Humanism is the doctrine that there is only the real world, that reason is our means of knowledge, and that human well-being in this life is
Objectivists would try to employ any technology that reliably allowed them to live longer, fuller lives. It is wonderful and life-affirming
Question: I found the following text in an article by Patrick O'Neil (Journal of Libertarian Studies, vol. 7, no. 1) and would like to know
April 2008 -- Editor’s note: I’m pleased to yield my usual editorial space this month to Gene Holloway, director of operations and
Your argument is correct. But I will elaborate a little to make clear the Objectivist view.....
Love is an essential value we obtain from other people. In giving love, we are responding to our own values realized and made beautiful by a
Ayn Rand maintained the necessity of a government that kept its “hands off” the private lives of its citizens, while at the same time......
Down here in south Texas, I’m occasionally drawn unawares into conversations with congregants of the evangelical Cornerstone Church, whose..
Contrary to logical positivism, the cognitive meaning of a statement is not equal to its means of verification. Instead, the meaning of a...
An ideal Objectivist society would be one where there would be maximum individual freedom, and minimum governmental functions, primary among
People act unselfishly all the time. Indeed, that is one key to what is wrong with much of the world. It certainly explains why so many love
Question: Why is there no right to health care? Answer: The concept of an entitlement to health care has gained widespread support. Article 25 of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including … medical care.” Both the Democratic and Republican Party Platforms include language affirming their commitments to maintain “accessible” and “affordable” health care.
Question: If happiness is the highest moral goal humans can achieve, selfishness is virtuous and people should only receive what they deserve (no gifts), does Objectivism endorse cruelty or, on the other hand, giving help or aid to other forms of life (including humans) when they increase the selfish person’s happiness?
Question: European views have diverged substantially with Objectivist thinking since the treaty of Maastricht. Given this, what would be a reasonable approach for the United States to influence the thinking of this highly developed region? Answer: Objectivism calls for a political and moral revolution. In politics, it calls for absolute respect for human rights to life, liberty, and property. This means the separation of the state from the economy as well as from religion. For more on this, see my Q&A: " What is the Objectivist View of Law and Government? " or my essay " Radical for Capitalism ."
Thomas Sowell had a fine column yesterday, celebrating the achievements of John D. Rockefeller. Better yet, he put his tribute in proper context: “ Heroes of Old Were Creators—Not Talkers .” That is a bit of an exaggeration, inasmuch as great orators have long been celebrated. Perhaps a better title would have been: “Heroes of Old Were Creators—Not Just Talkers.”
Question: In class we are discussing skepticism, and we are trying to make the distinction between the dream state and awake. I have made the case in class as follows: first "I think therefore I am": the mere fact that we are thinking of these issues implies that we have consciousness. If we have consciousness, then there must be existence in which our consciousness presides. Ergo, existence precedes consciousness.
Question: My parents want to give me an extravagantly expensive graduation gift—a telescope. I would like to own it, but I know that it would cost them more than they can afford. I want to accept, but I feel it’s inappropriate. They’ve already spent the past 22 years providing me with all of my needs. A telescope is not a further need.
Question: How does Objectivism see nursing facilities for the aging, such as hospice care? Answer: No Objectivist organization that I know of has a detailed position on nursing facilities for the aging. But here are some general principles any Objectivist would apply:
Question: Relevant Objectivist terms and definitions, as I understand them, are: EXISTENT: something that exists (and has a physical basis) UNIT: an existent regarded as a separate member of a group of two or more similar members CONCEPT: a mental integration of two or more units which are isolated according to a specific characteristic(s) and united by a specific definition
Question: What about taxes to pay for workers who get injured? Answer: What about workers taking responsibility for their own lives and well-being by either buying insurance, pooling their resources with other workers in, say, a voluntary union, or by refusing to work for firms that do not provide adequate disability insurance?
Humanism is the doctrine that there is only the real world, that reason is our means of knowledge, and that human well-being in this life is
Objectivists would try to employ any technology that reliably allowed them to live longer, fuller lives. It is wonderful and life-affirming
Question: I found the following text in an article by Patrick O'Neil (Journal of Libertarian Studies, vol. 7, no. 1) and would like to know
April 2008 -- Editor’s note: I’m pleased to yield my usual editorial space this month to Gene Holloway, director of operations and
Your argument is correct. But I will elaborate a little to make clear the Objectivist view.....
Love is an essential value we obtain from other people. In giving love, we are responding to our own values realized and made beautiful by a
Ayn Rand maintained the necessity of a government that kept its “hands off” the private lives of its citizens, while at the same time......
Down here in south Texas, I’m occasionally drawn unawares into conversations with congregants of the evangelical Cornerstone Church, whose..
Contrary to logical positivism, the cognitive meaning of a statement is not equal to its means of verification. Instead, the meaning of a...
An ideal Objectivist society would be one where there would be maximum individual freedom, and minimum governmental functions, primary among
People act unselfishly all the time. Indeed, that is one key to what is wrong with much of the world. It certainly explains why so many love
Question: Why is there no right to health care? Answer: The concept of an entitlement to health care has gained widespread support. Article 25 of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including … medical care.” Both the Democratic and Republican Party Platforms include language affirming their commitments to maintain “accessible” and “affordable” health care.
Question: If happiness is the highest moral goal humans can achieve, selfishness is virtuous and people should only receive what they deserve (no gifts), does Objectivism endorse cruelty or, on the other hand, giving help or aid to other forms of life (including humans) when they increase the selfish person’s happiness?
Question: European views have diverged substantially with Objectivist thinking since the treaty of Maastricht. Given this, what would be a reasonable approach for the United States to influence the thinking of this highly developed region? Answer: Objectivism calls for a political and moral revolution. In politics, it calls for absolute respect for human rights to life, liberty, and property. This means the separation of the state from the economy as well as from religion. For more on this, see my Q&A: " What is the Objectivist View of Law and Government? " or my essay " Radical for Capitalism ."
Thomas Sowell had a fine column yesterday, celebrating the achievements of John D. Rockefeller. Better yet, he put his tribute in proper context: “ Heroes of Old Were Creators—Not Talkers .” That is a bit of an exaggeration, inasmuch as great orators have long been celebrated. Perhaps a better title would have been: “Heroes of Old Were Creators—Not Just Talkers.”
Question: In class we are discussing skepticism, and we are trying to make the distinction between the dream state and awake. I have made the case in class as follows: first "I think therefore I am": the mere fact that we are thinking of these issues implies that we have consciousness. If we have consciousness, then there must be existence in which our consciousness presides. Ergo, existence precedes consciousness.
Question: My parents want to give me an extravagantly expensive graduation gift—a telescope. I would like to own it, but I know that it would cost them more than they can afford. I want to accept, but I feel it’s inappropriate. They’ve already spent the past 22 years providing me with all of my needs. A telescope is not a further need.
Question: How does Objectivism see nursing facilities for the aging, such as hospice care? Answer: No Objectivist organization that I know of has a detailed position on nursing facilities for the aging. But here are some general principles any Objectivist would apply:
Question: Relevant Objectivist terms and definitions, as I understand them, are: EXISTENT: something that exists (and has a physical basis) UNIT: an existent regarded as a separate member of a group of two or more similar members CONCEPT: a mental integration of two or more units which are isolated according to a specific characteristic(s) and united by a specific definition
Question: What about taxes to pay for workers who get injured? Answer: What about workers taking responsibility for their own lives and well-being by either buying insurance, pooling their resources with other workers in, say, a voluntary union, or by refusing to work for firms that do not provide adequate disability insurance?