Ayn Rand on Politicians, Ideas and Compromise

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Posted on March 28, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

“Commentators often exhort some politician to place the interests of the country above his own (or his party’s) and to compromise with his opponents–and such exhortations are not addressed to petty grafters, but to reputable men. What does this mean? If the politician is convinced that his ideas are right, it is the country that he would betray by compromising. If he is convinced that his opponents’ ideas are wrong, it is the country that he would be harming. If he is not certain of either, then he should check his views for his own sake, not merely the country’s–because the truth or falsehood of his ideas should be of the utmost personal interest to him.”

–Ayn Rand, “Selfishness Without a Self,” Philosophy: Who Needs It

The Scope of Evidence Pertinent to a Proposition Corresponds to the Scope of the Proposition

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

General evidence can prove generalizations. Specific evidence is required for specific propositions. The scope of sensory data that can tie a statement to reality (serve as evidence) varies with the scope of the statement.

If I make the statement, “All men have heads,” then the scope of potential, direct evidence for this statement (and counterexamples) is all men. I can observe a few random men and have a sensory basis to at least hypothesize that “All men have heads,” is true. (Exactly when I can logically say that a generalization is proven, is the subject of the epistemology of induction. While the principles of general induction are not yet fully known, the philosophy of Objectivism and the principles of modern science/technology show that induction works. I recommend Dr. Peikoff’s course, Objectivism Through Induction.)

If, on the other hand, I make the statement that “Julius Oglethorpe III lives at 10 Warkworth Terrace in Cambridge, England,” then I can’t gain a basis for hypothesizing that statement (let alone proving it) by observing a few random men. I need evidence that pertains to the specific statement at hand. To hypothesize, I need to see effects of the fact that Julius Oglethorpe III exists, or the fact that 10 Warkworth Terrace exists. To prove this statement, I need to see a set of facts that all evidence shows can only come from the fact that a man with this name lives at this address.

In both cases, the evidence that warrants the hypothesis or conclusion reduces to sensory data. But the evidence for the specific statement is much more specific than that for the general statement.

[Note: This short article was derived from a longer comment I made at “The Christian Egoist” blog: D’Souza vs. Bernstein: Is Either Good for Mankind?]

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The Proof of Free Will (Libertarian Volition)

Taking Philosophy Seriously…

A Refutation of the Argument from Design

America Before The Entitlement State

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

This article by Yaron Brook and Don Watkins should be seen by all Americans, and indeed, everyone else. It describes how people dealt with sudden injuries, deaths and the various disasters that can befall people, before government welfare programs and Social Security:

America Before The Entitlement State

Here’s a video reading of a part of an essay from Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand:

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How to Show That Taxation is Robbery

QuickPoint 2: Altruism Supports Coercion…

The Nature of the Morality of Rational Egoism: Short Notes

19th-Century Capitalism Didn’t Create Poverty, But Reduced It

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

Here’s an article by Yaron Brook and Don Watkins on the near-laissez-faire capitalism of the 19th Century:

Capitalism In No Way Created Poverty, It Inherited It

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Related Posts:

How to Show That Taxation is Robbery

QuickPoint 2: Altruism Supports Coercion…

Why “Anarcho-Capitalism” is Wrongheaded

The Nature of the Morality of Rational Egoism: Short Notes

A Philosophy Professor Discusses Ayn Rand in his Ethics Class

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

Dr. Gregory Sadler of Marist College recently discussed Ayn Rand’s The Virtue of Selfishness in his Spring 2013 Ethics class and posted the video to YouTube:

Dr. Sadler is not an Objectivist, but he gives what is, in my view, a good introductory presentation on Rand’s ethics. I encourage anyone interested in the broader study of Rand in academia, to watch this video (at least in part) and leave polite comments on the YouTube video page.

My main critiques of Dr. Sadler’s presentation have already been voiced in the page comments. They are the following:

Overall, this is a very good presentation of Rand’s ethics. Thank you, Dr. Sadler.

Just a few points: Contrary to 52:48, Rand wouldn’t say the choice of friends is arbitrary, but ought to depend on their objective virtues/values. Vicious people harm one’s own life when you’re involved with them; virtuous people typically benefit one’s own life.

