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Anuj

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  1. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Rupersia in How do we master Self-Control?   
    Sometimes people just don’t know how to differentiate right and wrong. But yet even when most people are able to differentiate, they are unable to restrain themselves from whatever that is wrong. This gives way to the thinking that 'Perfect Man' does not exists; the thinking that there is always a middle ground between the good and bad; the thinking that things are neither black nor white but 'shades of gray'. 
     
    Before talking about Self-control, it is necessary to discuss about 'Pleasure'. Pleasure, Joy and Happiness are emotions that are important to achieve a sense of ‘Life’; a sense of Self-Esteem; a feeling that life is worth living. Pleasure/Happiness is attained from Productive work, Human Relationship, Sex, Recreation and Art. Except for Productive work none of the other activities necessarily provide long term happiness. A bully of a friend, smoking, irrational lust though are perfectly capable of providing pleasure, yet are counter-intuitive to the idea of long term happiness. In contrast a knowledgeable friend, a good book, swimming and Romantic Love with an Ideal Partner can make life Enriching. 
     
    But then how does one escape from the clutches of irrational pleasures?
    Philosophy - Man is inescapable of Philosophy. Every action a man chooses has philosophical roots. It's his choice to identify it or not. It’s irrelevant of the fact that man studies philosophy or not.  Man can choose to act based on feelings, emotions, faith, or whims (Subjectivism) or based on ‘Reason’ towards a specific purpose and specific objective (Objectivism). Philosophy is a guide to Man's Life. Therefore It’s essential to study, identify and choose a Perfect Philosophy that clearly differentiates black and , good from bad, rational from irrational, moral from the immoral based on a Standard; That differentiates what should be restrained and ignored from that which should be cultivated. Judgment – Values are anything that one wants to ‘gain’ or ‘keep’. Emotions by itself are not bad or good. Emotions are lighting fast calculators of a moment or situation. Emotions are the automatic results of what man holds as a ‘Value’. Observe that when two people who are asked to watch pornography, each can exhibit different emotions. One can lustfully enjoy it yet the other can feel disgusted. Different emotions (Joy, Disgust) are exhibited due to the fact that one holds pornography as a 'Value', while the other does not. The latter is aware of its crude vulgarity and its objectification of women. The former is either not or is not 'one with himself'. That’s why judgment of value is important. Is smoking or over-indulgent eating and drinking healthy? Is company of a bully to be valued and sustained?  Is gambling good ? Is spending too much time on internet irrational? Think and Judge before holding anything as value. Do not hold or do anything arbitrarily or just because other people do. Think and Judge! The Animal - We've evolved from animals. There is a little bit of animal still left in us. The Rational part of our brain is pretty new compared to emotional pleasure driven part. Rational and structured thoughts are often an effort and tires us quickly compared to emotional and arbitrary thoughts, which can run all day long. When asked not to think about elephant. The word elephant itself triggers the elephant Imagery. An act of controlling thought or monitoring absence of a thought itself induces the thought. It then becomes necessary neither to think nor to monitor that which should be controlled. 'Distraction' is perhaps the best way to tame this animal. When you think of smoking try to end up eating a chocolate or having tea instead.  -- Marshmallow Experiment conducted on kids has shown that kids who were able to successfully control themselves from the immediate pleasure of the moment had a greater re-warding Life in the future.  Purpose - Choose a purpose. A productive work. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” But even If you don't find a job that you love, it is necessary that you do get a work, in order to live self-dependently and survive. Grow pride. Get an ego. Love yourself. A passionate purpose driven man has hardly time to indulge in irrational desires.  P.S. :
    The post is mostly influenced from the works of Ayn Rand, especially from the essays found in the book "The Virtue of Selfishness". 
     
