Objectivist Society

Summary

A philosphical society dedicated to Reason, Progress, and the Betterment of Man. The Objectivist Society has several libraries and lecture halls around Ecumene, including a major library and meeting hall in the city center and the main library at Bailen University. The Society hosts lectures, demonstrations, and discussion groups, and funds research into philosophy, ethics, science, medicine, and psychology.

Beliefs

Founded around a treatise entited "A Theory of Progress" in 1857, the core of Objectivist belief is that reality exists in a nominal form that is true from all perspectives. Human consciousness is the tool to access that truth, although it must do it through the flawed sense perception layer. The goal of humanity is to find truth. Humans are more important than anything else. Human need thus has priority over all other things. (There is deep hugging of the anthropecene here.)
Humans understand the world through the exercise of will. Thus, will should only be constrained when it interferes with other execution of will. Resolving contradictory will is why we developed rule of law, capitalism, and science, and these things are true and perfect conceptually. Obviously, the execution can be flawed - officers of the law can be corrupt, scientists can lie - but Law and Science are eternal and right. Importantly, so is Capitalism. That means progress is right, competition is healthy and helpful to build strong society, and there is a fairness to the seemingly arbitrary winners and losers of economics.
Individual will is critical. Self improvement and self discipline are essential. Intellectualism is prized. Objectivism is pretty bloodless though. Body, besides basic health, is deemphasized and love is denigrated. There's a need for collective action to secure free trade and protection, but there's no collectivism. However, objectivists LOVE psychology and memory stuff. Anything that makes the mind knowable and objective is music to their ears.
Objectivism as a cultural force, and intellectual concentration of the wealthy and powerful of Ecumene, backs the status quo of Houses, colonial and council powers, and the war on Umbra.

History & Organization

Objectivism was basically created by committee, in a society of elites dedicated to progress and free trade. That club was basically following these beliefs without codifying them since the beginning of Ecumene, but the appearance of panpsychism caused the society to be more direct, change its name to the Objectivist Society, and codify its beliefs in a treatise called "A Theory of Progress" that became a critical work two generations ago and is still cited today.
The physical presence of the Society was established through the purchase and development of several properties over many years, with the main Objectivist library opened in 1881. The opening of the library marked the start of the official outreach and the establishment of the first paid membership.
Objectivism is in brief a system of wealth and education. The Society costs money to join, and the real leaders are all elite elites. There are objectivists in every district, with society houses in all wealthy commercial and educational areas. They host salons and lectures and technology demonstrations.
The Objectivist Society is led by the Forack House, but serves as a neutral space for all of the Major Houses to meet and talk. All of the Major Houses essentially adhere to Objectivism to some degree.

Key Details

Founded: Philosophy in 1857; Society in 1881
Leadership: Dr Graham Forack - Director
Headquarters:
Membership: Around 500 paid members, with about 30 or so very active organizing members
Affliations: All Major Houses and almost all minor houses. Connected to Bailen University and Bailen Hospital.

Type

Social, Group