Also worth emphasizing: Man *creates* wealth/values (material and spiritual) by acting on proper reasoning. There isn’t a fixed “pie.”

Also, Rand regards virtues as eminently practical. A breach of integrity has very real, self-destructive consequences in the long-term. There is no gap between morally principled action and practical action. (Practical for achieving long-term flourishing.)

Finally, “Ayn” rhymes with “mine.” : )

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Atlas Shrugged, Altruism and Egoism

Values Are Relational But Not Subjective

The False Freedom of “Equality of Opportunity”

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

In mainstream discourse in the US, “equality of opportunity” is taken as an uncontroversial rallying cry for both “conservatives” and “modern liberals.” It’s typically seen as a more reasonable alternative to the openly socialist “equality of results.”

Don Watkins, of the blog, LaissezFaire, has written two posts exposing the fact that “equality of opportunity,” taken literally, is just as irrational and unjust a notion as “equality of results.” (If it’s not taken literally, then it’s an extremely vague term and shouldn’t be used.)

What matters for the justice of a society is not “equality of opportunity” but the absence of initiated coercion.

Just Say “No” to Equality of Opportunity

Who Needs Opportunity?

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How to Show That Taxation is Robbery

QuickPoint 2: Altruism Supports Coercion…

Values Are Relational, But Not Subjective

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

There are many people in the world who will say that values are subjective. You may or may not be one of them. For many, the reasoning behind this stance is that they see that different people value different things, and they think that if values were objective, then everyone would value the same things. So they conclude that all values are the opposite of objective, which is subjective.

This article will give evidence and argument that this view is mistaken; that this reasoning is based on a confusion about what it means for values to be objective.

First, let’s consider a simple physical situation: Two men are standing on opposite sides of a pole, as shown in Case 1 of the figure below. We are looking down on them, and they are both facing upward. For Person A, the pole is on the right. For Person B, the pole is on the left. Does this mean that the position of the pole is subjective? No. Both men can look objectively at the relationship of the pole to each one. If they specify whose relationship to the pole they are talking about, they can both agree on the fact of the relationship.

When Person A observes that the pole is on his right, Person B can observe that Person A is correct: relative to Person A, the pole is objectively on the right. They can also both agree that, relative to Person B, the pole is objectively on the left. The position of the pole is objective, but its physical relationship with Person A is different than with Person B. Continue reading →

An answer at last…

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The Social Metaphysics of Communism: MiG Pilot

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

The book, MiG Pilot, is the true story of a Soviet pilot who defected to the United States in 1976. As a MiG-25 pilot, Lieutenant Viktor Belenko was among the most elite officers of the Soviet military. Like all Soviet military men of the period, he was thoroughly indoctrinated in Communist ideals and fed misinformation about the West his whole life. Yet through many years of observation and logical thinking, he came to see that there was something deeply wrong with the USSR. The rampant drunkenness, dishonesty and economic stagnation he witnessed eventually drove him to fly his MiG-25 to Japan, seeking asylum in the United States–the very heart of the “Dark Forces” he had been taught to fear.

The following incident is from Lt. Belenko’s time as a MiG-25 pilot stationed at Chuguyevka in Southern Siberia. Belenko’s thoughts at the time are represented in {green braces.} Again, I stress that this book is nonfiction; as in, this actually happened:
Continue reading →

Why “Anarcho-Capitalism” is Wrongheaded

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Sword of Apollo

Objectivism rejects anarchism for very good reason.

In the following link, Dr. Harry Binswanger explains why an officially established (“monopolistic”) government is necessary for a free society, and why the “anarcho-capitalists'” objections to it are baseless:

Anarchism vs. Objectivism

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Related Posts:

How to Show That Taxation is Robbery

An Objectivist Refutation of Anarcho-Capitalism (Market Anarchy)

QuickPoint 2: Altruism Supports Coercion…

The Nature of the Morality of Rational Egoism: Short Notes

Why a Proper Ethics is Not a Set of Social Rules, But a Complete Way of Life