    Link to the original
  2. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from MisterSwig in Reification and Suicide   
    Disagree with the above said. I think the concept of evil, does not depend on the concept of good; rather both the concepts, depend on -- the standard of life. 
    I understand when you say there is no such "thing" as nothing. But there are indeed fraudsters, thieves, plunderers, murders, dictators. The concept of "evil" has referents in reality. The concept of "nothing" -- does not. 
  3. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from StrictlyLogical in Reification and Suicide   
    Disagree with the above said. I think the concept of evil, does not depend on the concept of good; rather both the concepts, depend on -- the standard of life. 
    I understand when you say there is no such "thing" as nothing. But there are indeed fraudsters, thieves, plunderers, murders, dictators. The concept of "evil" has referents in reality. The concept of "nothing" -- does not. 
  4. Like
    Anuj reacted to epistemologue in Benevolent Universe Premise and Benevolent People Premise (BUP/BPP)   
    I wanted to start a thread just for general discussion of a benevolent or malevolent sense of life, and in particular, the concepts of a benevolent universe premise (BUP), malevolent universe premise (MUP), benevolent people premise (BPP), and malevolent people premise (MPP). Which of these do you identify with personally, and why? And do you have any reservations or disclaimers you want to add?
    In general, one can have a benevolent or malevolent sense of life. A "sense of life" is the basic emotional stance one has on life that comes from one's implicit metaphysical value judgments. Metaphysical value judgments are one's overall value judgments or feelings about the essential nature of existence, of man, and of man's relationship to existence.1
    If one has an overall positive judgment about the metaphysical nature of reality and of man, then one's basic emotional stance on life will be positive. One will have a benevolent sense of life. Likewise, if one has an overall negative judgment about the metaphysical nature of reality and of man, then one's basic emotional stance on life will be negative; one will have a malevolent sense of life.
    Someone with an overall benevolent sense of life has a philosophical conviction that their life and the universe are good and valuable, a conviction that is not shaken simply by going through trying circumstances. They have a conviction that joy, exaltation, beauty, greatness, and heroism are the meaning of life, and not any pain or ugliness that they may encounter. They believe that happiness is what matters in life, but suffering does not, and that the essence of life is the achievement of joy, not the escape from pain. Pain, fear, and guilt are inessential and are not to be taken seriously as a scar across one's view of existence. Their basic stance when it comes to any question is that they love being alive, and they love the universe in which they live. "We exist and we know that we exist, and we love that fact and our knowledge of it" (Augustine).
    One's sense of life can be further analyzed into two basic categories: one's judgment of the universe, and one's judgment of man. An overall positive or negative judgment about the nature of the universe is what Rand calls the "Benevolent Universe Premise" (BUP) or "Malevolent Universe Premise" (MUP), respectively; a positive or negative judgment about the nature of man is the "Benevolent People Premise" (BPP) or "Malevolent People Premise" (MPP)2. A fully benevolent sense of life will combine a benevolent judgment of the universe and a benevolent judgment of man: both BUP and BPP. One may have a characteristically mixed sense of life, with a benevolent universe premise but a malevolent people premise (BUP/MPP), or a malevolent universe premise but a benevolent people premise (MUP/BPP).3
    A benevolent universe premise (BUP) is characterized by a reverence for the Universe, and the belief that the universe, by nature, is intelligible to man, and that his happiness is possible in a place such as this. It's the belief that the things around you are real and ruled by natural laws, and that reality is stable, firm, absolute, and knowable. Tragedy is the exception in life, not the rule. Success, not failure, is the to-be-expected. It's the conviction that man is not ultimately doomed in this universe, but rather that a human way of life is possible.
    A benevolent people premise (BPP) is characterized by a reverence for Man, and the belief that man, by nature, is to be regarded as rational and valued as good. It's the belief that man has the power of choice, the power to choose his goals and to achieve them, and the power to direct the course of his life. It is the conviction that ideas matter, that knowledge matters, that truth matters, that one's mind matters. It's this conviction that leads to a respect and goodwill toward men, and an attitude, in individual encounters, of treating men as rational beings, on the premise that a man is innocent until proven guilty. One is unable to believe in the power or triumph of evil; evil is regarded as impotent and unreal, and injustice is the exception in life, not the rule. Consequently one has confidence in one's ability to judge others, to communicate with others, and to persuade them by rational argument, and a belief that the great potential value of men is the to-be-expected. The rationality in others is what matters, not their irrationality, and in essence they are a potential source of value, not a potential threat of dis-value.
     
