Podcasts about objectivist epistemology

Dr. Lennox, emeritus professor at University of Pittsburgh, is a renowned expert in the history and philosophy of biology, publishing extensively in the field. His books include Aristotle's Philosophy of Biology: Studies in the Origins of Life Science, and, most recently, Aristotle on Inquiry. His other primary research focus is Charles Darwin. Dr. Lennox has also contributed to scholarly books on Rand's philosophy, including A Companion to Ayn Rand, Concepts and Their Role in Knowledge: Reflections on Objectivist Epistemology, and Metaethics, Egoism, and Virtue: Studies in Ayn Rand's Normative Theory (he was also co-editor, with Allan Gottelf, of the latter two). https://www.hps.pitt.edu/people/james...https://jglennox.com/Show is Sponsored by https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron & https://www.fountainheadcasts.comJoin this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/@YaronBrook/joinLike what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTxSupport the Show and become a sponsor: https://www.patreon.com/YaronBrookShow or https://yaronbrookshow.com/membershipOr make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJContinue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3#philosophy #stoicism #Morality ​ ​#Objectivism​ #AynRand #politicsThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3276901/advertisement

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Ziemowit Gowin, Harry Binswanger, Shoshana Milgram, and Don Watkins discuss new course offerings at the Ayn Rand University (ARU). Among the topics covered: The goals of the Ayn Rand University and how students can benefit from it; Shoshana Milgram's course Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment: Investigating the Mind of a Murderer; How ARU courses facilitate in-depth study of Objectivism through feedback and interaction; Harry Binswanger's new courses on Objectivist Logic and Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology; The best ARU courses for those new to Objectivism; How ARU helps to train new intellectuals; How ARU coaches help students to personalize the program and apply it to their lives; New courses on Philosophy, Work, and Business and Persuasion Mastery; Wrap up: ARU logistics, testimonials, and application information. Mentioned in the discussion are the website for applying to ARU and new reading groups focused on Ayn Rand's non-fiction, and Ayn Rand's essay “For The New Intellectual.” This episode was recorded on April 5, 2023. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch previous episodes here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PayhoZ6SSk Podcast audio:

Callers and Interview with  Harry Binswanger (/ˈbɪnzwæŋər/; born 1944) is an American philosopher. He is an Objectivist and a board member of the Ayn Rand Institute. He was an associate of Ayn Rand, working with her on The Ayn Rand Lexicon and helping her edit the second edition of Rand's Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology. He is the author of How We Know: Epistemology on an Objectivist Foundation

This is part 2 of a deep dive into the role of induction in objectivist epistemology as interpreted by an objectivist scholar of Ayn Rand. Thomas Miovas Jr operates a website about Objectivism here: https://www.appliedphilosophyonline.com. The relevant paper can be found here: https://www.appliedphilosophyonline.com/induction-in-philosophy-and-the-special-sciences.html?fbclid=IwAR2cNLVGxyguM5R2TXaYe3OVclhw34lAdIKN0Mp13zTLK-J8dPMmnfNVlOs It is the above paper I am analysing. In this episode I discuss more about induction as it is used by Thomas and his invocation of some science - physics in particular and the broader objectivist usage of the term "induction" and Thomas Miovas attempts to salvage the word despite noticing issues with it as it is typically formulated. This leads to a comparison between Rand's style of philosophy - especially epistemology and it's tendency towards abstractions and Karl Popper's far more practical and concrete problem centred approach. Herein I look at how theory-laden any observation is - like simply observing how the sky can be blue. What does "The sky is blue" mean? Is there a sky? Is the air blue? What is scattering? Popper's vision of how knowledge is constructed accounts for this complex notion of our minds coming to solve such problems: Rand's on the other hand is left grappling with why we do not "observe the facts of reality" as she, and other objectivists such as Thomas Miovas, claim we can.

