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There's a monkey in the jungle Watching a vapour trail Caught up in the conflict Between his brain and his tail -Gorillaz A most common conceit among philosophers is the idea that their motivations are fundamentally different from those of the common man. They draw a sharp distinction between the...
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This post is part of a series exploring Principles of Economics by Carl Menger. The following explores content from chapter 2 . Previously in this series: Menger on Time and Uncertainty NEEDS ARISE FROM OUR drives and the drives are imbedded in our nature. An imperfect satisfaction of needs leads to...
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An essential characteristic of man is that he acts. Action is purposeful behavior, that is the behavior of rationally utilizing means for an ends. We call means that have material embodiment “technology.” We call means that do not have material embodiment “techniques”. Mankind...
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What sets "us" apart from the rest of the universe? Dead things don’t reason, choose, or act. They just react. They are mindless assemblages of particles which only respond slavishly to the impulses given them. Dumb animals don’t reason, choose, or act. They just behave. They are...
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"The true science and study of man is man." -Pierre Charron In the 5th century B.C., the Greek sophist Protagoras wrote, "Man is the measure of all things." This statement is generally taken to refer to subjective truth, such as whether a woman is beautiful or a circumstance is happy...
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This post is one in a series on the History of Epistemological Thought . Previously in this series: History in the Theogony . The anthropomorphic aspects of Hesiod's gods also give the Theogony some interesting insights into human nature. We have male striving: an eternal quest for women and power...
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The British philosopher Herbert Spencer was a vital player in the developement of theories of evolution in the 19th century. It's important to note that Spencer was one of the first proponents of the theory of socio-cultural evolution, and social darwinism is a more specific thing than socio-cultural...
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I reject the natural/synthetic dichotomy. The natural/synthetic dichotomy is manifested in two fundamental ways: (1) the assumption that humans and/or human constructs are separate from nature and (2) the assumption that certain human constructs are "natural" while others are not. The problem...
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Brainpolice
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Sat, Oct 11 2008
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Filed under: Anarchism, Racism, Social Evolution, Social Contract, Religion, Socialism, Philosophy, Human Nature, conservatism, Environmentalism, History, Primitivism
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If something is owned, then by definition there is something external to it that is doing the owning. Likewise, something that is owned is by definition something external to the agent that owns it. Taking this very basic point into account, does it really make that much sense to think in terms of "self...
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Conservatism is a defense of the existing order or past existing orders as "natural". Any potential alternative to the existing order or to the romantisized past order is immediately brushed aside as "unnatural" and "utopian" or "idealistic". In the conservative...
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Wed, Jun 25 2008
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Filed under: Determinism, Collectivism, Social Evolution, Equality, Philosophy, Human Nature, conservatism, History, Vulgar Libertarianism, Marxism
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I was having a bit of a debate with an Objectivist and we got into some questions about morality and rationality. It related to the question of suicide, and I maintained that suicide is irrational but not immoral and that the individual has the liberty to commit such an irrational act. The Objectivist...
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The theory of a republic is essentially that, in contrast to democracy in which there is tyranny of the majority and in contrast to monarchy in which there is the rule of a single man or oligarchy, the law itself is what rules rather than men. In essence, a republic is supposed to be a model for government...
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Political philosophies often involve views of history. There seems to be two fundamental views of history, as I have touched on in " Traditionalism as Stagnation " and " Radicalism and Moderation ". These two views are what I would call the "conservative" and "progressive"...
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Is it really possible for someone to engage in a completely selfless act? A rational exploration of the question must lead to a negative rather then affirmative answer. For isn't it the case that no matter what action one engages in, it involves their selves and some kind of motivation on their part...
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The following is a response to this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoXjrlxDSL4 Dear Mr1001Nights, Unchosen positive obligations are indeed slavery, which should be obvious because the obligations are not chosen. In claiming or bestowing unchosen positive obligations onto other people, you are the...