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
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
This list of President Obama’s “achievements” has been floating around the internet, with various “Obama 2012” slogans attached. I thought I’d take a moment to respond. MY PRESIDENT: 1. Got Osama bin laden…check 2. unemployment rate down to 8.5%…check 3. 1.6 million jobs created with no GOP help…check 4. 22 months of job and economic … Continued
In one of those, you’ve-got-to-be-shitting-me stories, Radley Balko, at the Agitator, reports that NASA has a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team at the Kennedy Space Center–in case, you know, we find ourselves sucked into an alternative sci-fi universe where NASA needs quasi-military tactical response teams. It’s reasonable, I suppose, for NASA to have security guards—but … Continued
Libertarians are constantly attacked as proponents of an “every-man-for-himself” philosophy. This is mainly because we hold that each man is morally autonomous–that is, a person is morally accountable for his or her actions alone, and not for those actions taken by others. This individualism is assailed as selfish, or as an attack on altruism. Many … Continued