This is an excerpt from a longer episode yet to come. After my analysis of Objectivist Epistemology (so far) I was implored to read a book by objectivist "David Harriman" titled "The Logical Leap: Induction in Physics" (2010). It is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Leap-Induction-Physics/dp/0451230051/ref=sr_1_1?crid=B5MBF53NNWR0&keywords=The+Logical+Leap&qid=1664073086&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjU0IiwicXNhIjoiMS41NCIsInFzcCI6IjEuNDYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+logical+leap%2Caps%2C334&sr=8-1  This is my analysis of a couple of important sections of the book.

This is in response to a paper by Objectivist scholar Thomas Miovas Jr who operates a website about Objectivism here: https://www.appliedphilosophyonline.com. The relevant paper can be found here: https://www.appliedphilosophyonline.com/induction-in-philosophy-and-the-special-sciences.html?fbclid=IwAR2cNLVGxyguM5R2TXaYe3OVclhw34lAdIKN0Mp13zTLK-J8dPMmnfNVlOs In this episode I discuss induction broadly speaking, the objectivist usage of the term and Thomas Miovas attempts to salvage the word despite noticing issues with it as it is typically formulated. This leads to a comparison between Rand's style of philosophy - especially epistemology and it's tendency towards abstractions and Karl Popper's far more practical and concrete problem centred approach. Herein I look at how theory-laden any observation is - like simply observing how the sky can be blue. What does "The sky is blue" mean? Is there a sky? Is the air blue? What is scattering? Popper's vision of how knowledge is constructed accounts for this complex notion of our minds coming to solve such problems: Rand's on the other hand is left grappling with why we do not "observe the facts of reality" as she, and other objectivists such as Thomas Miovas, claim we can.

Here I read from Ayn Rand's work "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology" and reflect upon it by comparing it to actual epistemology (how knowledge is created). We explain the misconceptions in the view that knowledge is all about the goings on in minds and how Rand's epistemology is root-and-branch subjectivist. Ayn Rand is an excellent defender of free trade and capitalism, the inherent value of people: her ideas are pro-human and broadly optimistic. However the epistemology is fundamentally flawed containing pure speculation about how people learn (so-called "concept formation") and disconnected from problems in (for example) science and where knowledge is being constructed. Her examples are highly abstract rather than being based in the concrete reality of the history of ideas and for this reasons she reaches the same conclusions as almost all other philosophers on this topic. Namely that knowledge is derived from reality through our senses (empiricism) and is induced by noticing similarities between objects. This is not explanatory, it is not insightful and it is demonstrably false - as I explain.

This is my succinct explanation of "Objective Knowledge" - the concept and not the book of the same name by Karl Popper. However that book of course informs this entire thesis of what Objective Knowledge is. My view of objective knowledge is augmented by more recent advances in epistemology, philosophy and physics by David Deutsch as expressed largely in "The Beginning of Infinity" but also with some reference to "Constructor Theory". I will place more precise time stamps on this episode later but for now there exist roughly 4 parts to this episode: 1. Objectivity vs Subjectivity 2. Objective Knowledge 3. Other ideas about epistemology 4. Conclusions.   This episode not only explains "objective knowledge" from the so-called "Popperian" or "Critical Rationalist" perspective in the 21st century but also serves to refute the dominant other competing epistemological notions. In the order I deal with them using quotations from their own proponents and "primary sources" they are: Bayesian Epistemology (as endorsed by other "rationalists" and as explained in places like www.lesswrong.com) and "Objectivist Epistemology" (as first explained by Ayn Rand and promoted by, among others, the Ayn Rand Institute and self-identified "objectivists"). I show how both of these alternatives views of epistemology are not "objective" in two senses. And those two senses of objective are the criteria for objective and are only met by the Popperian framework.

