All of Ayn Rand's major heroes are men of the mind, disciplined and brilliant thinkers. But all of her positive characters-including those of modest intelligence-live in a state of fervent emotionality. It is not an exaggeration, but literal truth, to state that Ayn Rand has created a philosophy of love, of impassioned dedication to man at his highest and best, a philosophy that animates every one of her positive characters. Yet many of her readers-including both Objectivist admirers and modernist critics-miss the fiery intensity of Ayn Rand's writing, and construe her heroes as emotionless, Mr. Spock-like representatives of "dispassionate logic. " What makes so colossal a misinterpretation possible?

What premises are shared by those who make it? Crucially,how can we avoid it and incorporate the author's philosophy of love in our own lives? These are the questions Dr.Bernstein's talk will answer.