Independent judgment—as exhibited by the little boy in “The Emperor’s New Clothes”—is correct perception of the facts of reality and courage to acknowledge and assert those facts. This is a fundamental requirement of the free society. Unless each adult citizen possesses a significant amount of self-esteem expressed as independent judgment, such a society cannot last. The aim of this book is to explore the nature of independence and its relationship to personal and political freedom. Throughout the journey, we will find that psychology, especially the skill of introspection, plays a significant role in developing and maintaining independence in the individual and in generating the desire to live in a free society.

Independent Judgment and Introspection is based on the philosophy of Ayn Rand and the psychology of Nathaniel Branden and Edith Packer. Packer’s concepts of core evaluation and introspection heavily influence this work.