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza and Agustina Vergara Cid address questions about Objectivism submitted by the podcast's audience. Among the topics covered: How did Rand handle the problem of long- versus short-term happiness in her own life? Did she enjoy leisure activities?The recreational activities that gave Rand joy;Why Rand lived up to her ideal of using philosophy to pursue happiness as the purpose of life;The value of relaxation versus escapism in leisure activities;How work as a central purpose integrates with other values;Is objectivity possible?The possibility of objectivity understood as the use of a logical method;Why denying objectivity amounts to denying free will;Why one can be objective and still reach a wrong conclusion;The importance of using methods that guard against error;In what form does a potential exist, and how does it relate to an actuality?Why every potentiality is a type of actuality;How understanding this distinction can help us solve real-life issues, like the abortion debate;What does the “folly of altruism” achieve?Understanding Ayn Rand's use of “don't bother to examine a folly — ask yourself only what it accomplishes”;How altruism is used to rationalize forms of evil;Understanding Ayn Rand's fictional characters in context;Whether Howard Roark is an example of total objectivity. Mentioned in the discussion are the Ayn Rand Lexicon entries on “Happiness” and “Objectivity,” the books 100 Voices: An Oral History of Ayn Rand and Facets of Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff's book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, and Rand's own Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology. This episode was recorded on February 9, 2022. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch previous episodes here. If you'd like to ask a question to be answered on a future episode, please send an email to newideal@aynrand.org with “Podcast question” in the subject header. https://youtu.be/mk9XvcOHSUQ Podcast audio:

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer, Mike Mazza and Agustina Vergara Cid discuss answers to questions about Objectivism submitted by Objectivist Academic Center students and the audience.   Among the topics covered: Question 1: Should an independent man accept charity?Sub-question: Should one accept charity from someone who is sacrificing?Question 2: Could direct taxation be justified during wartime?Sub-question: Are “free riders” in a voluntarily funded government a problem?Question 3: What is Ayn Rand’s definition of knowledge?Sub-question: What are Objectivism’s resources for addressing the “Gettier problem”?Question 4: Are some Ayn Rand fans dogmatic? Isn’t it better to disagree with Objectivism than to agree with it dogmatically?ARI’s Objectivist Academic Center. Mentioned in the discussion are Ayn Rand’s novel The Fountainhead, her book Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, and her essays “Government Financing in a Free Society” in The Virtue of Selfishness and “The Wreckage of the Consensus” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. You can apply for the Objectivist Academic Center here, and sign up for the OAC Preview summer seminars here. This podcast was recorded on May 5, 2021. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here. Podcast audio:

Making good decisions can be tough, and for some of us, making certain decisions can feel like torture. Here are some ideas for more easily distinguishing what options will best serve your life.   Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening right now.   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/objectivestandard Twitter: https://twitter.com/ObjStdInstitute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/objectivestandardinstitute/   Email Jon at jon@objectivestandard.org with questions, comments, or topic suggestions.   Also check out:   “Purpose, Value Hierarchies, and Happiness” by Craig Biddle: https://theobjectivestandard.com/2014/05/purpose-value-hierarchies-happiness/   Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology by Ayn Rand: https://amzn.to/35Filfi   Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown: https://amzn.to/2RzrCx4   Rational Egoism: The Morality for Human Flourishing by Craig Biddle: https://amzn.to/3iCCXsj The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand: https://amzn.to/3k5B4V5

"The philosophy of Objectivism holds that all human knowledge is reached through reason, the human mental faculty of understanding the world abstractly and logically. Aristotle called man "the rational animal" because it is the faculty of reason that most distinguishes humans from other creatures. But we do not reason automatically. We are beings of free will and we are fallible. This is why we need the science of knowledge—epistemology—to teach us what knowledge is and how to achieve it." In this episode of Apex LTP we chat with Philosophy Professor Rick Repetti to Understand how we know what we know. Apex Level To Power is a podcast that examines the inner workings of human interactions and teaches you how to succeed within your own interpersonal relationships. Change your level, change your life, change the world.

