I recommend a study in logic. Peikoff has a good one: Introduction to Logic
Lionel Ruby's Logic: An Introduction is a good textbook to use with the course.
Also, Rand goes over abstraction in Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.
Heh, as if Hurd were a "legitimate" commentator. Hurd is talking about accusations of racism, without saying who said Trump is a racist -because- of this incident. Apparently no one worth mentioning.
"If you doubt what I’m saying, imagine the ensuing hysteria bordering on martial law if a member of the Republican Party had called Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton (had she won) an “illegitimate” occupant of the White House. "
Lol. Trump did that. He said that Obama wasn't born in the US, therefore is an illegitimate president. Nowhere near martial law - just Trump coming across as an idiot.
The new year often brings people into my office who tell me that they feel like they’re never going to get “caught up.” They’re always worrying about how (and when) they’re going to achieve all the goals they’ve set for themselves.
When it comes to goal setting, it makes sense to set general and attainable objectives such as being efficient, having clear priorities and being timely. Always striving to “catch up” sounds like preparing for a life where there’s no longer any forward motion. Catch up to what? Do we really want to have nothing to do, nothing to think about, and nothing to make time for? It might seem nice on the surface, but it sounds to me like the gateway to monumental boredom.
Beware of the tempting (but false) alternative that, “If I stop trying to catch up, I’ll let everything go and become irresponsible.” Cognitive psychotherapists would call this “all or nothing” thinking. You don’t HAVE to choose between being a disorganized slob and a compulsive, anxiety-ridden maniac. It reminds me of a little dog I used to have who constantly chased his tail. He never caught it, but he apparently clung to a vague optimism that he eventually would.
The key is to focus on what you can realistically accomplish today. By refusing to labor under the delusion that you’ll “finally” be caught up, you’ll get the same things done – minus all the nervous baggage. Imagine driving on a busy road with no traffic jam, but still lots of cars. You hurriedly weave around every possible car, cursing the slower drivers — and then, there you are at the next red light, sitting right next to those very same drivers. You achieved nothing but stress for all your rage and anxiety. Those unrealistic compulsions can arise from the inability to live in the moment. When I suggest to people that they reduce their stress by spending more time living in (and enjoying) the moment, their reaction is often, “I can’t do that. I’ll be disorganized! I’ll get behind!” Wrong. People often tell me they’re amazed that I get all the things done with my full-time practice, daily updates to my website, writing several columns and my other publications — while still finding time to walk on the beach. There’s no mystery: I simply MAKE the time. There’s nothing wrong with refueling your mind in whatever way suits you. If that seems like “wasting time” or “taking time away” from whatever, then you’re setting yourself up for unnecessary stress. You’ll be a slave to your responsibilities instead of treating them as part of what you want to have in order to enjoy your life.
Living IN the moment is not the same as living FOR the moment. How sad to drift irresponsibly through life, moment to moment, disregarding anything beyond today or tomorrow, with the only clear plan being to “hope for the best.” The obvious and much more reasonable alternative is to plan long-range, while still making time to experience the moment. You’re not obligated to choose one or the other. In fact, they work best together! The more you enjoy living in the moment, the more incentive you’ll have to be responsible; to pay your bills, live within your means and honor your commitments.
I have an old friend who is a very high-level event planner. When he finally takes a few days off to visit the beach, all he thinks about is what he has to do back at work. While dining in a fine restaurant, strolling the boardwalk or shopping the outlets, he’s constantly distracted and preoccupied as he anxiously maps out his “getaway” to wherever he has to go next. I’ve never once seen him unwind and quietly enjoy the moment.
So make every minute count, whether you’re working, playing or relaxing. Instead of always trying to “catch up,” catch on – and live a little.
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