The Passion of Ayn Rand’s Critics: The Case Against the Brandens] (Cass Hewitt)
Argumentum ad Experientiam [02/28/05]
Recently, in a response to my satirical commentary, "Michael Moore's Mystery Message," I was told by a man who visits Iraq "every month" that my arguments against Mr. Moore's portrayal of the situation there in his recent documentary were off target. He did not tell me how my arguments were off target, or what he had observed during his travels in Iraq that would discredit my case. Nevertheless, he did venture to express his suggestion that I visit Iraq before I write about it. Rather than offering concrete evidence or abstract reasoning of any sort, this man merely seemed to state: "I know more than you because I have been in Iraq. Thus, you are automatically wrong." (G. Stolyarov II)
Politeness and Objective Ethics [02/23/05]
I had established the foundations of philosophically verifiable etiquette in the Public-Private Ethical Distinction, which is explicated in an essay of the same name. Etiquette is thoroughly grounded in rational egoism; it is a scientific classification of the instances and categories of action which are best for an individual to keep solely to himself or within a self-defined delimited circle of pertinent associates and which it is to his advantage to seek the cooperation and contribution of others toward.(G. Stolyarov II)
The Public-Private Ethical Distinction [02/17/05]
"Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men." Thus declared Howard Roark in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. In the context of this statement, the private-public distinction is employed not in politicoeconomic terms (which are, however, derivative), but in an individual, ethical sense, pertaining to the objectively correct atmosphere which one should experience in and away from the company of other men. (G. Stolyarov II)
A Philosophic Journey [02/14/05]
Stephen R.C.Hicks' Explaining Postmodernism is really a philosophic history journey—it has a definite start, follows clearly marked guide posts and takes us to a logically unavoidable finish line. (A review of Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism
and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault
by Stephen R.C. Hicks Ph.D.) (Cass Hewitt)
The Robert Stadler Story: The Moral Fall of a Man Who Knew Better [02/11/05]
There are many villains in Ayn Rand’s masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged. However, her ultimate villain by far is Dr. Robert Stadler – a man who knew better. Robert Stadler is a villain and a man of stature who once possessed some excellent qualities. (Edward W. Younkins)
Mises, Friedman, and Rand: A Methodological Comparison [02/02/05]
Three of the most respected and influential free-market thinkers of the 20th century are Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973), Milton Friedman (1912- ), and Ayn Rand (1905-1982). The purpose of this essay is to compare and evaluate the respective methodological approaches of each of these theorists who have influenced the course of history with their ideas. We will see how and why Rand's realist approach is superior to both Mises' rationalism and Friedman's empiricism. (Edward W. Younkins)
The Province of the Liberal Arts [01/20/05]
True learning does not consist solely of systematizing highly specialized observations, though this task features significantly in the natural sciences. Rather, an integrated individual learns on two levels, which can be termed the specific and the foundational. To the former province belong the natural sciences and to the latter—the liberal arts. (G. Stolyarov II)
An Ex-SOLOist Speaks Out [01/10/05]
This article is reprinted with the permission of The Rational Argumentator and Mr. Henry Emrich. It is an interesting independent comment on the nature of SOLO, that complements The Autonomist's own series which began with "SOLO Perversion of Objectivism: Part 1—The SOLO Style". (Henry Emrich)
Basic Principles of Ontology [01/05/05]
The foundational concepts of ontology. (Reginald Firehammer)
Objective vs. Subjective Egoism [12/21/05]
Many people are attracted to Objectivism because it is the philosophy of egoism. It says your life is yours to live and enjoy as you please, no one has a right to tell you what to do or not to do, you have a right to live your life any way you choose. It is not all Objectivism says, however. It does not say you can live any way you choose without consequence; it says, you are free to live as you choose, but you, and only you are responsible for how you live it, and if you choose incorrectly, you, and only you, should suffer the consequences. (Reginald Firehammer)
Objectives of Ontology [12/20/04]
The next in Autonomist Philosophy Series—an overview of what this ontology intends to accomplish, with some ground rules for what constitutes a correct ontology including some important questions ontology must answer. (Reginald Firehammer)
Repress, Repress, Repress [12/13/04]