In this episode of Functional Philosophy, I answer the following questions: 01:14 - "I know people who went there entire lives narcissistic, irrational and unhappy. Does this mean happiness is not essential for survival?" 02:29 - "The vast majority of Ayn Rand's books have an audio version, whether digital or on CD. However, why has there never been an audio version made for Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology?" 03:50 - "My question is, what, if any, connection is there between altruism and child abuse? Do you think that there is one, and if so could you help make this connection explicit for me? Can it be a coincidence that the most altruistic institutions in the world, those such as the Catholic Church, harbour so many paedophiles? In the UK, we have seen many instances of the mass rape of young girls by organised Muslim gangs, (another belief system built on an altruistic morality), is this connection just coincidental? Or an example of correlation but not causation? I would be grateful to hear your thoughts on the matter." *** Functional Philosophy is the weekly Q&A podcast that helps you gain and strengthen the philosophical foundations required to achieve certainty, success, and happiness. Subscribe to hear philosopher Charles Tew, an expert on Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, answer your questions on philosophy, politics, career, romance, and more. New episodes on Mondays. Website: https://www.charlestew.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/charlestew Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/charlestew

What does freedom require? In this video, I present the Objectivist view of Man and Government to help further your understanding of why it is necessary to have an objective view of reality to achieve a free society and protect it. Helpful books for those intrigued by the ideas discussed in this video: Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology by Ayn Rand - https://amzn.to/2DcRybQ The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand - https://amzn.to/2zOUBng Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand - https://amzn.to/2DyZFk7 ----------------------------------------SOCIAL MEDIA------------------------------------------ MrHilster.com - http://www.mrhilster.com Twitter - http://twitter.mrhilster.com Facebook - https://facebook.mrhilster.com Instagram - https://instagram.mrhilster.com IGTV - https://igtv.mrhilster.com SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.mrhilster.com Minds - https://minds.mrhilster.com Gab - https://gab.mrhilster.com Special thanks to https://www.youtube.com/user/teknoaxe for the music, it's fantastic!

In this episode of Functional Philosophy, I answer the following questions: 1. What is the proper role of sexual fantasy and masturbation in a rational individual's life? Does self-pleasure and fantasy have different significance for men and women? Is there a such thing as immoral sexual fantasies? Can someone change their sexual fantasies through introspection and if so how? 2. Do you have any opinion on Elon Musk? I've read his biography and have a luke warm opinion of him. He seems rational and productive on the one hand and so explicitly awful on the other. What can explain someone who achieved so much and is so irrational elsewhere. His 'first-principles thinking' strikes me as very Rationalistic/Cartesian, if that is any help. 3. What can someone do to become better at introspection? Is it a skill that can be learned at all? Are there any resources or methods you would suggest? Or is this easier than I am making it out to be? For context, I have already read Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology and plan to reread it as soon as I get the chance. *** Functional Philosophy is the show in which Objectivist philosopher Charles Tew helps you gain and strengthen the philosophical foundations required to achieve certainty, success, and happiness. If you're curious to see how Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism can bring revolutionary clarity to your life, give it a listen. Website: www.charlestew.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/charlestew Patreon: www.patreon.com/charlestew

On Rand's Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (1967) and "The Objectivist Ethics" (1961). First Rand grounds everyday human knowledge, largely by dismissing the concerns of other philosophers (even those whom she unknowingly parrots) as absurd. Then she uses this certainty to argue for her semi-Nietzschean vision of Great Men who master their emotions and rely only on themselves.  Looking for the full Citizen version?

Upcoming nvc conference in SoCal in Aprilhttp://chooseconnection.squarespace.com/nvc-conference/Bali drugs: Death sentence for Briton Lindsay Sandifordhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21137649http://www.news.com.au/world/british-woman-gets-bali-death-sentence-over-cocaine-smuggling/story-fndir2ev-1226559509016Freedom--An Ethical Issuehttp://www.logicallearning.net/libfreedomethica.htmlhttp://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/morality.htmlhttp://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/self-interest.htmlIntroduction to Objectivist Epistemology by Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff, Harry Binswangerhttp://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_nonfiction_introduction_to_objectivist_epistemologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoralityI invite you to participate in an eight-week counseling group (each weekly session will be 1.5hrs)--please email me at wes@happinesscounseling.com, and we'll fine-tune the program.http://happinesscounseling.com/group-sessions-2/bumper music "The Great Divide" by VNV Nationhttp://www.vnvnation.com/ to comment, please go to http://completeliberty.com/magazine/category/91697

