Launch Your Intellectual Career
We train the New Intellectuals.
We Train the New Intellectuals
Our training is selective and rigorous, like law school. It is practice-focused and individualized, like an apprenticeship. It is advanced and demanding, like graduate school. But it is differentiated by a startup ethos of uniting ideas with action.
The ARI Intellectual Incubator invests in early-career intellectuals committed to relentless growth and to impacting their fields.
Learn from leading experts in Objectivism to gain a deep, professional understanding of Rand's philosophy and its application. Master the skills essential for impactful communication. Connect with a vibrant intellectual network of advisors and mentors.
Faculty, Advisors & Mentors
Onkar Ghate
Yaron Brook
Harry Binswanger
Tara Smith
Elan Journo
Ben Bayer
Gregory Salmieri
Jason Rheins
Keith Lockitch
Aaron Smith
Tal Tsfany
Shoshana Milgram
Mike Mazza
Alumni
Since the 1980s, ARI has made significant investments to train and support new intellectuals. The Intellectual Incubator builds on that foundation. Alumni of our educational programs include:
Alex Epstein
Gena Gorlin
Don Watkins
Matt Bateman
Aaron Smith
Ben Bayer
Nikos Sotirakopoulos
Michael Mazza
Agustina Vergara Cid
Onkar Ghate
Yaron Brook
Tara Smith
Elan Journo
Jason Rheins
Keith Lockitch
Gregory Salmieri
Alex Silverman
Amesh Adalja
Adi Dynar
How It Works
Every intellectual career is unique. Going to law school? Growing a podcast or Substack? Completing a Masters or PhD? Teaching at a university? Working for (or founding) a thinking tank? Our training adapts to you.
We offer individualized training pathways, which vary in duration and format. For example, if you're completing a PhD, you can join part-time as a research fellow, alongside your studies. For future public intellectuals, by contrast, one model is to join the Incubator as a junior fellow or post-doctoral fellow, which is a term-limited position with ARI.
Offerings
The Intellectual Incubator offers a range of advanced training, advising, and networking opportunities, which we deliberately change and iteratively improve over time.
On Demand Advanced Course: Objectivism Through Induction
Get feedback on your nonfiction writing projects from ARI faculty at our regular drop-in workshop.
On-Demand Advanced Courses: Confusion papers
Recorded seminars by Dr. Leonard Peikoff, with discussions and assignments lead by Dr. Ben Bayer and Dr. Alex Silverman.
Resource Library: Philosophical Analysis
Recorded seminar on analyzing Johnathan Haidt's, “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion” lead by Onkar Ghate.
Resource Library: Ancient Greek Civilization
Recorded course on examining key works and developments in history, art, literature, philosophy, science, and politics of Greek Civilization through the 8th-4th centuries BCE lead by Dr. Jason Rheins.
Resource Library: How to Be a Productive Intellectual
A series of recorded in-depth discussions with guest intellectuals lead by Agustina Vergara Cid.
Resource Library: Advanced Writing Workshop
A series of recorded in-depth discussions with guest intellectuals lead by Dr. Jason Rheins.
Works in Progress
Graduate level workshop for sharing feedback among peers (with faculty involvement) on intellectual projects in development.
Advanced Seminar: Analyzing Philosophical Works
By-invitation reading group analyzing contemporary philosophical work for advanced ARI students lead by Ben Bayer.
Reading Groups
Topical book discussion groups on diverse intellectual works and fields.
Coaching Projects
One-on-one coaching support on individual intellectual projects or any aspect of work such as motivation, goals, challenges, interests, and so on.
Writing Lab
Get feedback on your nonfiction writing projects from ARI faculty at our regular drop-in workshop.
Seminar: Analyzing Current Events
Learn how to think deeply – and communicate effectively – about current events from the framework of Objectivism.
Advanced Topics in Objectivism
The seminar explores advanced and challenging topics in Objectivism, with participant-selected readings and questions for analysis.
Teach A Micro Course
Teaching is a powerful way to master an issue or field. This workshop provides an opportunity to develop and teach a short course in your area – and to gain expert feedback.
Fellowships
Pursue an Incubator training pathway part-time alongside building your career, or earning a graduate degree elsewhere; or full-time while working in a term-limited position at ARI.
Advanced Writing Workshop
A series of in-depth discussions and Q&As on different aspects of the writing process, techniques and reflections from professionals to help you hone your craft.
Advanced Speaking and Training Workshop
Learn principles of public speaking to gain mastery as a communicator of radical philosophic ideas.
In-Person Intensives
Gather with faculty and other members of the Incubator network for in-depth training opportunities.
Advisor/Mentoring Workshops
Project-driven mentorship to support your development; for instance, through contributing to ARI's Atlas Circle initiative, developing your Substack, applying to or preparing for graduate school, working on your dissertation.
Career Accelerator
By-invitation opportunities for career building, including tailored mentoring and grants for original nonfiction books.
Honors Internship
By invitation: Honors Interns develop intellectual projects with senior faculty guidance and support ARI programs through research, writing and administrative support. Usually full-time, 1-2 years; renewable. For ultra-high potential pre-career students.
What It Means To Be An Objectivist Intellectual
Ayn Rand's "For the New Intellectual"
Presented by Onkar Ghate | AynRandCon–Global 2021
Creating a New Generation of Energy Champions
Alex Epstein discusses his work with Onkar Ghate
Fueling an Intellectual Movement
Robert Mayhew, Greg Salmieri, and Tara Smith interviewed by Elan Journo
Filmed at OCON 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
For work/study roles, yes. We also sometimes provide grants to research fellows enrolled at another institution pursuing a Masters or PhD.
It is desirable but not always necessary. While prior study helps, what matters most is your potential and commitment.
No, our model is individualized and flexible. Many participants engage part-time alongside their studies.
No, but we're always looking for talented individuals. The Incubator prepares you for a variety of career paths both within and outside ARI.
The Intellectual Incubator replaces those programs, absorbing their key activities while introducing a more entrepreneurial, career-focused approach.