What is the Summer Seminar?

The Summer Seminar is a week of shared values, shared ideas, and inspiration celebrating, extending, and debating the ideas of Ayn Rand. People from all ages, from college students to retirees, come to the Summer Seminar for an intellectual vacation and the chance to take part in a community of individuals who share the Objectivist ideals of rational, independent living.

The quality and variety of presentations at the Summer Seminar can’t be beat. Over the course of the week, 34 expert faculty members will offer 50 presentations covering the full range of topics relating to the theory and practice of Objectivism. There will be talks on politics and culture, art and aesthetics, psychology and the art of living, and, of course, on the history and theory of philosophy. The Summer Seminar offers workshops and a series of evening musical and theatrical performances.

Outside the formal presentations, there is plenty of time for Summer Seminar participants to share their own ideas and enthusiasm in “participant-sponsored sessions.” Or you can take advantage of the sports and fitness facilities on campus. In the evening, you can come take part in the lively social scene of our “common room,” where friendships grow and free-wheeling discussions take flight.

Come join us for a week in “Atlantis,” where the vision of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead is brought to life by people who know it, live it, and breathe it.

The program and schedule

For full, up-to-date program information, explore the day-by-day links that appear on the left of your screen.

Program Changes

New! Howard and Karen Baldwin, currently producing the major motion picture of Atlas Shrugged, will give an update on the film on Friday, July 7, at 2:15 PM. They will be joined by co-excecutive producer John Aglioloro and accompanied by the director and/or other stars if possible.

To make room for this special event, the following talks have been rescheduled:

Sunday: Jay Friedenberg's Yoga Workshop moves to Thursday afternoon. Replaced  by William Thomas's "Who is an Objectivist?"
Tuesday: William Thomas's "Who is an Objectivist?" moves to Sunday afternoon. Replaced by Molly Johnson's "The Virtues of Homemaking." Susan Dawn Wake's "Overcoming Ethical Relativism in the College Classroom" moves to Tuesday morning.
Thursday: Jay Friedenberg's Yoga Workshop moves to a special Thursday afternoon session. Robert Bidinotto's presentation "How to Write for The New Individualist,"originally scheduled for Monday, also moves to Thursday afternoon.
Friday: William Thomas's "Limited versus Small Government" is cancelled (it may return as a PSS). Walter Donway's "Neuroscience and the Measure of Man" moves to the 9:45-11:00 AM slot. The Panel on Cognitive Science and Philosophy moves to the 11:30-12:45 slot. Molly Johnson's "The Virtues of Homemaking" moves to Tuesday afternoon. Susan Dawn Wake's "Overcoming Ethical Relativism in the College Classroom" moves to Tuesday morning.

Old: Program change for July 2, 2006: Contrary to what was originally announced, Stephen Hicks will be unable to speak on "Kant and Modern Art" due to unforeseen conflicting commitments. In Hicks's place, mathematician and poet Marty Lewinter will be offering a delightful talk on "The Beauty and Cleverness of Mathematics."

Program change for July 4, 2006: Erika Holzer will be unable to attend the Summer Seminar, due an unforeseen, non-life-threatening health problem. Her talk "Fiction Writing: Lessons from Ayn Rand" has unfortunately been cancelled.

Chapman University in Orange, California

The Chapman University campus is located in Orange, California, close to Orange County/John Wayne Airport, Disneyland, Huntington Beach, and of course everything else in the Los Angeles area. Use the free day to go to Disneyland or the GettyMuseum. Check out Hollywood or the beaches. It’s all within reach!

Located in the center of Orange, Chapman University is accessible by a variety of transportation modes, including train service from downtown Los Angeles. The charming Chapman University campus features elegant, modern facilities, and is in Old Towne Orange, a warm, quaint community featuring antique and collectible shops, art galleries, coffee houses, and more.

Internet Links to Orange area information:

                                    www.chapman.edu(Chapman University)

                                    www.oldtowneorange.net(Old Towne Orange)

                                    www.orangechamber.org(Orange Chamber of Commerce)

www.newportbeach.com(Newport Beach)

www.Disneyland.com(Disneyland and California Adventure)

www.knotts.com(Knott’s Berry Farm)

On-campus housing

The Summer Seminar has secured “hotel style” air-conditioned rooms with private baths on the Chapman campus. Participants can reserve rooms by the night or for the full week. Parking will be available on campus.

Meals

Full-week seminar registration includes an opening cookout on Saturday, July 1, a final banquet and dance on Friday, July 7, and lunches and refreshment breaks throughout the conference at no additional charge. There is also a weekly meal-plan available providing affordable breakfasts and dinners on campus

Off-campus housing

Please be aware that OrangeCounty is a popular vacation destination. Hotel rooms over the July 4 period are already becoming hard to reserve. The Summer Seminar’s on-campus accommodations are a fantastic value, and we have plenty of space reserved there, but if you think you will want to stay at an off-campus hotel, you should  make your reservations as soon as possible.

Registration

Seminar registration includes lunches, snacks, receptions, the opening cookout, and the closing banquet. Breakfasts, other dinners, and rooms are not included, however.You can also choose appropriate room and board options online when you register . 

Student Scholarships reduce or cover in full the cost of attending for full-time students. Scholarships application deadline: May 2, 2006.

Full Week 

Early Registration fee    (by May 8)                      $795.00  (New, low rate!)

Full Registration fee (after May 8)                        $985.00

Special Rate for Students and Recent Grads        $225.00  (New, low rate!)

Partial Week

One-Day option (per day July 2-4,6,7)                 $180.00

July 1 only                                                           $35.00

July 5 (free day:  1 morning session)                      $50

July 7 Banquet only                                               $65.00

July 4 weekend (July 1-4):                                    $575  

Room and Board

Breakfast/Dinner Meal plan                                  $89.00 (7 Breakfasts and 4 dinners included)

Individual Breakfasts                                             $8

Individual Dinners                                                  $12

Single full week (July 1-7)                                    $295.00

Double full week (July 1-7), per person               $225.00

Partial week per person one-time set-up fee:        $15

Partial week single per night:                                $40

Partial week double per person per night:             $30