This blog, over the last two years, has focused on developing a visualisation of the structure of Objectivism. But there has always been a niggling doubt about the whole enterprise: whether or not such a philosophy, a set of abstract ideas ordinarily understood through words, could ever be assisted through visual means. Is it possible to visually represent Objectivism's framework in an appropriate way?
Personally, these attempts at visualisations have helped me to grapple with the ways in which the five official branches of Objectivist philosophy are integrated with one another. Furthermore, it has brought me clarification about what each branch encompasses and what it excludes.
However, I'm not fully satisfied with any of my previous models (including the linked website as it currently stands), although this series of blog-posts remains a useful record of where and how I went off-piste.
To continue or desist?
I still think that it's a project worth pursuing. Even if no visual can ever consummately cut the mustard, there are some representations that come closer than others. Comprehending why certain visuals do or don't work may actually help me to grasp Objectivism's structure with a firmer grip.
For this reason I intend to keep this monthly blog chugging along next year.
More in 2023…