Epistemology – Page 2 – Stephen Hicks, Ph.D.

Ayn Rand, “What is Capitalism?” [Atlas Intellectuals]

Leave a Comment / Economics, Epistemology, Ethics, Objectivism, Philosophy / Fermin Elizalde

This week in the Atlas Intellectuals course on Capitalism we consider Ayn Rand´s controversial “What is Capitalism?” In this 1965 essay, first published in The Objectivist Newsletter and later in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Rand presents her philosophical and especially moral argument for capitalism. The full course: https://www.atlassociety.org/course/capitalism. Other Atlas Intellectuals courses on Socialism, Objectivity, Money, Robotics, and […]

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The Art of Reasoning — new edition

Leave a Comment / Epistemology / Stephen Hicks

I’ve used a dozen or more Logic books over the years in my courses, and this one is the best. Now out in its fifth edition, with philosopher David Kelley joining up with new co-author, logician Debby Hutchins. Invest in the power of your mind. When I talk with my students about reasoning, I analogize

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“Can women and minorities think rigorously?” The SJW say “No”

5 Comments / Education, Epistemology / Stephen Hicks

Old-time racists and sexists said: “Clear thinking — it’s not for woman, minorities, and gays.” Social-Justice Wokists today say: “Exactly!!” Rigorous thinking, according to some, is a virtue that leads to safe high-voltage electrical systems, pharmaceutical doses that are precisely calibrated, and bridges that stay up. Not so, says engineering Professor Donna Riley. Rather it

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Are Reason and Faith Compatible?

Leave a Comment / Epistemology, Religion / Stephen Hicks

Theist vs. Atheist: What Should You Believe? is a seven-part series of articles by two authors, John C. Wright and Stephen R. C. Hicks, in which they debate seven key issues in religion. Are Reason and Faith Compatible? Stephen R. C. Hicks I appreciate Mr. Wright’s opening essay and am in agreement with substantial portions

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Foucault as Nietzschean: on knowledge as injustice

4 Comments / Epistemology, History of Philosophy / Stephen Hicks

Juxtaposing quotations from Michel Foucault (d. 1984) and Friedrich Nietzsche (d. 1900). First, here is Foucault: “All knowledge rests upon injustice; there is no right, not even in the act of knowing, to truth or a foundation for truth; and the instinct for knowledge is malicious (something murderous, opposed to the happiness of mankind).”[1] Friedrich

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Daniel Dennett on the postmodernists

1 Comment / Epistemology / Stephen Hicks

I think what the postmodernists did was truly evil. They are responsible for the intellectual fad that made it respectable to be cynical about truth and facts. You’d have people going around saying: “Well, you’re part of that crowd who still believe in facts.” Source.

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Richard Rorty in Explaining Postmodernism

1 Comment / Epistemology / Stephen Hicks

Richard Rorty on the consequences of having to abandon the objectivity and universality of reason: The best we can do is seek “inter-subjective agreement” among the “members of our own tribe.” Though feeling loyal to his American left-liberal roots, Rorty goes on to hope that we will be nice to the other tribes while doing

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McGroarty’s Logical Fallacies — fun list

6 Comments / Epistemology, Philosophy / Stephen Hicks

Logical Fallacies Compiled by Brian McGroarty. Ad Hominem: This is the best logical fallacy, and if you disagree with me, well, you suck. Appeal to False Authority: Your logical fallacies aren’t logical fallacies at all because Einstein said so. Einstein also said that this one is better. Appeal to Emotion: See, my mom, she had

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