Logic is about understanding reality in a non-contradictory way and how can we see things for what they are. Metaphysical Laws 1.Identity 2.Causality 3.Non-Contradiction Topic: Today's show is a personal exercise to help me let go of a long-standing resentment against comedian and political commentator Bill Maher. Cory, Osborne and I analyze several clips from his HBO show, Real Time With Bill Maher, primarily focusing on two fallacies: composition and division. Many tangents result! Composition: This fallacy is a result of reasoning from the properties of the parts of the whole to the properties of the whole itself--it is an inductive error. Division: This fallacy is the reverse of composition. It is the misapplication of deductive reasoning. One fallacy of division argues falsely that what is true of the whole must be true of individual parts. Source: Logical Fallacies Handlist "The process of forming and applying concepts contains the essential pattern of two fundamental methods of cognition: induction and deduction. The process of observing the facts of reality and of integrating them into concepts is, in essence, a process of induction. The process of subsuming new instances under a known concept is, in essence, a process of deduction." -Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (p28) This is an edited version the 11-1-12 live show with additional non-live segments. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Kickstart My Heart" Motley Crue Look Closer: Logical Fallacies Handlist http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html Hasty Generalization http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html#hasty_generalization_anchor Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Logical Fallacy: Tu Quoque http://www.fallacyfiles.org/tuquoque.html Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/index.html

Picture: Immanuel Kant and his shadow Logic is about understanding reality in a non-contradictory way and how can we see things for what they are. Metaphysical Laws 1.Identity 2.Causality 3.Non-Contradiction Topic: Wes Bertrand (Complete Liberty Podcast) joins me to discuss what he calls the fallacy to rule them all - the stolen concept. "When modern philosophers declare that axioms are a matter of arbitrary choice, and proceed to choose complex, derivative concepts as the alleged axioms of their alleged reasoning, one can observe that their statements imply and depend on “existence,” “consciousness,” “identity,” which they profess to negate, but which are smuggled into their arguments in the form of unacknowledged, “stolen” concepts." -Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (p59–60) This is an edited version the 10-18-12 Ustream-only live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. To watch the full, unedited video show, click here. Bumper Music: "Cypher(Instrumental)" Duke West Lake "Head Over Heals" Tears For Fears Look Closer: Complete Liberty Podcast http://completeliberty.com/ The Self-Refuting Idea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-refuting_idea Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ The Stolen Concept, by Nathaniel Branden http://www.nathanielbranden.com/the-stolen-concept/

"Logic is man’s method of reaching conclusions objectively by deriving them without contradiction from the facts of reality—ultimately, from the evidence provided by man’s senses. If men reject logic, then the tie between their mental processes and reality is severed; all cognitive standards are repudiated, and anything goes; any contradiction, on any subject, may be endorsed (and simultaneously rejected) by anyone, as and when he feels like it." -Any Rand “Nazism and Subjectivism,” The Objectivist, Feb. 1971 Topic: Wes Bertrand joins me to discuss the foundational concepts in the science of logic. We use the work of Leonard Peikoff (Objectivism: The Philosphy of Ayn Rand and An Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology) as our guide. Logic is about understanding reality in a non-contradictory way and how can we see things for what they are. -Why truth is more important than comfort -Subjectivism -Percepts to Concepts -The Stolen Concept -The Problem With Objectivism -Attitudes and Values -Approach, Communicating Effectively Objectivism (5 Branches of Philosophy) 1. Metaphysics 2. Epistemology-Logic 3. Ethics 4. Politics 5. Aesthetics Metaphysical Laws 1. Identity 2. Causality 3. Non-Contradiction Bumper Music: "If I Ruled the World (Instrumental)" NAS Look Closer: Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ Objectivism: The Philosphy of Ayn Rand http://attitudeadjustment.tripod.com/Books/OPAR.htm An Introduction to Objectivism Part1 - Lecture by Leonard Peikoff http://youtu.be/cW-xUEYaBnU http://TragedyandHope.com http://www.tragedyandhope.com/ Rand's Razor http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/rands_razor.html Achieving “mind like water” through Getting Things Done http://www.alanfurth.com/achieving-mind-like-water-through-getting-things-done/ Trivium http://www.triviumeducation.com/trivium/