    1. For more on "sense of life", see the chapter "Philosophy and Sense of Life" in The Romantic Manifesto, by Ayn Rand
    2. "Benevolent People Premise" is a term coined by Objectivist Dan Edge in blog posts back in 2007. You can find them here and here. Also see his thread here on Objectivism Online here.
    3. See how Ayn Rand applies the BUP/MPP and MUP/BPP mixtures to the field of literature in her chapter "What is Romanticism?" in The Romantic Manifesto, where she discusses "volition in regard to existence, but not to consciousness" and "volition in regard to consciousness, but not to existence".
  5. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from splitprimary in Romantic Love and Promiscuity   
    Emotions are consequences. They are outputs of ones value system. So the only way to judge an emotion is to judge ones own value system. The root cause of ones emotions.

    "Man is born with an emotional mechanism, just as he is born with a cognitive mechanism; but, at birth, both are “tabula rasa.” It is man’s cognitive faculty, his mind, that determines the content of both. Man’s emotional mechanism is like an electronic computer, which his mind has to program—and the programming consists of the values his mind chooses."

    How can you pursue something for which you don't have any emotion ? I would lack the motivation to doing anything for which I feel nothing.

    It is values that are rational or irrational. Emotions are consequences/response of ones rational or irrational values.


    Its 2015 now in India, so Happy New year
  6. Like
    Anuj reacted to Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Anuj's statement presents a central point in regard to Objectivism and metaphysics.
     
    Ayn Rand was often accused of promoting atheism, and her critics quickly linked her atheism to Nazism and/or Marxism. Ayn Rand distinguished her philosophy as one that exalted the human spirit, and its role in ethics. With Nazism and Marxism as the only known "godless" or atheist government models, anything or anyone atheist has been associated with these most infamous totalitarian systems. It continues to present a stigma for atheists in many conservative circles. Ann Colter titled her critique of America's New-Left: Godless. Metaphysics is not exactly the hottest topic to raise at a social gathering. In my experience, the mere suggestion that one holds convictions supported by facts draws the most negative criticism. People are much more comfortable with someone who simply claims to be agnostic; saying "who know?" and "there are some things man isn't supposed to know," sounds so much more "human" than someone saying, "Why should anyone believe in something that doesn't exist?" The controversy conveyed in such a rhetorical question can result in the most hostile reactions, or a sustained silence. This is the reason it is so critical to acknowledge to human mind, the potential powers it possesses, and the fact that other materialists, be they monists or Marxists, rejected the composition of reality to the inclusion of the mind as an existent. And it is the mind that embodies the spirit.
     
    To revisit the exchange with Devil's Advocate, the human spirit is a force to reckoned with, whether inspired through religion or through Objectivism. I wish to thank Dream-weaver for his addendum to my earlier statement regarding a new society influenced by Objecitivism. (Agreed, "dominated" was a poor choice of words, but it was late in my day, and my thesaurus was drained.) If people were focusing on discovering the ideas of just some of the names of those mentioned, we might see this new society happen sooner.
     
    And a few comments on this:
     
    The 1960s were a turbulent ten years. The cultural changes were complex, although it is true that many of the young participants were unthinking, or irrational animals. But that would be over-simplifying it. To be sure, religion in that decade was expanding, rather than contracting. I can't support this claim with exact data, but if you look at the trends: the "Hippies" might be categorized as the heirs of Dionysus, celebrating the Age of Aquarius, a rejection of modern ideals, and reverting to the Modern Primitives. Many of them embraced gods of the ancient times, or Eastern religions, via George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, and The Beatles. Some attempted to revisit Christianity in a movement known as "the Jesus People." Most of us from those times remember them as "Jesus Freaks." (My friend, the Messianic-Rabbi was very much influenced by this trend.) Most of this was merely "seeking." Certainly, people do need something to believe in, and for those of that decade, many had truly "lost their way." And still many stayed true to their conservative traditions, taking comfort from their churches and televangelists, such the Reverend Billy Graham. Was religion what they were seeking? If it makes them happy, I will defend their right to choose it, as long as it is a privately funded choice. However, I can't help noticing how conflicted people of faith can be, in spite of their convictions.
     
    As for the sexual revolution, it was in part a new expansion of personal freedom, especially for women. But guys certainly benefited, too. The term, "sexual revolution" is often used by conservatives as a pejorative, but conservatives aren't very comfortable with individual freedom.
     
