Leonard Peikoff’s “Eight Great Plays” | 2023-24
Lead Faculty
ARU Faculty
This is a guided study of Leonard Peikoff’s recorded lecture course “8 Great Plays,” in which Dr. Peikoff selects eight masterpieces of world literature and analyzes them as great works of drama and as works that implicitly convey complete philosophies of life. ARU faculty supplement Dr. Peikoff’s lectures with live discussions and assignments that further explore the plays and the principles underlying Ayn Rand’s view that art is an indispensable need of human life.
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Auditing is a great choice for students who want to attend live lectures, ask questions, and participate in some discussions, but do not want to submit assignments.
A typical auditor is a busy professional or retiree, who finds our courses enriching and seeks to learn from our faculty as a hobby. You do not need to apply to audit, simply pay the tuition fee and you will be automatically enrolled in the course.
$1,580.00
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Graded students in this course are expected to attend lectures and discussion sections, and also to submit assignments to the faculty. Assignments will be graded and given feedback.
To enter this course as a graded student, you must be accepted into the graded program of Ayn Rand University and achieve the necessary prerequisites. Your annual tuition covers as many courses as you wish to take. Most accepted students are granted scholarships, which substantially defray their tuition cost.
Scholarships Available
Registration
Level
Quarter
Description
This is a guided study of Leonard Peikoff’s recorded lecture course “8 Great Plays,” in which Dr. Peikoff selects eight masterpieces of world literature — eight plays from ancient Greece to the 20th century that are both philosophically rich and esthetically exceptional — and analyzes them as great works of drama and as works that implicitly convey complete philosophies of life.
Dr. Peikoff’s recorded lectures provide historical background and context for each play. He then demonstrates how to identify the play’s essential conflict, its plot and character development and its deeper theme. Drawing on all these aspects, he then discusses the overall philosophy conveyed by the play (if not explicitly, then at least implicitly). The result is a unique exercise in philosophical detection and esthetic evaluation.
In the ARU course, ARU faculty supplement Dr. Peikoff’s lectures with in-depth live discussions and assignments about each of the plays and further explorations of the principles underlying Ayn Rand’s view that art is an indispensable need of human life, an irreplaceable form of spiritual refueling.
Students will leave this course with a better understanding of Ayn Rand’s view of art and of how to reach a full, objective evaluation of an artwork, taking into account philosophical, esthetic and personal (optional) factors — and therefore how to grasp, evaluate and enjoy the objective values a great play offers.
Spoiler alert: Dr. Peikoff’s recorded lectures assume that students have read the play that is discussed. You do not need to listen to Dr. Peikoff’s recorded lectures before beginning the live course, but you may wish to read the plays ahead of time. Recommended editions are listed here.
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