The purpose of talking about the negativity of politics is to create a better world for everyone The moral double standard of government must be challenged People comply all the time for all kinds of reasons "Agents of the State" do not work for us; they work for those "in charge" Cops: America's one and only--by force! A legalized monopoly on police force will always use that force against you Public property leads to making victims out of all of us, by "agents of the State" Impounding equals theft equals extortion racket Many "businesses" collude with those in government and use the force of the State to make money The goal of government is to maintain obedience (in order to "make" money and keep control) In traditional education, kids are managed, watched, and told what to do by those who presume to be "authorities" over them, which leads directly to statism Arbitrary enforcement of unjust laws makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Typical "news" stories don't have truth and freedom in mind Government as Jabba the Hut... Episode 3: A Young Person's Guide to the American Political System http://schoolsucks.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2009-08-24T09_20_02-07_00 The illusion of freedom is fostered on multiple fronts in multiple ways The "authority" of the family--i.e., the head of household--has always held sway and generated the fear mechanism By what right, standard, and code do you presume to rule over me? It's incumbent on parents to see their kids as equally deserving of respect Unschooling principles are based on a mutually respectful code of morality And kids who are unschooled according to rational moral principles won't tolerate tyranny as adults Each generation is within reach of complete liberty; it's just a matter of how much of your life you want to take back that has been stolen from you "Public property" is a contradiction in terms, and a sure-fire way for authoritarian sociopaths to treat others unjustly Our distinct lack of freedom is the issue and idea of our age... The common denominator of socio-economic problems is government, and the irrational/unjust memes fostering it Hernando de Soto's misguided ideas about property rights http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitextlo/int_hernandodesoto.html The illusion of property rights serves the interests of those in power to essentially harvest the products of the free-range slaves Lack of understanding in economics and human motivation leads to fears about exploitation by property owners Re-educate thyself in the nature of freedom: http://tolfa.us Feel free to rate and review CLP... http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=254220370 The fundamental difference between Marxism and Objectivism (property understood and applied) is logic http://wiki.objectivismonline.net/wiki/Introduction_to_Objectivist_Epistemology http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/epistemology.html http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/objectivism.html Most philosophers throughout history have denied the validity of the senses and thus forward illogical epistemology Do you think that freedom should be the highest value for human beings? Reason, purpose, and self-esteem all require freedom Both personal and political freedom are necessary to live a life proper to a human being Rationalizations for statist memes serve as sick substitutes for genuine choices in a free marketplace The founders of Sudbury Valley School unfortunately incorporated "democratic" statism into an unschooling school (free school) environment - http://tinyurl.com/leukmc Being told that you have "a voice" in a democracy is basically saying that you don't exist as a respectable person The obedience meme is widespread, even among the liberty movement Some have decided NOT to obey - Lauren Canario Eminent Domain Arrest (in 2005) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ElrlwnMrA Is the lack of freedom in your life preferable to experiencing the