Greetings,
I am new to these forums, but not new to Objectivism or Nathaniel Branden. Well, compared to some of you, I might have just got into it yesterday. Even still, I have hungrily consumed Objectivist writings, lectures, and discussions over the course of the past several years (pretty much ever since I discovered it). I have read all of Rand's major publications, except, I think, Anthem. I have read some of Peikoff's work. And, I've also read "The Psychology of Self-Esteem" by Nathaniel Branden, and am reading "The Psychology of Romantic Love."
I have noticed a scournful disdain for Branden when I bring him up on the Reddit page. People scoff at me whenever I quote Branden's lectures "The Basic Principles of Objectivism" which I pretty much know by heart. Seriously, his lectures was how I began to dive more seriously into Objectivism, and I've listened to them probably a dozen times in total. I also have the kindle book with many highlights, and I sometimes use the search feature on kindle to pull up exact quotes mid conversation.
I will say this, I was so frustrated with the anti-NB resentment that didn't seem to have any real justification that I made a post on the Reddit page saying, "Tell me one thing in NB's lectures about Objectivism that you disagree with." Not a single intelligible response. The best anyone could muster was "It was poorly presented," which is rubbish because (even as much as I respect Peikoff) NB's lectures are better than OPAR.
Getting to the point, I ended up here because I saw a quote from Branden about Rand saying "protect me from my followers." He remarked about the dogmatic (anti-Objectivist) approach that many of Rand's followers adopted, and this got me wondering how, if at all, NB's views on Objectivism changed throughout his life. I know that he still advocated Objectivism after he broke from Rand. And I know that he later criticized Rand in some respects. And there were certain narrower issues where he just outright disagreed with Rand.
But what I'm asking is, what were Branden's thoughts on Objectivism as a philosophy AND as a movement that were reflective? As he looked back, what things in his perspective changed, if anything? For example, did he end up achieving a path forward of how to wake people up from their zombie-like way of living? Or have insight as to why Objectivism is still being rejected? Or have insights about the direction of Objectivism?
I suppose I will learn much more about what Branden thought as I continue to work my way through his works. I can say this, I have incredible respect for that man. Regardless of how much love I have for Rand, I have no animosity whatever for Nathaniel Branden. He was a truly brilliant man who has offered me the greatest gift any man could offer: the products of his reasoning mind, refined to shine like the brightest gold.
tl;dr:
What are some of the major ways that Nathaniel Branden's thinking changed after he parted ways with Ayn Rand?
