is a constant tug-of-war between the right to be presumed innocent and the right to be safe from crime and terrorism; the right to freedom of speech and the right not to be harmed by the speech of others; the right to keep what you earn and the right of others to “free” health care, education and welfare; the list goes on.

The novelist-philosopher Ayn Rand (1905-1982) had a radically different view of rights. A famous and uncompromising defender of laissez-faire capitalism, Rand viewed rights in absolute terms as “moral principle[s] defining and sanctioning a man’s freedom of action in a social context”. Dr. Brook will discuss Rand’s view and some of its applications to modern political controversies. His speech will be followed by a question-and-answer session, and a drinks reception.

Dr. Yaron Brook is the President and Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Institute, the world’s premier think-tank for the study and promotion of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism. He appears frequently on radio and television shows (including Fox News, CNN, CNBC and C-SPAN) to debate current events, and is a popular lecturer at corporations, universities, public forums, and community and professional groups. Dr. Brook is known for his radical ideas and passionate speaking style, so we expect a lively and provocative evening in these prestigious surroundings.