    America at present is still feeling the effects of the 1960s; each news story of social or race-related unrest and controversy, our foreign wars, marijuana liberalization, expanded substance abuse, and the endless insistence for egalitarianism and diversity remind me that the "Culture War" rages on. It certainly isn't Objectivism that's stuck in the '60s, but I could argue that the state of our nation is. In the end, will America succumb to "That Ole Time Religion," or discover morality through reason? Or is this a false set of alternatives?
  7. Like
    Anuj reacted to softwareNerd in The Problem with Objectivism in a Finite World of Limited Resources   
    Yes, to the extent that anyone was breeding for cow-beef. (There's still the case of animals being sent to slaughter-houses when they're older, but still had utility when they were younger.)

    Consider a larger operation: India's second largest agro-export (after basmati rice) is buffalo beef. If the government bans the export, why would people continue to breed? The herds will be culled within years, because it costs money to keep them alive. It is no different from basmati. If the government went crazy and banned exports and internal consumption of basmati, why would anyone grow it (except the few who are wiling to risk the penalties of selling it on the black market).
     
    This tables shows the population of various live-stock animals in India. Consider which ones are eaten, and which ones are the largest populations. They're the same by far... we're talking 100 times. It's safe to say that if Indians made Rogan Josh and so on out of camel rather than goat, camel populations would be way higher than they are today.
  8. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from epistemologue in Objectivist view on automation?   
    Check out Luddite Fallacy - "The Luddite fallacy is the simple observation that new technology does not lead to higher overall unemployment in the economy. New technology doesn't destroy jobs – it only changes the composition of jobs in the economy."
  9. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Inserting a few missing wrords... 
     
    ....all the power of both steel and flesh come from one's beliefs. in himself and resolute dedication to the objective."   
  10. Like
    Anuj reacted to softwareNerd in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Thank God there aren't too many Mother Teresas.
  11. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from softwareNerd in Holy s*^%, I can't believe I just completed [....]   
    It been 105 days since I quit smoking. I had been tracking this using ever-note app on my phone. Below is how I did it motivating myself every now and then.
     
    ------
    02-03-2015
    Its 105 days. And I am glad to share this up on Objectivismonline.
    18-02-2015
    93 days.
    08-02-2015
    83 days.
    27-01-2015
    71 days. 6 months is still far away.
     
    18-01-2015
    62 days.
     
    02-01-2015
    A New year ! Awesome. 46 days without smoke. Great control ! Keep going you cannot lose. Next big thing is 6 months to qualify as non smoker and then forever !
     
    19-12-2014
    Great going. It's 33 days now ! Over a month !! But remember its 6 months to qualify as a non-smoker. Also remember the reason why you started this.
     
    11-12-2014
    3 more days now and its 25. Always Remember why you started this. Remember to slow down and step back when you make hasty decisions. One tends to act quickly or hastily to escape from thinking. You don't want to regret later. There will be no point anyway but what you will then face is a net loss of something that you reasoned to keep or maintain. Don't evade thinking. Be strong. It will take you 6 months or 180 days to qualify as Non smoker.
     
    08-12-2014
    22 days now.. Shortly.. It will be a month..
     
    03-12-2014
    17 days. Good. But not good enough. Remember, good enough is entire life. You never want to put the number back to zero.
     
    23-11-2014
    Its been a week, since I have stopped. Which is good. But not good enough. Good enough will only be till end of life.!! This is just a remainder that if started again 7 days would mean to nothing. The number would then start again from 0.
     
    16-11-2014
    I quit today.
  12. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from JASKN in Holy s*^%, I can't believe I just completed [....]   
    It been 105 days since I quit smoking. I had been tracking this using ever-note app on my phone. Below is how I did it motivating myself every now and then.
     
    ------
    02-03-2015
    Its 105 days. And I am glad to share this up on Objectivismonline.
    18-02-2015
    93 days.
    08-02-2015
    83 days.
    27-01-2015
    71 days. 6 months is still far away.
     
    18-01-2015
    62 days.
     
    02-01-2015
    A New year ! Awesome. 46 days without smoke. Great control ! Keep going you cannot lose. Next big thing is 6 months to qualify as non smoker and then forever !
     
    19-12-2014
    Great going. It's 33 days now ! Over a month !! But remember its 6 months to qualify as a non-smoker. Also remember the reason why you started this.
     
