Don Watkins is an intellectual figure known for his deep involvement with Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand. He was a fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI) where he contributed significantly for over a decade, co-authoring influential books like "Equal is Unfair" and "Free Market Revolution" with Yaron Brook, which argue for capitalism and critique the push for economic equality. Watkins has focused on promoting the moral case for finance and individualism through his writings, exploring themes of rational self-interest, and the virtues of capitalism. His departure from ARI in 2017 marked a transition to his role as the director of education at the Center for Industrial Progress, where he continued to advocate for industrial and economic freedom. Beyond his written work, Watkins has engaged with the public through various media, discussing how individuals can pursue happiness and success through what he terms "Effective Egoism." His recent work includes exploring how one can live as an "earthly idealist," suggesting ways to apply rational morality in pursuit of personal ideals without traditional religious constraints. His efforts aim at teaching people to value their own lives and happiness, providing guidance on achieving personal success and fulfillment through a philosophy that champions reason, individualism, and capitalism. Watkins's journey from a student of Objectivism to a leading voice in its advocacy illustrates his commitment to these ideals, making him a notable guest for discussions on philosophy, economics, and personal development. Follow Don on: X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/donswriting Website: https://www.donswriting.com/ Substack: https://www.earthlyidealism.com/ Get Don’s Books: Effective Egoism: https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Egoism-Individualists-Purpose-Happiness/dp/B0C91MY7MD Equal is Unfair: https://www.amazon.com/Equal-Unfair-Americas-Misguided-Inequality/dp/125008444X Free Market Revolution: https://www.amazon.com/Free-Market-Revolution-Rands-Government/dp/1137278382 In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance: https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Wealth-Moral-Case-Finance/dp/0996010114 Check out Don’s Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEyhpv2LGP3JudwC6hD_Ddxr7lp_WhM73 Check out Ayn Rand Institute on: Website: https://aynrand.org/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/AynRandInst *** Your host, Saagar Singh Sachdev, is a curious person asking the many "whys" to get to the root of a question, to break a topic down, and build it back up again. First Principles Podcast is an attempt to quench that curiosity. Follow Saagar on: LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/saagarsinghsachdev LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saagar-s-sachdev/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulsals/ X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/saagarssachdev Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saagar.s.sachdev First Principles Pod RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/fa698a5c/podcast/rss Your support helps keep this podcast thriving, covering the costs of research, equipment, and bringing on incredible guests. If you’ve found value in our episodes, consider donating to keep the conversations going! Donate to Saagar on: One Time (PayPal): https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/saagarsinghsachdev *** #Podcast #podcastingforthepeople #NewEpisode #Podcaster #PodcastersOfLinkedIn #PodcastCommunity #ContentCreation #DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #PodcastPromotion #PodcastLaunch #Storytelling #FirstPrinciples #life #liberty #property #pursuitofhappyness #declarationofindependence #egoism #effectiveegoism #reason #induction #deduction #philosophy #altruism #benevolence #pride #selfesteem