The picture psychologists seem to paint of a world filled with people miserably repressing desires and feelings may partly be understood from the nature of the psychologists' own experience. People do not drop by the psychologist's office for friendly rational discussions, people who go to see psychologists are sick, or at least think they are. If one spends most of their days talking to and associating with people who are not quite right, one's view of people is likely to be distorted. (Reginald Firehammer)
Efficient Versus Right Thinking [11/18/04]
Can there be ideas that are so bad, that if only thought, and not practiced, they are still evil? Some people believe it does not matter what one thinks so long as they do not do anything wrong. They think the mind is exempt from moral values. (Reginald Firehammer)
Metaphysics—Part 2 [11/16/04]
Conclusion of discussion of metaphysics proper and explanation of the categorical hierarchy of existence. (Reginald Firehammer)
Metaphysics—Part 1 [11/16/04]
First half of discussion of mataphysics proper. (Reginald Firehammer)
Wrong Premises, Errors, and Corruptions: Part 3—The Wrong Sense of Life [11/06/04]
This is the third article in current series on the corruption of Objectivism. The article title has changed. The reason for that change is explained in the 11/04/04 ASAP, Objectivism: What's Important, which you ought to read, because it is important. The mains subject of this article is "sense of life." (Reginald Firehammer)
Feelings [11/02/04]
A brief explanation of what emotions are, their nature and place in our philosophical understanding of human nature and values. (Reginald Firehammer)
Desires [11/02/04]
A brief explanation of what desires are, their nature and place in our philosophical understanding of human nature. (Reginald Firehammer)
SOLO Perversion of Objectivism: Part 2—Why Lindsay Perigo Hates Me [10/29/04]
In, "SOLO Perversion of Objectivism: Part 1—The SOLO Style," I stated that the real issue with the Perigo version of Objectivism is the rational/volitional nature of man. In Part II, I will begin to examine some of subtle philosophical mistakes behind the SOLO objective, methods, and style related to that issue. (Reginald Firehammer)
What does religion have to do with philosophy? [10/28/04]
This is a highly personal view of philosophy and religion. "The ultimate absolute for me is reality: all that which is, is what it is; the being of all beings is being itself. And to live by this absolute being, this objective reality, is my ultimate purpose. Thus, the highest, sacred value for life is truth—being true to reality—with the corollaries of honesty, justice, and courage, of achievement, beauty, and joy." (Monart Pon)
SOLO Perversion of Objectivism: Part 1—The SOLO Style [10/25/04]
The organization which calls itself, SOLO, claims Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand, as its guiding philosophy. The initials stand for, "Sense of Life Objectivists." The phrase, "sense of life," comes from Ayn Rand's use of it in her work on aesthetics, The Romantic Manifesto.
The founder and principle of SOLO is Lindsay Perigo. What Mr. Perigo means by, "sense of life," is something entirely different from the meaning Ayn Rand intended by that phrase. What Mr. Perigo means not only contradicts the meaning of that phrase, as Ayn Rand intended it, but contradicts Objectivism itself at its very heart.
Metaphysics Introduction / Existence and Reality [10/21/04]
As announced in ASAP today, this is the first article in The Autonomist Philosophy Series, which will, before it is finished, cover the entire field of philosophy. This second article introduces the branch of philosophy called metaphysics, the branch of philosophy Ayn Rand called, "the basic branch of philosophy." (Reginald Firehammer)
Atlas Shrugged: A Novel of Human Action [10/19/04]
Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged is a story of human action on a grand scale. In it Rand skillfully ties physical actions to important human values. Although the author also deals with mental portraiture and analysis, her primary concern is with human action. She selects and integrates actions and events that dramatize the theme of the novel which is “the role of the mind in human existence.” (Edward W. Younkins)
Answer to Barbara's Hijacking [10/17/04]
For those who have been following "The Great Debate" this article is in response to Barbara Branden's disgraceful display, "Response to Regi Firehammer's Response to Chris Sciabarra's 'In Praise of Hijacking'" to my final article, "Response To 'In Praise of Hijacking.'" I was originally invited to this debate, knowing its purpose was to promote Chris Matthew Sciabarra's book, but its real purpose was to repudiate me and my stand against attempting to use Objectivism to promote homosexuality. When it was obvious that was not going to work, the duplicitous Barbara Branden and Lindsay Perigo arranged to ban me from their forum, which I addressed in my final "rejected" post to that forum, "My Confession and Apology."