    11-12-2014
    3 more days now and its 25. Always Remember why you started this. Remember to slow down and step back when you make hasty decisions. One tends to act quickly or hastily to escape from thinking. You don't want to regret later. There will be no point anyway but what you will then face is a net loss of something that you reasoned to keep or maintain. Don't evade thinking. Be strong. It will take you 6 months or 180 days to qualify as Non smoker.
     
    08-12-2014
    22 days now.. Shortly.. It will be a month..
     
    03-12-2014
    17 days. Good. But not good enough. Remember, good enough is entire life. You never want to put the number back to zero.
     
    23-11-2014
    Its been a week, since I have stopped. Which is good. But not good enough. Good enough will only be till end of life.!! This is just a remainder that if started again 7 days would mean to nothing. The number would then start again from 0.
     
    16-11-2014
    I quit today.
  13. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from dream_weaver in Holy s*^%, I can't believe I just completed [....]   
    It been 105 days since I quit smoking. I had been tracking this using ever-note app on my phone. Below is how I did it motivating myself every now and then.
     
    ------
    02-03-2015
    Its 105 days. And I am glad to share this up on Objectivismonline.
    18-02-2015
    93 days.
    08-02-2015
    83 days.
    27-01-2015
    71 days. 6 months is still far away.
     
    18-01-2015
    62 days.
     
    02-01-2015
    A New year ! Awesome. 46 days without smoke. Great control ! Keep going you cannot lose. Next big thing is 6 months to qualify as non smoker and then forever !
     
    19-12-2014
    Great going. It's 33 days now ! Over a month !! But remember its 6 months to qualify as a non-smoker. Also remember the reason why you started this.
     
    11-12-2014
    3 more days now and its 25. Always Remember why you started this. Remember to slow down and step back when you make hasty decisions. One tends to act quickly or hastily to escape from thinking. You don't want to regret later. There will be no point anyway but what you will then face is a net loss of something that you reasoned to keep or maintain. Don't evade thinking. Be strong. It will take you 6 months or 180 days to qualify as Non smoker.
     
    08-12-2014
    22 days now.. Shortly.. It will be a month..
     
    03-12-2014
    17 days. Good. But not good enough. Remember, good enough is entire life. You never want to put the number back to zero.
     
    23-11-2014
    Its been a week, since I have stopped. Which is good. But not good enough. Good enough will only be till end of life.!! This is just a remainder that if started again 7 days would mean to nothing. The number would then start again from 0.
     
    16-11-2014
    I quit today.
  14. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Speak for yourself. Your answer is not an absolute with every person alive. You think like that; you value supernaturalism, therefore you say "No!". I and probably many others in this forum will argue otherwise; that whatever satisfaction you receive from faith in God, can be replaced (not by the belief that no God exists but) by far better values: Productive work, Human relationships, Romantic love, Art, etc. Values that are rational and more importantly real. 
  15. Like
    Anuj reacted to Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Devil's Advocate,
     I will certainly accept you as a rational person, with or without your faith. I can accept the fact that there are rational people with whom I may disagree. On a matter of personal preference, in this case, your beliefs, there is nothing with which to disagree. It's your personal choice. However, I get an impression that you struggle with internal conflict, e.g. self-identifying as a heretic.
     
    To what belief do you practice your heresy? Certainly it can't be Objectivism; your statements in defense of and identification with religion suggest that you are willing to suspend objectivity on matters of the existence of supernatural phenomenon. The very term, "heresy" wouldn't even apply in this sense, because Objectivism isn't based on belief, rather it is based on Objective reality. While I can't speak for all Objectivists, supernatural events or beings are a contradiction to metaphysical reality. Believing in such things is not rational. This is not to say that you are not a rational person under normal conditions. But I would not consider you to be Objectivist.
     
    If pantheism or deism are your choices, you have not stated this explicitly; you have implied that they are "least objectionable." I have always had an admiration for those who speak truth to power, or those exercising expression of an advance of the truth against those in power. But Objectivists are not in power, far from it. If anything, our present-day order is dominated by altruistic hypocrites of both the secular and religious varieties. What is it that you are objecting to? Are you considered a heretic among your more religious associate? Against what standards of metaphysics or ethics do you protest? And, in keeping with this thread, is it really necessary to you to hold these beliefs?
     
