My discussion with Glenn Beck ranged over capitalism and socialism, the ethics needed for a free society, Greek virtues, intolerance and indoctrination in education, Ayn Rand’s egoism and her view of charity, whether a meaningful life requires transcending failure, the differences between Antifa and Nazi Brownshirts, whether the National Socialist really were socialist, postmodernism, whether […]
Conversation with Glenn Beck [transcript] Read More »
A new episode of my podcast series, produced by Possibly Correct out of Toronto. Audio: iTunes Stitcher YouTube Google Play Spotify Topics: Some sex-doll humor // The new materials, robotics, and A.I. // Focus on the ethics, not the politics // Two continua: psychological realism and physical realism // What do we really want from
Sex Dolls: Why Not? [Open College series] Read More »
Both of these signs are repulsive. (Click to enlarge.) Similarities between the two movements: (a) People are to be kept separate based on color, and (b) admonishing signs are needed to remind and keep people in their place. Differences between the two movements: (c) In one case, the fear is that one color will be
Old- and new-fashioned “Colored Only, No Whites Allowed” Read More »
I’ve joined thinkspot and will be using it as my main platform. Also on board as early adopters are Dave Rubin, Michael Shermer, Jordan Peterson, and a few others. thinkspot is being launched as an option to those sites quick to de-platform. “We’re in desperate need for a platform that doesn’t arbitrarily decide to throw
Announcement: I’m joining thinkspot Read More »
Two recent articles on Stoicism, one by philosopher Aaron Smith and a self-described “grumble” response by philosopher Roderick Long. Both focus on Stoicism but with some attention given to its differences and similarities with Objectivism. To that pair of discussions I add this short collection of quotations I use as a guide when I lecture
Stoicism: Smith, Long, and some quotations Read More »
Friedrich Engels arguing that communism is the logical consequence of German philosophy, starting with Kant’s revolution and progressing through Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel: “The Germans are a philosophical nation, and will not, cannot abandon Communism, as soon as it is founded upon sound philosophical principles: chiefly if it is derived as an unavoidable conclusion from
Engels on communism’s connection to German philosophy Read More »
Summary: Oberlin College students (and some administrators) behaved badly. The local business they targeted responded with a lawsuit for damages. The court agrees, ordering Oberlin to pay $11 million. The down-the-road response? Colleges everywhere will take note, and worried number-cruncher administrators will urge further restrictions on campus speech and action. So: (1) Bad ideology on
Activism backlash at Oberlin College will lead to more speech restrictions Read More »
Socialism and the surveillance state, Lenin’s 1917 version: “Only socialism will be the beginning of a rapid, genuine, truly mass forward movement, embracing first the majority, and then the whole of the population, in all spheres of public and private life. … [Then] the escape from this popular accounting and control will inevitably become so
Socialism and the surveillance state, Lenin’s 1917 version Read More »