consequences of living freely? With the moral code of altruism, there is no end to the sacrifices and thus rationalizations Only a tireless disobedient minority (of agorist intellectuals) can accelerate the process of achieving complete liberty If you're not doing anything to protest the injustices of those in government, and if you're not demanding better behavior, nothing is going to change Lots of wealthy businesspersons "legally" try to pay as little taxes as possible, which concedes the immoral premise of statism and emboldens statist oppressors Civil disobedience--based on the principle of self-ownership and property rights--is the moral thing to do, because individuals should be respected "Under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison." H.D.T. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience_(Thoreau) Reacting violently to political oppressors not only plays into the hands (fists and guns) of the authoritarian sociopaths, but it also leaves the authoritarian/obedience memes intact Nothing trumps your mind, volition, and life The greatest motivation and benefit of defying unjust demands is internal Those who believe that they are moral must come to terms with enslaving and incarcerating rights-respecting individuals Supporters, video cameras and the Internet are the primary methods of showing the immoral and unjust behavior of governmental "officials" (and shaming them) Complying--remaining libertarian talkers--makes it seem as if injustice isn't happening Stefan Molyneux's contrary messages: http://www.freedomainradio.com/Traffic_Jams/FDR_1448_working_for_the_state.mp3 http://www.freedomainradio.com/Traffic_Jams/FDR_1369_Tricky_Trollz.mp3 If we believe that it's moral and practical to obey, then neither those in government (nor bullies) will change their behavior as a consequence You're never going to get a significant fraction of people on board the liberty movement unless you do disobey, and incur the consequences of the code of immorality that's being foisted on people Violent resistance to governmental "officials" unjust demands basically would lead to your death and their death, and perhaps death of the liberty movement The authoritarian/obedience meme has existed for centuries--but it's time to evolve, and it would be a shame if we didn't Check out the activism in Keene, NH - http://freekeene.com Freedom Roundtable - 2009 Liberty Forum - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUAoeQ-6Q2o In America, we have the rhetoric and pretense of freedom The next-step challenge is to get rid of the behavioral contradictions, to walk the talk All those in governmental schools need to listen to Brett's School Sucks Podcast - http://edu-lu-tion.com The horrible injustice perpetrated on Irwin Schiff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irwin_Schiff#Convictions_for_1997_through_2002_tax_years Peter Schiff on his father, Irwin Schiff - http://motorhomediaries.com/schiff/ The immoral man whose job Schiff wants - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_history_of_Christopher_Dodd The IRS is an institution that is evil to the core--they aggress against rights-respecting persons and their property Even if you're fully educated about complete liberty, as long as you comply with tyrannical attitudes, nothing really changes for the better For the convenience of the government, and on account of his heroic efforts, Daniel is no longer part of the Navy: http://immoralityofwar.blogspot.com/2009/09/day-131-end-of-my-military-enslavement.html War is the health of the State, and the State promotes war, first and foremost on "it's citizens" via taxation and regulation http://warisimmoral.com bumper music "Rise Above" by Black Flag (and Intro: "Richard Feynman: Disrepect for Authority" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhD0MxacnIE ) http://www.myspace.com/blackflag80shardcore  http://www.sstsuperstore.com/product.asp?showproduct=SST007-CD to comment, please go to http://completeliberty.com/magazine/category/91697  