    I hope this does not seem to be a false dichotomy, choosing between Objectivism and faith. I assume you are familiar enough with Ayn Rand and her works and those of others to know that there are many other philosophical options of an atheist or secular nature, but that Rand's is the one that most respects rational thought and individual rights. As for Atlas Shrugged, I agree that it is a bleak portrait of the ultimate outcome of Western civilization on its present course. But Objectivism, as far as I know, is the only proper course correction. It is for this reason that I hope it is represented with respect.
  16. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Plasmatic in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    I don't think an 'Objectivist' would ever use such words. Statements made above reeks with the stench of 'weakness', a total lack of 'Pride' and a general deficit in 'Self-Esteem'. Precisely opposite of how an ideal Man should be.
  17. Like
    Anuj reacted to Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    "In the beginning Man created God; and in the image of Man created he him."-from the liner notes of Jethro Tull's Aqualung.
     
    As the JASKN and dream_weaver have responded so well to these charges, I see no reason to address the inference that Objective is competing with a church.
     
    I wish to address the suggestion that religion holds a psychological grip on some people. Some have rationalized a "need" to fill that spiritual gap, and I will concur with Devil's Advocate, in that that "need" can be filled no other way for them. I think this is a pity, but it is what it is. While many of these people are highly-functional people, valuable and worthy of all they have earned, they prefer to hold the image of God tightly integrated with their motives, reasons, and morals. Other members of society are not so valuable. Aside from children of the religious, who are not fully cognitive of reality, their are the criminally minded and the substance-abusive types for whom the "powers of a super-invisible-friend" may be necessary to reform them from their weaknesses. I raised this subject of weaker members of society in an earlier post, and wish to clarify that I do not believe religion is the best solution for them, only that some people have had success in its application. I thought it worth mentioning after seeing DA invoke the Serenity Prayer.
     
    And the "Like This" option on our post serves as a fine alternative to "Amen," just as this forum provides as fine "meeting hall."
  18. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from DonAthos in Pediatrician refuses to care for baby with two moms   
    Capitalism applies. People who do not agree with the doctor; people who think the doctor was a prejudiced idiot would automatically stop visiting her. Any-case lesbians definitely wont as the doctor has made it clear that she would not service them.
     
    Individual rights stays as it is. Anti-discrimination laws would be a force on the unwilling doctor. I would rather not get treated by a doctor who is forced to work on me for whatever the reason. As Capitalism is self-sufficient it not always necessary to do a wrong in order to correct a wrong.
  19. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Firstly, I would argue that "all religion is faith" but "all faith is not necessarily religion".
     
    Secondly, the knowledge about how a car operates may be only necessary for car manufacturers and mechanics. It is sufficient for me to observe (observed knowledge) or know (learnt knowledge) that not baking powder but cement is used to build a wall. But it is not necessary depending on my profession to know why cement is adhesive. 
  20. Like
    Anuj reacted to Repairman in Is there any reason, any religion should still exist?   
    Personally, I look forward to the day that religion is merely a matter of historical reference. In today's "politically correct" environment, educating children about history, science, (and I hope one day philosophy becomes a part of the complete education) or even establishing norms of social conduct, the hazards of offending the religiously defensive are many. Religion should be understood for its historical significance. I grew up having spent eight years in a Catholic school, and, in contrast to many people I've met, including many Christians, I believe I have a better understanding of Christianity as a Western institution. But institutions undergo changes, be they reformed or fade into insignificance. I'd like to thank Nicky (Objectivism and Budhism, post #34) for the suggestion that the Vatican be transformed into a sort of theme park. It wouldn't that different from Aboriginal Americans performing their native dances in full costume. And I'd like to thank Anuj for initiating this discussion, (although I know he tends to disapprove of any openly disrespectful expressions against religions.) And I wish to acknowledge the late-great George Carlin, for his irreverent lecture: "I Used to be an Irish-Catholic," from the Class Clown album.
    He and many other irreligious satirists helped to reenforce my own childhood doubts about the "one true faith" and to encouraging a life of rational thought.
  21. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Repairman in Objectivism and Buddhism   
    Nicky's and Eiuol's post in some way validated Buddhist monks as they gathered and spread knowledge. The monks perhaps could have been historically relevant in some sense.
     
