When Vice President Dick Cheney held secret meetings for his energy task force in the early days of President George W. Bush’s first term, he was excoriated by the left and even some on the right. Both Judicial Watch and the Sierra Club sued, but the Supreme Court found the proceedings were protected by executive … Continued
Speaking at TEDxMileHigh, philosopher Michael Huemer lists a few signs that you might be irrational about politics: Do you become angry during political discussions? Do you have strong opinions about a subject before acquiring relevant empirical evidence? Do your opinions fail to change as you acquire more evidence? Do you seek information only from sources already agree … Continued
At the start of yet another completely pointless GOP presidential debate, CNN’s John King asked the candidates to briefly introduce themselves to the audience. Their responses are incredibly telling about their underlying political philosophies. Ron Paul said, “I am the defender of the Constitution. I’m the champion of liberty. This shows the road map to … Continued
My last post from Michell Waldrop’s book The Dream Machine: J.C.R. Licklider and the revolution that made computing personal discussed Norbert Wiener’s discovery that feedback loops can give automated, mechanical systems purpose, and therefore, allow the human mind to possess purpose while remaining utterly natural. Meanwhile, how the brain physically performed the necessary calculations to … Continued
National Review’s Jonah Goldberg at the debate TheAmerican Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosted a debate between Reason Magazine Editor Matt Welch and National Review Editor-at-Large Jonah Goldberg last Wednesday. The question posed was, “Are libertarians part of the conservative movement?” Unfortunately, the debate wasn’t much of a debate. Welch began by stating that he agreed with Goldberg “a … Continued
Read this fantastically prescient argument from Aristotle in which he clearly foresees, not only blind evolution, but the concept of evolution as well: Why should not nature work, not for the sake of something, nor because it is better so, but just as the sky rains–not in order to make the corn grow–but of necessity? … Continued
Adam Smith wrote in The Wealth of Nations: What is the species of domestic industry which his capital can employ, and of which the produce is likely to be of the greatest value, every individual, it is evident, can in his local situation judge much better than any statesman or lawgiver can do for him. … Continued
