32 Facts About Leonard Peikoff

Leonard Sylvan Peikoff is a Canadian American philosopher.

Leonard Peikoff is an Objectivist and was a close associate of Ayn Rand, who designated him heir to her estate.

Leonard Peikoff co-founded the Ayn Rand Institute in 1985 and is the author of several books on philosophy.

Leonard Peikoff was born on October 15,1933 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Samuel Peikoff, MD, a surgeon, and his wife Bessie, a band leader.

Leonard Peikoff attended the University of Manitoba from 1950 to 1953 as a pre-med student.

Leonard Peikoff taught philosophy for many years at various colleges.

Leonard Peikoff first met Ayn Rand through his cousin Barbara Branden in California when he was 17.

When Rand moved to New York City in 1951, Leonard Peikoff decided to study philosophy at New York University.

Leonard Peikoff was among NBI's first lecturers, teaching a course on the history of philosophy.

Leonard Peikoff later used the transcripts of these workshops to create an expanded edition of Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, which he co-edited with Harry Binswanger.

Leonard Peikoff has supervised the editing and release of Rand's unpublished works in several volumes, which includes her letters, philosophical journals, and the fiction not published in her lifetime; he has written forewords for all the current printings of her fiction.

Leonard Peikoff revised his 1976 lecture course on Rand's ideas into book form as Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, published in 1991, the first comprehensive presentation of Objectivism.

From 1995 through 1999, Leonard Peikoff hosted a nationally syndicated talk-radio show focusing on philosophy and culture.

Leonard Peikoff's articles have appeared in publications as diverse as Barron's and The New Scholasticism, and his television appearances have ranged from Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and Bill O'Reilly's The O'Reilly Factor to C-SPAN panel discussions.

Leonard Peikoff appears in Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life, the Academy Award-nominated documentary by Michael Paxton.

Leonard Peikoff presented his objections to Kelley in an article called "Fact and Value," arguing that Kelley's case itself contradicted Rand's understanding of the relationship between cognition and evaluation, facts, and moral values.

Leonard Peikoff concluded that Kelley was not a genuine Objectivist and urged anyone agreeing with Kelley to leave the Objectivist movement.

Leonard Peikoff later had reservations, and the bequest was not part of Rand's will.

In July 1991, Leonard Peikoff had an assistant deliver the manuscripts of Rand's novels, except for the first and last pages of The Fountainhead, which he had framed.

Leonard Peikoff opposes taxation, public education, welfare, and business regulations.

Leonard Peikoff opposes laws regulating pornography, euthanasia, or stem cell research.

Leonard Peikoff is a supporter of abortion rights but criticizes defenders of abortion who label themselves "pro-choice", arguing that the term ignores the deeper philosophical issues involved.

Leonard Peikoff believes that circumcision of a child too young to consent should be a crime and is evil.

Leonard Peikoff continues Rand's opposition to libertarianism, remaining sharply opposed to any description of Objectivist political philosophy as "libertarian" and to any collaboration with most libertarian groups.

Leonard Peikoff has been critical of American foreign policy, considering both neoconservative and libertarian views self-sacrificial.

Leonard Peikoff argues that Israel is a moral beacon which should not return any territory to Arabs or even negotiate with them.

Leonard Peikoff advocates bringing an end to what he claims are "terrorist states" and has routinely lobbied for regime change in Iran "as quickly as possible and with the fewest US casualties, regardless of the countless innocents caught in the line of fire," not ruling out the use of nuclear weapons, arguing that moral responsibility for innocent deaths would lie with their governments rather than the United States.

In 2004, Peikoff endorsed John Kerry against George W Bush, on the basis of Bush's religiosity and his refusal to crush Islamic regimes, especially Iran, along with his "doomed" economic policies.

In September 2012, Leonard Peikoff endorsed Mitt Romney for the Presidency, citing President Obama's alleged nihilism, taxation, economic and energy policies, Obamacare, and his use of executive orders.

However, Leonard Peikoff was not enthusiastic in his endorsement of Romney, calling him an "appeasing, directionless" candidate with "no political convictions" who would be useful for buying time.

Leonard Peikoff married his second wife, Cynthia Pastor, in February 1983.

Leonard Peikoff subsequently married Amy Lynn Rambach; they divorced in 2012.