EPISTEMOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE FREE SOCIETY

AYN RAND’S THEORY OF UNIVERSALS APPLIED TO SCIENCE, SIGMUND FREUD’S PSYCHOLOGY, AND LUDWIG VON MISES’S ECONOMICS

by Jerry Kirkpatrick ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2026

A retired professor connects Ayn Rand’s theory of universals to laissez-faire capitalism in this philosophical rumination.

“A sound theory of universals is fundamental to the defense of a free society,” Kirkpatrick, a professor emeritus of international business and marketing at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, asserts in this work’s opening lines. In these pages, he suggests that novelist and philosopher Rand’s theory of concepts, which he rebrands as a “theory of universals,” provides a sound philosophical grounding for a free society. He defines such a society as one of a laissez-faire capitalism that not only addresses economic ownership, but also individual rights associated with private property and freedom of action. Early chapters reflect on the epistemological foundations of science, offering a detailed analysis of Rand’s theory of concepts and her musings on abstractions, which the author contrasts with philosopher Immanuel Kant’s emphasis on a priori knowledge. Subsequent chapters blend Rand’s philosophy with those of Sigmund Freud and economist Ludwig von Mises, both of whom Kirkpatrick contends should be considered scientists in their application of universals to their respective fields. As an advocate of classical liberalism, Freud “insisted on the primacy of the individual in psychology,” Kirkpatrick asserts, further noting that Mises emphasized the primacy of consumers in his economic work. Both men, the author says, complement Rand’s emphasis on individual freedom, equality under the law, and limited government. Kirkpatrick writes that he’s been interested in epistemology since his days as a philosophy major in the 1960s, and his book ably reflects this lifelong interest, showing a solid foundation in the major schools of philosophical thought. For example, according to his reading, several inherently repressive elements of various philosophical schools—including Plato’s philosopher-kings, Thomas Hobbes’ ruthless monarchy, and Karl Marx’s dictatorship of the proletariat—are rooted in subjectivist notions that reject universals. His book’s conclusions, though, including Kirkpatrick’s claim that “Capitalism means total freedom,” and his embrace of Rand’s radically libertarian ideals, are unlikely to convince skeptics.

An accessible reflection on Rand’s theory of universals and individual freedom that will appeal primarily to Rand enthusiasts.

Pub Date: July 1, 2026

ISBN: 9781737138761

Page Count: 179

Publisher: Kirkpatrick Books

Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2026

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION | ECONOMICS | GENERAL NONFICTION