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...
Posted to
Brainpolice
by
Brainpolice
on Tue, Sep 16 2008
Filed under: Objectivism, Ethics, Rational Egoism, Individual Sovereignty, Natural Rights, Libertarianism, Philosophy, Human Nature
I'd like to explain why I think that traditional judeo-christian morality does not synch up very well with the principles of liberty and does not provide a beneficial cultural framework for a free society. In many ways, I'm not going to be saying anything particularly new here, as this criticism...
Posted to
Brainpolice
by
Brainpolice
on Sat, Jun 21 2008
Filed under: Objectivism, Ethics, Self-interest, Rational Egoism, Altruism, Religion, Atheism, Libertarianism, Philosophy
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...
Posted to
Brainpolice
by
Brainpolice
on Tue, Jun 3 2008
Filed under: Objectivism, Ethics, Consistancy, Utilitarianism, Aesthetics, Means and Ends, Philosophy, Human Nature, Crime and Punishment
I believe in objective secular morality, founded on reason and universalism. I think a common mistake is the idea that if we ditch religion, we must fall back on moral relativity. Then the religious people feed on this and get to accuse secular people of being nihilists or hedonists. But I think that...
Posted to
Brainpolice
by
Brainpolice
on Sat, Dec 22 2007
Filed under: Objectivism, Ethics, Universality, Determinism, Collectivism, Altruism, Religion