Economics of Police Brutality by Art Carden http://www.independent.org/blog/?p=174 All of the world's problems could be solved is we had clearly defined ownership The contradiction of "public property" and the unaddressed fears of ownership WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT (AFTER A BIT OF INSPECTION) http://completeliberty.com/chapter3.php Psychology of Ownership http://www.logicallearning.net/libpsychologyofo.html Competition is a civilizing force; externalities explained (they're all around us) The Obviousness of Anarchy by John Hasnas http://www.mises.org/journals/scholar/hasnas.pdf Riding shotgun with a cop; the-end-justifies-the-means argument to provide "security" Part 1: http://freekeene.com/2008/10/21/conversation-with-shane-maxfield-kpd-lt-part-15/ Part 2: http://freekeene.com/2008/10/22/conversation-with-shane-maxfield-kpd-lt-part-25/ Part 3: http://freekeene.com/2008/10/23/conversation-with-shane-maxfield-kpd-lt-part-35/ Part 4: http://freekeene.com/2008/10/24/conversation-with-shane-maxfield-kpd-lt-part-45/ Part 5: http://freekeene.com/2008/10/25/conversation-with-shane-maxfield-kpd-lt-part-55/ Security comes with respect for individuals rights, not violation of them 'Competing' police forces follows from a privatized system (no "public property") The ills of socialized/communized "services"--denying individuals self-responsibility Crime is the Health of The State, The Kaptain's Log by Kapt Kanada, aka Manuel Miles http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2007/tle446-20071202-09.html Statists practices of the fine arts of theft, rape, murder, arson, and duplicity The Statist "justice" system grows with the creation of more unjust laws, i.e., those that infringe on individual rights Government people protecting their own, essentially ensuring their own security, not yours The practice of coercing you in order to "help" you; the immense propaganda needed to keep the sham going Ayn Rand's contradictions about government and objective laws http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/anarchism.html Anarchy simply means "no rulers"--no tyrants allowed The government is a naive floating abstraction; the meme of government isn't much different than the meme of God, except that government translates directly into violence Projecting one's fears onto the marketplace, creating gangs of armed thugs in one's mind to somehow maintain the meme of government (which is a giant gang of armed thugs, btw) More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime And Gun-Control Laws by John R. Lott Jr. http://tinyurl.com/elg5u For a rights-respecting person, the freedom to defend yourself is absolute Peaceful coexistence is impossible with the gang called government Defining one's terms: "competing governments" as contradictory A coercive monopoly in the realm of justice essentially ruins society Rand's (and big "O"bjectivists') strain of authoritarian sociopathy Basically, people's fear of conflict with other people enslaves them and perpetuates government A coercive monopoly of "justice" services, i.e., government (even one funded voluntarily) will always provide unjust and incompetent and expensive "services" One case in point: Laws against private electricity production commerce; Jon Udell's Interviews with Innovators: Jock Gill - On Energy, IT, Markets and Society http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail3825.html My experiences with the local mafia with a flag--parking ticket Nazis--who look to make criminals out of rights-respecting individuals The brilliance of Ayn Rand was that she taught individuals to think independently and to use logic according to the main metaphysical laws (identity, causality, and non-contradiction) Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology by Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff, Harry Binswanger http://scholar.google.com.mx/books?id=_znYGPoNe2wC&dq=subject:%22Objectivism+(Philosophy)%22&lr=&as_brr=0&hl=en&rview=1&pgis=1 Objectively speaking, the coercive monopoly of government is a authoritarian mythology that contradicts the virtue of justice The Biological Basis of Teleological Concepts by Harry Binswanger http://www.aynrandbookstore2.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CB02B Seeing "police" for what they are: individuals who join a gang that violates individual rights and only pays lip service to the virtue of justice (enough to hoodwink those they rule over and maintain their coercive monopoly) Central planning is authoritarian sociopathy writ large--in which fears and love of domination deny freedom of choice The most vile form of mysticism: the murderous meme of government, which has no "procedural safeguards" Government as the preeminent violator of individual rights: denying people's capacity to choose a real upholder of justice So naturally, real upholders of justice will be seen as threats to government Understanding individual rights is simple: Don't hit people, don't take their stuff, and honor your promises (though no involuntary servitude is valid) "Our Enemy, The Party" by SEKIII posted by Wally Conger http://wconger.blogspot.com/2008/10/our-enemy-party.html The ills of "partyarchy," i.e., vote-chasing and power-seeking; the absurd oxymoron of politician libertarianism "The hopeless utopia of minarchy" Distinction between politics and ethics, objectively speaking http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/morality.html Seeking freedom via the State is wrong; to be consistent, one must favor not only abolition over gradualism but also market over power as the means to achieve freedom SEKIII: "The State loses by each free transaction committed in defiance or evasion of its laws, regulations and taxes; the State gains by every compliance with, acceptance of, and payment to its institutions. Thus does agorism create anarchy and partyarchy preserve the State." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-economics Objectivists will always lose their argument for government to their more statist comrades Coffee and chocolate are the key to long life by Richard Gray, Science Correspondent http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3223650/Coffee-and-chocolate-are-the-key-to-long-life.html bumper music "Letter From The Government" by Brother Ali http://www.brotherali.com/  http://www.myspace.com/brotherali to comment, please go to http://completeliberty.com/magazine/category/91697