    But do we still require them in this century? A broader question would be: Is there any reason, any religion should still exist ? 
  22. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from Harrison Danneskjold in The Proper Means of Communication   
    Alright, you have removed all doubts now.     
  23. Like
    Anuj got a reaction from softwareNerd in How do we master Self-Control?   
    Sometimes people just don’t know how to differentiate right and wrong. But yet even when most people are able to differentiate, they are unable to restrain themselves from whatever that is wrong. This gives way to the thinking that 'Perfect Man' does not exists; the thinking that there is always a middle ground between the good and bad; the thinking that things are neither black nor white but 'shades of gray'. 
     
    Before talking about Self-control, it is necessary to discuss about 'Pleasure'. Pleasure, Joy and Happiness are emotions that are important to achieve a sense of ‘Life’; a sense of Self-Esteem; a feeling that life is worth living. Pleasure/Happiness is attained from Productive work, Human Relationship, Sex, Recreation and Art. Except for Productive work none of the other activities necessarily provide long term happiness. A bully of a friend, smoking, irrational lust though are perfectly capable of providing pleasure, yet are counter-intuitive to the idea of long term happiness. In contrast a knowledgeable friend, a good book, swimming and Romantic Love with an Ideal Partner can make life Enriching. 
     
    But then how does one escape from the clutches of irrational pleasures?
    Philosophy - Man is inescapable of Philosophy. Every action a man chooses has philosophical roots. It's his choice to identify it or not. It’s irrelevant of the fact that man studies philosophy or not.  Man can choose to act based on feelings, emotions, faith, or whims (Subjectivism) or based on ‘Reason’ towards a specific purpose and specific objective (Objectivism). Philosophy is a guide to Man's Life. Therefore It’s essential to study, identify and choose a Perfect Philosophy that clearly differentiates black and , good from bad, rational from irrational, moral from the immoral based on a Standard; That differentiates what should be restrained and ignored from that which should be cultivated. Judgment – Values are anything that one wants to ‘gain’ or ‘keep’. Emotions by itself are not bad or good. Emotions are lighting fast calculators of a moment or situation. Emotions are the automatic results of what man holds as a ‘Value’. Observe that when two people who are asked to watch pornography, each can exhibit different emotions. One can lustfully enjoy it yet the other can feel disgusted. Different emotions (Joy, Disgust) are exhibited due to the fact that one holds pornography as a 'Value', while the other does not. The latter is aware of its crude vulgarity and its objectification of women. The former is either not or is not 'one with himself'. That’s why judgment of value is important. Is smoking or over-indulgent eating and drinking healthy? Is company of a bully to be valued and sustained?  Is gambling good ? Is spending too much time on internet irrational? Think and Judge before holding anything as value. Do not hold or do anything arbitrarily or just because other people do. Think and Judge! The Animal - We've evolved from animals. There is a little bit of animal still left in us. The Rational part of our brain is pretty new compared to emotional pleasure driven part. Rational and structured thoughts are often an effort and tires us quickly compared to emotional and arbitrary thoughts, which can run all day long. When asked not to think about elephant. The word elephant itself triggers the elephant Imagery. An act of controlling thought or monitoring absence of a thought itself induces the thought. It then becomes necessary neither to think nor to monitor that which should be controlled. 'Distraction' is perhaps the best way to tame this animal. When you think of smoking try to end up eating a chocolate or having tea instead.  -- Marshmallow Experiment conducted on kids has shown that kids who were able to successfully control themselves from the immediate pleasure of the moment had a greater re-warding Life in the future.  Purpose - Choose a purpose. A productive work. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” But even If you don't find a job that you love, it is necessary that you do get a work, in order to live self-dependently and survive. Grow pride. Get an ego. Love yourself. A passionate purpose driven man has hardly time to indulge in irrational desires.  P.S. :
    The post is mostly influenced from the works of Ayn Rand, especially from the essays found in the book "The Virtue of Selfishness". 
     
    Link to the original
  24. Like
    Anuj reacted to softwareNerd in Ayn Rand Worldwide   
    Today I learnt that the Wikipedia has a page on the Objectivist movment in India.
  25. Like
    Anuj reacted to Boydstun in Restoring Hearing To The Deaf, Sight to the Blind   
    Miles O’Brien lost most of his left arm in an accident last year. In this link to PBS Newshour (2/12/15), he visits the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and begins to learn how to control the world’s most sophisticated artificial hand by thinking the stuff by which we move our hands: Inspiring.
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