Rand begins this 1966 lecture by describing how experiments have shown the detrimental effects of sensory deprivation. Rand then asks, If sensory deprivation has such negative effects, what happens to a person deprived of values? Rand looks at various facets of modern culture — academia, religion, politics, literature, art — and argues that it is exceedingly difficult for a rational person to find a source of values and meaningful experiences. Rand then discusses the consequences of this cultural value-deprivation, suggesting that it could help explain the rise in drug addiction and teen suicide.

An edited version of this talk is available in The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought, a collection of essays by Rand and others. This lecture is 55 minutes long.