Objectivist Round Up #68

Our special Halloween edition of the Objectivist Round Up is fit to be tied with 13 entries (somewhat categorised) by authors who have a strong predilection for rationality, honesty, integrity, productivity, independence, pride, and justice.

CULTURAL CHANGE

Burgess Laughlin presents Predicting the timing of cultural changes? posted at Making Progress.
This article briefly wrestles with a recurring problem: How can one predict the timing of major events--such as the decline or renaissance of a culture? This in turn applies to the problem philosophical and intellectual activists are facing: How much time do we have left?

EC presents My Proposal posted at Atlantis.
A not so modest proposal for getting pop culture interested in Oism.

Gus Van Horn presents Pragmatism VS Cultural Change posted at gus van horn.
The way to get better politicians isn't to guilt our best and brightest into serving in politics; but to start by remembering what the proper purpose of government is and how that bears on whom we want in office.

VOTING ISSUES


Adam Victor Reed presents Darkness Made Visible in Michigan posted at Born to Identify.
Michigan voters on Nov. 4 will decide on a constitutional amendment that would allow researchers to create new stem cell lines using embryos that would otherwise be discarded. The effort faces stiff opposition from Michigan Citizens Against Unrestricted Science & Experimentation, a coalition opposed to the measure because "passage could lead to unregulated research (!) and even (!) human cloning.

Damon Payne presents Blueprint for Change posted at Damon Payne: Hand Waiving Software Architect.
A short analysis of some points of Obama’s “Blueprint for Change.”

EXCORIATING GREENSPAN

Edward Cline presents Greenspan Recants posted at Rule of Reason.

Galileo Blogs presents Greenspan the Pragmatist posted at Galileo Blogs.
Greenspan's congressional testimony and two key comments in his autobiography reveal that this man is no friend of capitalism, nor is he a friend of Objectivism, the philosophy that properly defends it. This is my take on Greenspan the pragmatist.

MISCELLANEOUS

Linn and Ari Armstrong present Time to Speak Out for Free Speech posted at FreeColorado.com.
After reviewing several cases of speech controls in Colorado, we advocate free speech.

::

Piz presents Evil Profit posted at The Four Rs.
Without profits, we're all living in Burundi. Tell a friend.

And … ”Hut! Hut!” Wait, I Mean, “May We Begin Now Comrades?”.
A satirical look at “spreading the wealth around” in the NFL.

::

Khartoum presents Exams In Hibernation. posted at Reddie Reasons.
I wish we had better things to study ... what a wish!

::

Paul S. Hsieh presents Mackerel Economics posted at NoodleFood.
Our government officials need to more learn about economics from federal prisoners.

… AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Diana Hsieh presents What I Eat posted at NoodleFood.
This latest installment in my blogging on nutrition and health sketches my own paleo diet and offers some suggestions for eating well.

Thanks for reading. Submit your entries for the November 6th edition which will be hosted by C. August at Titanic Deck Chairs via the carnival submission form. Links to the Round Up's posts and hosts (past and future) are found here. Y'all come back now ya' hear!

~Adam

My Friend ... The Socialist

Well, he's not really a Socialist. Like many, he doesn't really know what Socialism is let alone its disastrous consequences. And, not surprisingly, he has just as little understanding of Capitalism. The problem, as I see it, is he does not seem to have an impetus to discover what these things are for himself. We've had lengthy conversations that have constantly degenerated into circular arguments because he has no grounding in the basics. I've asked him about his epistemology and after explaining what that meant I was given the answer that he is "shaped by [his] experiences and observations." I wasn't even sure where to begin with that; other than saying (as I did to him) that "we are all shaped by our experiences and observations." It is how we incorporate what we experience and observe into our being that determines what kind of a person we become. How we incorporate is determined by our philosophy. When we don't know or don't have a philosophy ... well that pretty much leaves us in a nebulous world of inconsistent and unreasoned thought (to use the word loosely) now doesn't it? How could you know what you know, why you think what you think, or why you believe what you believe?

This seems to be the case for not only my friend, but the vast majority of people. I think it really explains how demagogues like FDR, Bush, and Obama get elected. Yes, I'm already conceding for John McLame. Don't worry about it Johnny! I got it covered for ya'! He's going to loose because he has no idea what he stands for. He has no philosophy to guide him. I will make the assertion that most of those voting for Obama are either voting against Bush ( you do know he isn't running, right?) or for Obama because he sounds pretty. When you have no map (read: philosophy) then you have no idea whether a particular course (read: certain candidate) will lead closer to or away from your destination. Should we Change ... why, how, to what specifically? It's not certain whether Obama even knows for sure what he is preaching, but one thing is certain, he has more philosophical ground to stand on than McCain ... for what it's worth.

But I digress. I have a conundrum. I have lent my assistance in a creative project to my friend. There is a character based on me. I have allowed the use of a pseudonym I created many years ago. I have read portions of the script and given input as well as been a sounding board for my friend to flesh out ideas for the series. Now, according to my friend (keep in mind his ignorance), the series is taking a Socialistic turn. Now, I am uncertain as to what to do. I still value my oldest friend. He may be misguided, but he is not evil. However, the fact remains that if the series does promote Socialistic values, I have given aid and succor to the enemy; even if in ignorance. Should I ask that my pseudonym be removed from the character? Should I deny all further assistance, or should I help more in making an already semi-Objectivist character a fuller Objectivist? In which is there more value? Does it matter if the pen is held by a Mystic?

~Adam