 Questions and Motives
by Luke Setzer
The vice of snooping has its roots in human tribalism. Such unbridled and uncivilized curiosity manifests itself in the form of questions that invade privacy. The best defense against such intrusiveness comes from the unyielding application of the virtue of self-assertiveness and the contextual application of the virtue of honesty. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (23 messages)
The "F" Word
by Fraser Stephen-Smith
If someone is offended by the phrase, “I don’t like it when people yell ‘fuck’ inappropriately,” then they are foolish. They are fools who adhere to a commandment, “Thou shall not swear,” without questioning the reasoning behind the commandment. These fools have allowed their behaviour to be governed, without question, by a word—they are subservient to a sound. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (74 messages)
The Non-Art of Objectivism
by Marcus Bachler
There has been much criticism, on this website and elsewhere over the years, of the moralizing and cultish behaviour of Objectivists who digest and regurgitate Ayn Rand’s opinions and her philosophical pronouncements. I always believed that this dogmatic adherence to Objectivist doctrine was quite a recent phenomenon, probably encouraged by Ayn Rand herself and continued by her protege Peikoff. However, I’ve had to revise that opinion, because in The Art of Non-Fiction, I found exactly the same type of Objectivist cultish behaviour being criticized by Ayn Rand herself. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (70 messages)
The Miracle of Breakfast
by Peter Cresswell
The 'miracle of breakfast' is that it is no miracle at all. It is the fruit of freedom. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (12 messages)
Benefactors versus Malefactors
by Luke Setzer
Assessing the character trait of benevolence in others provides the fastest way to size up those others as worthy of your time and effort in building productive relationships. This holds true regardless of how they may identify themselves. Other qualities, such as their capacity to reason effectively, certainly deserve attention. However, developing a large pool of benevolent network contacts with whom to form more concrete and productive relationships will best serve your life. Relationships with malefactors deserve swift terminations regardless of their sophisticated objections. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (34 messages)
Flying
by Michael E. Marotta
Flying an airplane requires the integration of complex knowledge and uncompromising virtues in order to perform an unequivocal task. Flying is a supremely intellectual challenge that earns complete emotional satisfaction -- but only after the fact, because emotions have no place in the process. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (14 messages)
Wednesday
November 24, 2004 |
Atheism: A Question of Conscience
by George W. Cordero
They say that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel; I tell you that atheism is his first refuge. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (316 messages)
Introverts, Extroverts, and Howard Roark
by Joseph Rowlands
[Editor's note, in his capacity as Founder & Principal - one of the chief values of SOLO was always going to be, & has been, its smashing of false dichotomies over & above those identified by Ayn Rand. I believe I have identified a couple of these myself, but I confess the extrovert-introvert one, so comprehensively busted in this article, is one that never occurred to me. Joe, I'm proud of you! Again! - Linz]
The introvert and extrovert concepts are supposed to deal with motivations and character traits. That's why shy people are considered to be introverts, while the party animals are considered extroverts. But there's one person who screws up this whole view of introvert vs. extrovert. His name is Howard Roark. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (69 messages)
Creating Political Pressure Groups
by Joseph Rowlands
When you make your choice on which candidate will do the most damage, keep in mind the wider context provided by this principle. A bad law that’s temporary is one thing. A bad law that’s permanent is quite another. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (10 messages)
The Steps to Attainment
by Joe Trusnik
Achieving your goals is always a fine prospect, but how is that done, and why is it that some people simply don't advocate the stance in word or deed? (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (1 message)
...
by Orion Reasoner
... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (109 messages)
Rules of Engagement for Those Discussions Aimed at Progress (ie. Rational Discussions)
by Ed Thompson
Why write on this issue? Rand held that there are no fundamental conflicts among the interests of rational men. If this notion is indeed true, then great benefit would almost certainly await those who adopt a path toward this goal of dealing with others rationally. Giving this issue the time and energy it deserves... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (27 messages)
Bogeyman Be Gone: Reflections on Nyctophobia and Child-Rearing
by Barry Kayton
Imagine you're six years old. Imagine it's late at night. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (3 messages)
Why I Plan to Homeschool
by Betty Kayton
When I tell people that I intend home-schooling my children, should I have any one day, I am met with shock and horror. Even the most open-minded of my friends and colleagues are stunned that I could even consider such an option. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (46 messages)
Thinking Outside of the Euclidean Box
by Brett Holverstott
"Let no one come to our school, who has not first learned the Elements." (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (11 messages)
Intellectual Property
by Duncan Bayne
The concept of 'intellectual property' is the source of much debate nowadays. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (7 messages)
Thursday
November 21, 2002 |
The Controversy over Gene Patenting, Part Two
by Anthony Teets
Part two of two parts. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (4 messages)
Wednesday
November 20, 2002 |
The Controversy over Gene Patenting, Part One
by Anthony Teets
Is it ethical to patent a gene? Is it ethical to deny such patents? (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (2 messages)
Antitrust Laws--A Joke?
by Joseph Rowlands
Antitrust laws should receive an award for Dumbest Idea Put into Practice by Politicians. If it weren't for the damage they do, they would be a hilarious example of government stupidity.... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (0 messages)
Cogs in Whose Wheel?
by Kernon Gibes
Viewing people as cogs in a wheel is a dangerous distortion, for when the wheel breaks, the cogs will not happily be stuffed back into place... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (5 messages)
Management of, by, and for the Numbers
by Kernon Gibes
It's been a long and frustrating day. The plant is waiting on your analysis to troubleshoot a manufacturing problem. The delay will impact product supply, but you're having problems with your computer. The software keeps crashing. You call, Hal, the only computer person assigned to your site. But he can't help you unless he has an authorization number. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (2 messages)
The Revolution Begins at Home
by Andrew Bates
Self-improvement by teaching good ideas. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (24 messages)
 The Quantum Aristotle
by Peter Cresswell
Since the Renaissance the west has revelled in technological progress and scientific advances - even as the philosophical ideas underpinning these successes have been undercut and undermined. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (22 messages)
Principles and the Law
by Joseph Rowlands
Laws are an attempt to objectify the use of force in society. They describe the moral boundaries that cannot be crossed, and the punishment for crossing them. Laws, though, are written in the form of rules. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (5 messages)
I Are a Student
by Russell Madden
Philadelphia was once a center for the explosion of liberty that helped create the United States. Perhaps one day its citizens will abandon the illusion that there can be a "middle-way" between freedom and its opposite. Perhaps one day they will opt for true educational reform and, at last, set their students free. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (0 messages)
|