From Objectivism, Where Are We Going? [10/16/04]
Introducing The Autonomist's philosophy series. This is the first in that series. It provides a brief overview of "where we are going," and outlines the structure of philosophy itself. (Reginald Firehammer)
Beginning With Objectivism [10/15/04]
In spite of Objectivism's contributions to the field of philosophy, however, it is not the end of philosophy, only the latest and greatest development in the field. As far as it has taken us, we still have further to go than we have thus far come. The problem is most Objectivists think we have arrived, when we should actually be starting on our way again. (Reginald Firehammer)
Existence Exists [10/7/04]
It is usually pointless to argue against irrational assaults on sound philosophy, but sometimes there are genuine questions that deserve good answers. The question is, what exactly does Ayn Rand's famous dictum, "existence exists," actually mean? (Reginald Firehammer)
My Confession and Apology [9/21/04]
When I agreed to be part of the debates I have described in "The Great Debate" I had no idea I was simply being used, and when the one using me was through with me, he intended to dispose of me.
Outside the circle of those interested in Objectivism and the Homosexual issue, these events will not be of much interest and the main reason for my "confession," is because I owe it to those who have expressed bewilderment at what has happed an explanation. This is, of course, only the end of the story, but those who are really interested are familiar enough with the history to understand from this explanation the true nature of these bewildering events. (Reginald Firehammer)
Response To "In Praise of Hijacking" [9/15/04]
Perhaps the most thoroughgoing secular repudiation of the movement to normalize homosexuality in existence. While in the context of a debate within the field of Objectivist philosophy, the principles apply in all intellectual evaluations of this issue. (Reginald Firehammer)
The Congruity Among Ayn Rand's Metaphysics, Epistemology, Value Theory, and Ethics [8/22/04]
The full title of Professor Younkins article is, "The Congruity Among Ayn Rand's Metaphysics, Epistemology, Value Theory, and Ethics." He analyzes each aspect of her philosophy to illustrate the unity of her philosophy. (—Edward W.Younkins)
Toward a Conceptual Framework for Capitalism [8/12/04]
In this article professor Younkins presents the conceptual principles of capitalism, demonstrating that capitalism is not only the most practical of economic theories, but the only one consistent with human nature, and the requirements of that nature for human flourishing. (—Edward W. Younkins)
A Universal Mistake [7/06/04]
One of the most damaging concepts to ever infect philosophy is the concept of universals. Originated by Plato in his "forms," and "improved" by Aristotle as "universals," the idea has existed in some manner in every philosophy since. This article eliminates this concept from philosohy. (—Reginald Firehammer)
Perception [6/8/04]
In spite of Objectivism's contributions to the field of philosophy, however, it is not the end of philosophy, only the latest and greatest development in the field. As far as it has taken us, we still have further to go than we have thus far come. The problem is most Objectivists think we have arrived, when we should actually be starting on our way again. Here is Mr. Firehammer's example of a major mistake and a major incompleteness in Objectivism. (—Reginald Firehammer)
The Great Debate [6/6/04]
Dr. Chris Matthew Sciabarra and Reginald Firehammer go toe-to-toe in this intellectual boxing match over the issues of homosexuality and Ayn Rand's Objectivism and their controversial books: Dr. Sciabarra's Ayn Rand, Homosexuality, and Human Liberation and Mr. Firehammer's The Hijacking of a Philosophy, Homosexuals vs. Ayn Rand's Objectivism. (—Reginald Firehammer)
Patent Absurdity and Tyranny of the Mind [5/19/04]
This is a collectin of responses to my commentary (from the Autonomist's Notebook) on Intellectual Property which I posted on the SOLO forum. I have selected the best responses and my replies to share, because this very long discussion covers every aspect of the questions of patents and copyrights. I have divided this article into three sections; these are links to the Part Two and Part Three. (—Reginald Firehammer)
Aristotle: Ayn Rand's Acknowledged Teacher [4/26/04]
Professor Edward W. Younkins gives us a brief but richly detailed overview of the philosophy of Aristotle, illustrating the connection between that philosophy and Ayn Rand's Objectivism. Ayn Rand acknowledged Aristotle as the only philosopher to whom she was indebted. (—Edward W. Younkins)
Brave New Objectivism [3/10/04]
No more will Objectivism mean just a philosophy, and certainly not any particular one. That would be too simplistic, too rigid, and too formal. What is needed is something dynamic, fluid, and adaptable to changing needs and purposes. And that is just what we have. Objectivism now comes in an endless array of varieties and flavors. Take a satirical look at today's Objectivism. (—Reginald Firehammer)
An Objectivist Divorce [2/21/04]
Diana Mertz Hsieh announces the end of her ten year association with The Objectivist Center
(TOC), citing irreconcilable differences, in philosophy and method. Sometimes it is difficult to see the true nature of a thing you are very close to. (—Reginald Firehammer)