An Objectivist correspondent writes me:

Per your recent post, I read Walter Block’s article replying to Peter Schwartz. Unlike Block, I’ve never subscribed to the view that contemporary Objectivism is a cult. A cult is a social pyramid scheme where the leaders use coercion, even violence, to keep the followers in
line. Cults do not, generally speaking, “excommunicate” their own
members. That goes against the very purpose of a cult, which is to grow a following.

Objectivism is almost a reverse pyramid scheme where everyone views themself as the leader. An Objectivist once told me that the problem with Objectivism was that they all wanted to be generals, leaving no soldiers. I think he was spot-on. Rand’s use of romantic fiction to spread her philosophy managed to inspire a lot of disciples, but they all fashioned themselves as Roark or Galt. There are no “middlemen” in Randian fiction, only prime movers and parasites.

I think this is what leads to the practice of excommunicating people. It’s less about ideology than it is about the banisher proclaiming his “leadership,” much the same way Donald Trump fires people on television.

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