Prior to the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain during the late 18th century, abysmal poverty was prevalent the world over, including in Britain. With the Industrial Revolution, conditions began to dramatically improve, first in Britain, then in Western Europe, then in North America, then, most recently, in the Asian Tigers. Who were the towering heroes in both Great Britain and the United States responsible for so markedly improving human living conditions? In this talk, Objectivist philosopher Andrew Bernstein answers that question.

Andrew Bernstein is the author of The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire (2005); Objectivism in One Lesson: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Ayn Rand (2008); Capitalism Unbound: The Incontestable Moral Case for Individual Rights (2009); and Capitalist Solutions: A Philosophy of American Moral Dilemmas (2011).

Recorded at Objectivist Summer Conference 2016 in Bellevue, Washington.

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Join us at Objectivist Summer Conference 2017, which will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 10–15. The conference, held at the center of industrial America, will celebrate productive heroes and the heroism of productiveness. We will also honor the 60th anniversary of Ayn Rand’s masterwork Atlas Shrugged. Join us for the unique experience of OCON; attend intellectually stimulating sessions with people who share your deepest values. Register for OCON 2017 here.